BBC e-Voice Magazine April 2015

Christ for Today, book of sermons “Out-of –Line: Straighten up!”

Most Honorable former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, birthday visit to BBC New members baptized on Good Friday pose with Pastor Devon Dick (left) and Deacon Kathlyn Grant (centre back). Newly Page 1 of 17 baptized L-R: Michael Jacobs, Myrtle Kellier (restored), Michelle McIntosh, Aalliyah Rattray and Albert Blackwood.

Sophia Williams

Albert Blackwood (Bertie) There was a single barrier preventing him from getting baptized all these years Albert Blackwood, affectionately called Bertie… and who nowadays we are pleased to call Bro Bertie, made the decision for Christ after his almost twenty seven years as caretaker at Boulevard Baptist. Bertie got baptized on Good Friday of this year. But what really took Bertie so long to take this important step and what led him to this decision? Bertie explained that he met with our pastor, Rev. Devon Dick who spoke to him about getting baptized. Bertie expressed that he was reluctant about baptism because he did not know what to say (referring to a testimony), but Pastor’s question finally allayed all of his fears and removed the single barrier that was preventing him from getting baptized. He was asked, “Do you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour and believe in God?” Bertie’s response was, “Yes.” Realizing that this was all he would say, Bertie started his preparation for baptism by attending the Enquirer’s class on a Sunday morning. He said he gave this statement as his testimony when he was presented as one of the candidates for baptism to the church membership.

Bertie went further to explain that over the years members of the church had approached him about baptism, but he never took up that offer for the same reason, even though he was not against the idea of getting baptized, knowing that he would be saved. He said that not knowing what to say was the only reason preventing his baptism. As a child he grew up in the church and attended Sunday school. His mother, he expressed, is an ardent Christian and was the first influence in his life to become a Christian. He mentioned that it was a relief for him when Pastor spoke to him about baptism.

Since his conversion, Bertie stated that it feels good to be apart of God’s family. He enjoys the oneness as a family. He still attends the Enquirer’s class. He is a part of the Bible study and expressed that his worship experience has improved over the three months, as he is getting to know God better. Bertie said he is unable to read his Bible because of poor vision, and agreed that a pair of eye glasses would make reading possible.

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Evangelism Emphasis Month April was Evangelism Emphasis Month at Boulevard Baptist, embracing the theme, “Moving Forward with Jesus in Faith”. The event was a spiritually enriching one with soul-stirring sermons from dynamic preachers during the Sunday morning divine worship and the evangelistic open air services featuring performances from popular gospel artistes.

As the speakers delivered each Sunday we were reminded that it is because Jesus is alive through his resurrection that we have hope for a meaningful life, and thus given the promise that it is in our powerlessness that we find power in Christ. This therefore serves as an opportunity for us to rely on God’s power. We are then called to make a difference in our community when we find the pearl of life in Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ that we are able to experience abundant life by becoming a child of God. As Christians this is the greatest advantage we have over the world.

The spiritual blessings throughout the month resulted in twenty four (24) persons making commitment for Christ.

Evangelism Emphasis month climaxed with the inspiring and exciting musical drama, “Flight Rapture”.

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Flight Rapture!

The rapturous melodic voices of the choirs and the gripping drama perhaps gave us a peek and taste of what Christians will experience when the real rapture takes flight. Many persons like ‘Zachariah’ lost the opportunity of being a part of this joyous and cheerful throng who boarded that flight when the final boarding call was made. The more his wife beseeched, even more ‘Zachariah’ hardened his heart and remained in his stubborn state of not heeding to her request of giving his life to the Lord. He was never moved by the thought of becoming a child of God. Consequently, she was a despondent and weeping wife when she came home and found her husband lying ‘dead’ on the floor. A lost soul!

Flight rapture was drama interspersed with singing of various choirs, and that heightened moment when everyone gathered to take that flight as the final announcement for boarding was made. The following pictures speak more of the flight rapture at Boulevard Baptist on Sunday April 26, 2015. Pics below display participating choirs; a ‘lifeless’ ‘Zachariah’ lying on the floor and the audience in unison with the choir.

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Out o’ Line, Straighten up!

Devon Dick

Reverend

Dr Devon Dick, in a

recent sermon, used the analogy of the plumbline to illustrate the divine standards by which God, the builder, tested and judged the uprightness of his people.

He intimated that the Church was out of line in its conduct and treatment of others and therefore needed to “straighten up.” He asserted that God was the only one who could put us back in line.

behaviour, by condemning others for the very thing they had done.

“Sometimes our beliefs affect our behaviour,” he argued, emphasizing the need for a firm belief in God to address irrational fears and conduct.

The Christian Faith, Rev Dick further expounded, “is not a flash in the pan faith,” as it is based upon solid “evidence, experience and encounter with God.” “God verifies himself to us through many ways – but definitely through the blood of Jesus. God has revealed himself to us in so many ways, we have no excuse – God is speaking to us telling us to get in line,” Rev Dick declared.

According to the Boulevard Baptist pastor “We can pass IMF test and the people’s test but if we don’t pass The crucial questions therefore are: How God’s test, it would be do we measure up to a waste of time.”

God’s standard of living?

I will test my people with What would be the this plumb line. I will no He explained that outcome were he to stretch longer ignore all their Christians “get out of his plumbline against the sins. line” because of BBC? Amos 7:8 irrational fears including, fear of the Rev Dick concluded that unknown, fear of commitment and the God required commitment from his fear of living by faith. Many of us, he people – individually and collectively said, were like the servant with one because he wanted to build us up as a congregation and to start a new work in talent, wanting guarantees for success the Church. Therefore, it was time for us but never taking the plunge by faith. to straighten up and choose life by Pastor Dick added that Christians doing God’s will; be fair, just and experienced irrational conduct and often reasoned in our dealings with others, exhibited duplicity in their because “the intent of Christian practice is the well-being of others.”

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46th Anniversary Honorees Sylvester Brown (in photo) and Clifford Williams In our final installment of our feature on the 46th Anniversary honorees, we present Sylvester Brown and Clifford Williams who have added their vocal talents for many years on the choir. Both contributed a total of fifty five years to the Boulevard Baptist church choir.

Sylvester Brown and Clifford Williams are more than just brothers in Christ, they can be described as close friends, and were both members of the Boulevard Baptist senior choir. Sylvester and Clifford gave forty five and ten years respectively of their time and talent, making a difference to the Sunday morning’s worship service. As a foundation member of Boulevard Baptist, Bro. Brown was there from the inception of the choir, which started with approximately twenty members. He tells of his beginnings at the Hanover Street Baptist Church where he was baptized and also got married. It was not long after that, Rev Luther Gibbs acquired the piece of land where Boulevard Baptist is now located. “How glad I was to hear this,” he expressed. He stated that they worked with Rev LutherGibbs until the first phase was completed and then started worship there for some time.

Sis. Gladys Goodridge, he explained was the organist, and at some point they found it necessary to form a choir.

Rehearsals began under the guidance of the church’s first Choir Director, Bro. Barrant, who led the choir for about nine years. Since then they have had nine to ten choir directors.

Bro. Williams said that he was encouraged to join the senior choir by the late A.B. Atkinson who was in charge of the choir at the time. He expressed that he enjoyed his time over the ten years and lauded the present music director, Deacon Joseph McIntyre, describing him as the best.

Both retired from the choir in 2014, Bro. Sylvester due to deterioration in his vision and Bro. Clifford pointed out that he had reached the age of retirement. In addition to be honoured by the Church, Bro. Sylvester has been honoured by the Choir, the Brotherhood and the Women’s Federation.

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MOST HONORABLE FORMER PM ON HIS BIRTHDAY VISIT TO BOULEVARD BAPTIST The Boulevard Baptist Church was very pleased to welcome the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica who worshipped with us on Sunday in April 12, 2015. The following is a pictorial presentation of his interaction with us on his birthday. Top Pic: Former PM seated with granddaughter, Breanna Hibbert; extreme left former PM of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer; also in attendance was former premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush.

Left pic: Shantika Brown presents book to former PM; Right pic R-L: Min. Ronald Thwaites, Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Rheima Hall, Min. Robert Pickersgill, Min. Omar Davies and wife, Dr. Rose Davies.

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Sharing the peace

Reading the first lesson

Deacons extend peace

Ushered to his seat Page 8 of 17

Sophia Williams

Interview feature Derrick Saddler – Student Pastor, United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI) Derrick Saddler is a member of Boulevard Baptist Church and a student pastor at the UTCWI. In this interview with the BBC e-voice Derrick enlightens us on his academic journey at the UTCWI and other important happenings in his life as a student.

BBC E-voice: Derrick, tell us about your calling into pastoral ministry and later developments based on this calling.

Derrick: After answering God's call on my life in 1998 and was baptized at the Mt. Charles Baptist Church by the Rev. A.B Lewis I became active in the music ministry of the church. I was often given the opportunity to give exhortations but never felt that I would be a pastor.

However as I matured in the faith and was being nurtured by the Rev. Edwards a New Testament pastor who would help out with Bible study, I began to sense that God was calling me to the ministry. I shared my thoughts with Rev. Edwards and he told me I should not rush into it. Four years later I was off to teacher's college. Feeling guilty, I remember saying to God I will do five years in teaching and then go to Bible school. In my second year of teaching, 2006, I transferred my membership to the Boulevard Baptist Church. It was there that I mentioned in a testimony how I believed God was calling me to be a pastor. Upon hearing this, the Rev. Devon Dick wasted no time. I was given preaching assignments. After a while I was introduced to the training program offered by the Jamaica Baptist Union through the United Theological College of the West Indies. I applied and met the requirements, however, I chose to put it on hold due to the illness of my late wife Kerry-Ann. After her death in 2010 I became angry with God and tried to run away from the call. It proved to be a nightmare. I reapplied, out of guilt hoping that maybe I would not be successful and then I would be free to get on with my life. That was not to be, because again I was successful.

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BBC E-voice: When did you start UTCWI and what is the experience like so far?

Derrick: I started UTC in August, 2013. It was the beginning of many changes all at once. I had just got married in July, was moving into a new environment, not having a full time job and getting my son adjusted to a new school. The experience at first was shocking as I was exposed to some mind stretching lessons that challenged my religious knowledge. Now I have come to appreciate those experiences. The work load is heavy but being a lover of reading has helped me tremendously. I also like the fact that my wife Scherrie, family members, Baptist Warden and students, pastor and members of the Boulevard Baptist Church and the members of the Thompson Town Baptist Circuit of Churches along with friends have been very supportive of the ministry to which God has called me. May God continue to bless all of you.

BBC E-voice: Describe what your training entails and tell us about your achievements to date.

Derrick: My training entails Biblical languages (Greek and Hebrew), Historical studies, Theological studies, pastoral studies, philosophical and Ethical studies, Religious studies and courses at the University of the West Indies. The practical part of my training includes serving as a student pastor in the Thompson Town Circuit of Baptist Churches in Clarendon. So far I have been able to maintain a reasonable GPA [of 4.6] and was awarded a scholarship as an exchange student at the Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia.

BBC E-voice: Pursuing a course of study at this level can be very challenging; what are your means of coping?

Derrick: First and foremost I put God first in all of what I do. I keep up with the study by trying to be always ahead by reading widely. When am pressed to the limit I turn to playing my keyboard or guitar or just reading my Bible.

BBC E-voice: How would you describe the UTCWI community? What notable experience(s) you would like to share?

Derrick: The UTC community is a very unique one. It is a mixture of people from different Caribbean countries like, Haiti, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua. There are also persons living within the community who attend UWI and UTECH. One of my most notable experiences, was to interact with the whole community as sports officer. At times persons would get real upset but I managed to maintain a calm atmosphere.

BBC E-voice: You will travel to Columbia University in Atlanta next semester to embark on an exchange programme, tell us about this development and your expectations.

Derrick: In my first year at UTC I learnt about an exchange programme that students who perform well and are in their third year of study could be selected to participate. I remember some representatives from the Columbia theological Seminary came to UTC and while standing with some other students the programme coordinator said to us you should come. I took this as a clue that I would be the one to go as she was looking directly at me. My expectation is that this experience will further broaden my scope of knowledge as a theologian in the making and allows me to interact with persons from a different culture.

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BBC E-voice: The BBC E-voice congratulates you on the recent birth of your son. How has this new addition to the family impacted college life?

Derrick: Thank you. The birth of my son, Giovanni has been a blessing. This experience is a driving force for me to work harder at what I do.

BBC E-voice: You have two years to go in the completion of your training at UTCWI, what are your expectations for these remaining years?

Derrick: To God be the glory. My expectations for these remaining years are that I will grow in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, my family will continue to adjust to the life of ministry and that I will remain focused BBC E-voice: As you look toward entering full-time pastoral ministry, and based on your experiences so far, what areas do you foresee that you can change and/or make a difference?

Derrick: I believe that the way most of our churches are financed is becoming a real challenge in these tough economic times. There is a need for churches to become more economically viable using its resources and also developing business ventures to offset the cost of running the various community outreach projects BBC E-voice: Finally, how do you envision your future growth in ministry after acquiring your Diploma and BA in Ministry?

Derrick: Well, I believe another phase of my learning experience will begin; new challenges will surface along with new opportunities. If I learn how to turn challenges into opportunities, curse into blessings and stumbling blocks into stepping stones then with God's help I shall accomplish whatever God has called me to accomplish in his ministry.

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How your shoulder injury might actually be a neck injury

By Duvaughn Dick

The body is very complex. It usually seems very normal and simple, until something goes wrong. This can be a very confusing situation for an individual who is not knowledgeable nor under the right guidance. A simple nag in the shoulder that over time grows in intensity and becoming excruciating pain and associated weakness might not even be a shoulder injury although you are thinking all signs are pointing there. What is not usually known until the individual is in a doctor’s or physical therapist’s office is that all feelings and muscular control is relayed through the spine and the feelings and movements of the lower body are associated with the lower part of the spinal cord and the feelings and movements of the arms and hands are associated with the upper part of the spinal cord, specifically the section in the neck.

Many spinal problems in the neck lead to pain and other symptoms further down in the arm especially in the shoulder.

The shoulder is actually the first stop and symptoms can be further down in the arm, down to the elbow, in the forearm, wrist or hand. The further down the symptoms, the more serious the problem is. There may or may not even be pain in the neck itself or the pain might be stronger in the shoulder or upper back leading you to think the source is not in the neck.

Symptoms such as pain moving down the arm; weakness in the muscles going down the arm and tingling and/or numbness in the muscles down the arm (especially in the fingers and hands) are positive signs that you have a neck injury. If you experience any of these symptoms do not hesitate to see your doctor because as the condition progresses, you may be in need of a physical therapy referral.

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The pain and shame of corruption One man tells his story… Now he is unashamedly ethical

“Money was no longer a concern; I hungered for inner peace, and at age 43 I made a personal commitment for Christ.”

These were the words of Dr. Graham Power, the guest speaker at a special church service on February 15, 2015 at the Boulevard Baptist Church as he presented his Unashamedly Ethical Campaign. Power who resides in Cape Town, South Africa is a Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager. He spoke of his involvement in corruption as a business owner while undertaking construction work in South Africa. “I trampled on people to climb the ladder,” Power recalled. He explained how they came together as businessmen ahead of tenders and agreed on who would do a particular job and who would put in cover prices.

Graham Power admitted that practising corruption is not an easy choice, and there is a level of discomfort as you continue to ask yourself questions such as: “Is the negotiation I did fair?” How would I feel if it appears in the newspaper?” “Ultimately

what I do must come to light,” he acknowledged, ”It would be my biggest regret”. My biggest regret was not giving my life earlier to God,” Power added.

With God impacting his life and the construction business in a special way, Power expressed delight in the fact that he now employs 2000 people, completed 35,000 houses for people living in poor conditions, also building bridges and drains.

An elderly lady, he added, of 90 years old received a house for the first time in her life.

Power indicated that there must be a desire for change, pointing to New Zealand as the least corrupt country; South Africa at position 67 and Jamaica measuring the 85th least corrupt in the world. Graham implored the audience to join the Unashamedly Ethical campaign and commit to ethics, values and clean living. Do this at http://unashamedlyethical.com/

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The 50th Anniversary of The Christ for Today programme

while bearing in mind they were delivered in their original contexts as messages to be heard rather than read.

Taste in sermons is like beauty, it is always in the eyes of the beholder. In addition, the effect of a sermon is often way beyond the intention of the preacher. The individual sermons within this collection, will not all have the same effect on the reader but it is offered that at least one will be transformational in our lives.

It is therefore important to realize that as we read these sermons we are getting a better understanding of Baptist work and witness.

Rev. Dr. Devon Dick was granted the task of writing the preface to the book of sermons to mark the 50th anniversary of the Christ for Today programme.

The Christ for Today programme was first aired on RJR in August 1964 with Reverend Luther Gibbs, founding pastor of Boulevard Baptist as the first local preacher. Many other preachers have filled the air since then. The book is a selection of presidential sermons and also sermons dealing with certain themes.

The sermons reflect some of the issues which both nation and church were facing over the last 20 years and should give the reader some insight into this. Please listen for the prophetic, the therapeutic, the devotional and the teaching voice in the homiletical constructions

Preaching is about presenting the person of Jesus as the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Therefore, do not concentrate on the preachers but rather see in the sermons God as revealed through Jesus.

The Book, ‘Baptist Preaching in Jamaica: Celebrating Christ For Today (1964-2014)’ is offered with the hope that more Baptist preachers will publish their sermons and more readers will benefit from reading them.

Contributed

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Mission Statement: To develop our spiritual lives, evangelize the wider community and influence the world through Christ by organized preaching, public and private worship, Christian education and fellowship, while co-operating with other Christian bodies.

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Devon Dick Opportunities for Worship Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday School: 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. • 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Prayer and Fasting: 1st Saturdays, 7:00 a.m.

Editor-in-Chief: Kameaka Duncan Editor: Francine Dallas Other Team Members: Duvaughn Dick, Claudette Reid and Sophia Williams.

Boulevard Baptist Church 2 Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20 Telephone: 905-2422 Email: boulevard.baptist@yahoo.com | Website: www.boulevardbaptist.org.jm Page 17 of 17