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Newly minted head of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Mrs. Laurette Adams-Thomas is calling on churches to make it their responsibility to protect and prioritize our children.

She said “Every month we receive approximately 1,200 reports of child abuse highlighting what I would say is the harsh reality that many of our children are currently facing. This issue is not just a statistic, it’s a call to action. It’s a call that echoes throughout our communities that we need to act. Globally violence against our children remains a challenge and unfortunately Jamaica is not exempt.”

[caption id="attachment_12468" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mrs. Laurette Adams-Thomas, addresses the audience at the Youth Conference and Expo at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Mount Salem, Montego Bay[/caption]

According to Adams-Thomas, a study done by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 80% of Jamaican children experience various forms of violence at home. Another 65% endure bullying at school.

“This is a stark reminder that our children need our protection, they need our support and guidance now more than ever. That is why the role of the church in protecting and prioritizing our children is so important. It’s not just a responsibility, it’s a Divine calling.”

Adams-Thomas was addressing a gathering of Seventh-day Adventist church leaders and more than six hundred youth leaders and members of the Adventist uniformed group, Pathfinders at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Mount Salem on Saturday, January 13, 2024.

This event was a Youth Conference and Expo organized by the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in partnership with IADPA Bookstores and Deli, under the theme “Revived and Renewed.”

[caption id="attachment_12467" align="alignnone" width="1009"] Mrs. Debbie Douglas (left), National Manager of the IADPA Book Store and Deli and Pastor Dane Fletcher, Youth Ministries Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica welcome the church members to the Youth Conference and Expo at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Mount Salem, Montego Bay.(photos by Nigel Coke)[/caption]

“So, as a church community, I would want to implore you to answer the call to protect and prioritize our children. Together with the assistance and guidance of the church we can create a safer and more nurturing environment for our future leaders – our future pastors, teachers, our builders of our nation.”

She appealed to children and youth to report any form of abuse to “Talk to a trusted adult or if it’s happening to someone you know, you need to talk to someone you can trust.”

“The Seventh-day Adventist Church has over the years been educating our members and children of our God expected responsibility for our children,” said Dr. Lorraine Vernal, Women, Children and Adolescents Ministries Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica.

“We have a zero tolerance approach for any type of child abuse. This issue of child abuse is not for the church to privately deal with because we are guided by the Child Care and Protection Act. We inform members that any act of abuse of our children must be reported to the relevant authorities including the police.”

Adams-Thomas pointed out that the church can play its role by informing its congregants about child abuse, which can be done through its Sabbath School and youth group gatherings.

“It was relevant to have the CPFSA reinforce that our priority is to preserve the innocence of youth and protect them from abusers,” said Pastor Dane Fletcher, Youth Ministries Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “The church is not a perfect place. Should there be child abusers, in our company, masquerading themselves as caring youth leaders, we wanted to sound the alarm that the Adventist Church has a zero-tolerance approach towards child abuse and violence towards youth.”

[caption id="attachment_12470" align="alignnone" width="960"] Pastor Dane Fletcher addressess the youth gathering[/caption]

“We hope that the presentation by Mrs. Adams-Thomas would stem the tide of abuse, irrespective of how mild that abuse might be,” Fletcher added.

Dr. Vernal warned perpetrators to desist from this ungodly behaviour. “I call on all persons including parents, teachers and care givers, who believe that the abuse of our children is their right and privilege, to desist from such belief and behavior as many are marred for life. I implore you instead to seek professional help through counseling and therapy.”

The CPFSA is dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of children and families across Jamaica.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica has more than 340,000 members worshiping in more than 730 congregations.

[caption id="attachment_12469" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A section of the Youth Mass Choir sings at the Youth Conference and Expo at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Mount Salem, Montego Bay.[/caption]