A Publication of the Gregory Park SDA Church Communication Department March 2015
Issue #21
YOUTH ‘GIVE-A-BREAD’ ON GLOBAL YOUTH
Youth of the Gregory Park Church distributed over 70 loaves of bread to persons in surrounding communities during their ‘Operation Give-a-Bread’ program as part of their Global Youth Day activities on March 21, 2015. Global Youth Day (GYD) is an initiative of the General Conference’s Youth Ministries Department, where on the 3rd Sabbath of March each year, youth and young adults are encouraged to ‘be the sermon’ by spending their Sabbath engaged in community outreach activities outside the walls of the church building. The main objectives were to lead the youth to rediscover the sense of belonging to a global army of Seventh-day Adventist young persons and to reaffirm the mission of service and kindness at the heart of Youth Ministry. The GYD emphasis for Gregory Park church called Operation Give-aBread was initiated by the district Pastor, Onel Montaque. The idea was to present Jesus to the community as both the physi-
cal and spiritual bread. Therefore, in addition to distributing loaves of bread, the youth distributed prayer fellowship cards, copies of the book, Steps to Christ and invitations to the Week of Prayer which ran from Sabbath March 21 to Sunday March 29. The Youth went into the communities of Phoenix Vista, Portmore Villas, Walker’s Avenue and other sections of Gregory Park. A total of 70 loaves of bread were distributed and 68 copies of Steps to Christ. The distribution took place during the divine hour period of the Sabbath. According to the Youth Leader of Gregory Park, Ceraphia Roper, “The response from the communities we visited was quite encouraging. Persons were responsive to the offer of the books and invitations, as well as the bread.” She also said, “It was also a wonderful opportunity for the young people to experience what it means ‘to be the Sermon.’ We trust that the Lord will bless our efforts.”
Residents of the Gregory Park Community are prayed for and presented with a Loaf of Bread
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A History of General Conference
The Pastor’s Desk
Youth Retreat 2015 *** A Blast from the Past Publications
Revelation of Hope **** 100 Days of Prayer Building Healthy Relationships
Scenes from the Quarter
The Light on Issuu *** Adventist Resources Health as a Lifestyle News
Operation Plant-A-Tree *** Shoes: Showing How to Obtain Eternal Salvation
Calendar of Events
T he L i g h t
The Pastor’s Desk
Onel Montaque Pastor, Gregory Park Circuit of Churches
G
od's grace is simply remarkable. Each day presents us with evidence of His marvelous grace. None of us is able to say that we deserve the blessings that the Lord has graciously given us. But his nature propels him to do wonders on behalf of and for people like me who don't deserve it. That is the essence of our message here at the Gregory Park Seventh-day Adventist Church. The recognition of this grace motivated the people of God to work tirelessly for the Master during the first three months of the year. And I am completely convinced that we are more motivated than ever by His Grace to continue to do our Master's business. Has God blessed us as a body? He certainly has. The blessings of our gracious God are numerous but I will make mention of one such blessing that stands out up to this point in the year. This blessing, our Elders’ Retreat is also the realization of an objective set forth at the beginning of the year. The success of our recently held district Elders’ Retreat was manifest. It was a tremendously exhilarating experience when the elders of the Gregory Park and Waterford churches converged at the Hotel Versalles in May Pen. There were four devotional speakers who took us
to the throne of grace. The main presenter however was, Dr. Denton Rhone, Vice President and chairman for the school of Religion and Theology at the Northern Caribbean University. Dr. Rhone, an articulate and well informed teacher of bible truth, spoke in an impactful manner and did an exceptional job in imparting to the leaders of the two churches what the ramifications of worship involved and what it truly means to serve with humility. It was part of the churches' strategy to motivate and also strengthen our elders’ church leadership skills. At the end of this delightful weekend, the elders expressed convincingly how blessed they were by the experience and lectures received and were in unison in their desire to offer greater service to the members they serve. Good leadership in any organization is the hallmark for success and so the goal of the elders was to take some time apart to enhance their leadership skills. I personally gained added spiritual insight from the experience. Additionally the retreat afforded me the opportunity to get to know my elders in a more personal way. With the vast reservoir of information now available to the leaders of the church, I foresee the leadership of the church here at Gregory Park leading the church into and beyond the postmodern era as we traverse that strait path that leads to our ultimate glorification. Churching church members is a complex task because of many factors: Postmodern leaders have to take into consideration the different generations that comprise the church, and their needs and plan accordingly. These generations are; the G.I Generation, the silent generation, the baby boomers, generation X, millennial or Generation Y, the present - new silent generation or generation Z. How does one lead effectively such a complex group? God will certainly help us by giving us the requisite tools and resources both human and financial to do this work as we partner with Him. Good leadership however, is knowing how to use these tools effectively. Our God is a God of order and structure. This is seen in the creation story. God made everything in an orderly and logical manner. From light to land, and vegetation to animals and humans, everything was made in an orderly manner for the survival of God's masterpiece of creation, human beings. If we represent God who is a God of order and structure then we must be a people of order and structure. Not one thing that is done in God's church or by God's people must be done haphazardly or treated lightly because it will serve as a message to the world about our concept of God. Leaders of the church are privileged people. And must see and treat their position accordingly.
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Just Imagine . . . Millions of Seventh-day Adventists around the world, all praying for 100 days for the same thing! Praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our church and the decisions made during the General Conference Session in July of 2015, San Antonio, Texas! During this 100 day prayer initiative (March 25th to July 11th), we want to challenge everyone to PRAY specifically for several things:  First, for a deeper outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our own lives!  Second, for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in our local churches as we press together.  Third, many difficult decisions need to be made at the upcoming General Conference Session, and Adventist members worldwide are encouraged to pray for 100 Days before then for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to be fully manifested in all members and attendees during and after the session.
The 100 days will culminate onsite at the GC session where session attendees will be encouraged to continue to pray together both in the sessions and in our prayer meeting room at the dome.
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O
ur heavenly Father created us as social beings with the desire to seek and create associations. As such we have a strong desire to be with and around individuals in our daily lives. Relationship by definition is the way in which two or more things are connected or related. Relationships help us to meet our emotional needs for love and selfworth. This need for emotional involvement and love may cause us at times to seek relationships that are not healthy or are negative and destructive to our lives. God wants us to have godly and healthy relationships and to connect with, be involved with and love others. The most important relationship that you can have is a personal relationship with God. “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” proverbs 18:24. Building and developing healthy godly relationships can be scary but with the right mindset and attitude, a great relationship will go a long way in creating a happy life. So what makes a healthy relationship? Answer: Communication, Respect, Trust, Self-Esteem/ Self Worth. Communication is an essential tool for building healthy strong relationships with our partners, children and friends. It allows individuals to talk with and be open with each other, solve differences and problems, share dreams and aspirations and to support each other. Healthy communication is speaking words of love, affirmation, strength, joy and grace. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation- 1 Peter 1:15. Respect is a mutual benefitting component of healthy relationships; it’s about giving and getting and everyone deserves it. Your partner’s, friend’s and children’s wishes and feel-
ings have value. Respect in a healthy relationship means you consider the words you say, the attitude you portray, your willingness to compromise and acknowledgement of other person’s feelings, needs and wishes. It takes consideration, compassion and honesty to develop and maintain respect. Building a healthy relationship is also about trust- reliability, truth, ability of. It is the foundation of a healthy and lasting relationship. When there is no trust in a relationship, it creates feelings of insecurity, anxiety, fear, anger, loss of respect and love and friendships. To maintain high trust level, individuals should be open and honest with each other; keep no secrets, play no games. In every relationship, it will take time and effort to build the trust and respect needed to maintain healthy relationships. Proverbs 17:22 a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. It’s important for an individual to continuously feel good about themselves, and to develop high self-esteem. Being in an unhealthy relationship can lower an individual’s self-esteem and create feelings of negative self worth. Words of affirmation and love can help improve the self-esteem of each individual in any relationship which helps to create a healthy environment for the relationship to grow. In every great relationship, it takes love, acceptance, faith, trust, respect, open communication, support and encouragement. Treat every relationship you have as a gift from God; “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”-James 1:17KJV Advice for a Healthy and Happy Relationship 1. Listen to how you talk 2. Control your Anger 3. Learn to say “I forgive you”, “I love you”, “I’m sorry” 4. Fighting, “No-no” 5. Find someone to mentor, or find someone to mentor you. 6. Have the habits of giving gifts 7. Treat the person to his/her favourite anything 8. Take a day at the zoo, movies, or even have a dinner by the fire 9. Use the power of surprise (Find a gift to shock him/her) 10. Learn to communicate in times of troubles 11. For couples, you may want to try breakfast in bed 12. Listen; really listen to each other 13. Motivate each other Next Issue: Dating with a purpose! Compiled by Tashawna Harrison Gregory Park SDA Church
T he L i g ht
The children listen attentively as Bro and Sis Wilson do the Children's Story during Family Life Day, February 7, 2015
A section of the officers who took the Litany of Commitment during Officers’ Commitment service, Sabbath January 3, 2015
Elder Clive Ebanks mans the Gregory Park ‘concession stand’ during the District/Community Sports Day in Waterford, February 17, 2015
Members of the Gregory Park District of Churches Board of Elders lay hands on Pastor Levi Johnson, President of Central Jamaica Conference as they pray for him following his presentation at the District Prayer and Fasting, Sunday January 11, 2015. Kneeling before Pastor Johnson is Evangelist Fitz Henry who also made a presentation at the Service.
Jade McGann, Zudie-Ann Grant and Latoya Moncrieffe perform a special on March 25, during Youth Week of Prayer
Members of the Royal Crown Pathfinder Club walk to the Portmore Mall as a part of their Walk-a-thon, April 5, 2015
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OPERATION PLANT-A-TREE
Pastor Onell Montaque, Elder Cavan Davis and a handful of young persons gather at the back of the church early Sunday morning, January 24, to plant and dedicate a mango tree as a part of the Central Jamaica Conference, Youth Department ‘Plant-ATree’ initiative. The symbolic exercise is in response to the imperative of spiritual growth and unity. Each Adventist Youth Society was asked to identify a suitable place on the church compound to plant a fruit tree that will bear within a year.
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A History of General Conference Session The Adventist Church’s General Conference Session will take place this year Thursday, July 2, 2015 to Sabbath, July 11, 2015. Below we look at the history and significance of this worldwide gathering of Adventist members and church administrators.
W H AT
IS
SESSION?
FREQUENCY
The General Conference Session is the forum for electing world church officers and voting changes to the church's Constitution. Delegates also hear reports from each of the 13 administrative regions of the church. Voting delegates for Session represent world regions both by church population and the self-sustainability of administrative regions. The Constitution states that at least 50 percent of delegates shall be laypersons, pastors, teachers, and nonadministrative employees, of both genders and representing a range of age groups and nationalities. Church members also have the opportunity to reconnect with friends from around the world.
T R A N S F O R M AT I O N
OVER TIME
While Sessions are now held in football stadiums, pictures from early Sessions show delegates lined along the entrance to a small church. Back then, the movement's leaders came to Session in the U.S. state of Michigan mostly from the Midwest and Northeastern United States by train or by horse and buggy. Today, about one-third of the movement's membership now resides in Africa, with another third residing in Central America and South America. Brazil now has more Adventists than any other country 1.3 million.
SESSION
The time between Sessions has lengthened over the years. Session was held every year until 1891. Session was then held every other year until 1905. Session then took a four-year break followed by another hiatus during World War I before meeting again in 1918. Afterward, Session was held every four years until the Great Depression - Session was held in 1930, but then not again until 1936 and then in 1941. Since 1970, Session has been held every five years, as is mandated by the Adventist Church Constitution.
MEETING
VENUES
Recent General Conference Sessions have been held in baseball and football stadiums in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Few other venues in the world offer the necessary amenities for such an event: seating for 70,000-plus attendees, venue support staff who speak English (the official business language of the church), reliable and costeffective transportation, and food safety for a large group.
BEGINNINGS
Seventh-day Adventist leaders met in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1863 "for the purpose of organizing a General Conference," the minutes from that meeting say. The meeting began on the evening of May 20, during which delegates chose a chairman and a secretary. During the Session, delegates drafted a constitution and bylaws. They also established leadership of the Conference comprised of a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Today, the same officer structure remains at all levels of church administration. Battle Creek was the site of 26 of the first 31 GC Sessions. The first Session held west of the Mississippi River was in November of 1887 in Oakland, California. Session has been held outside the U.S. three times: in Austria in 1975, the Netherlands in 1995 and in Canada in 2000. San Antonio will be the 60th Session.
Church buildings could no longer hold GC Sessions by the early 1900s. Above, delegates meet at the Exposition Auditorium in San Francisco, California in 1936 Source: http://2015.gcsession.org/, The Official Website of General Conference Session 2015
The Light
If you see a younger, slimmer, better looking version of yourself from years ago, feel free to laugh out loud as you take a trip down memory lane
Youth Retreat 2003, Sunrise, St. Mary — April 18-21
October 17-19 Registration now open
Quaint Location ● Fun & Fellowship
Details in the next issue
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To get copies of these and other SDA Christian Literature:
Speak with your local Publishing Director
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PUBLICATIONS
of the Quarter
DESCRIPTION Current information about the most important areas of human development: health, family, and society. A book containing medical information in an attractive and understandable format. Best features: • Everything you need to know about men, women, couples, motherhood, and pediatrics. • The most complete set on education, children’s health, and the family in general. Dimensions: 22 x 28.5 cm • Binding: hardcover • Pages: 1) 376; 2) 384; 3) 400; 4) 384 • Fullcolor illustrations
DESCRIPTION Severe headaches, migraines? Trustworthy information about the causes of these conditions. Educational and modern style. Best features: • Natural methods for curing headaches. • The best natural and scientific methods available to everyone. • Easy and fast consultation thanks to an alphabetized index of diseases and symptoms. Dimensions: 17. 5 x 25 cm • Binding: hardcover • 64 pages • Full-color illustrations
T he Li ght
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Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) is a 24-hour Christian television and radio network. 3ABN’s focus is programming which helps people find answers to their emotional hurts, physical and spiritual needs, and questions about the Bible. 3ABN offers programs on divorce recovery, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, cooking and health, stop smoking and weight loss, children and family issues, natural home remedies, and gospel music. 3ABN's networks also feature a variety of inspirational themes from the Bible for children and adults, as well as clear and candid discussions of Bible topics. This 3ABN app allows you to watch our live streaming television broadcasts and listen to our streaming radio broadcasts, using your cellular or wifi connection. This app features the following 3ABN networks: Television: 3ABN, 3ABN Latino (Spanish and Portuguese), 3ABN Proclaim!, 3ABN Russia (Три Ангела) (Russian), Dare to Dream Network, SonBeam Channel Radio: 3ABN Radio, 3ABN Russia Radio (Russian), Radio 3ABN Latino (Spanish and Portuguese). Additionally, the app contains links to our website schedules, where you can view our programming listings in your own time zone.
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Health as a Lifestyle
S
A Guide to Schizophrenia
chizophrenia is a chronic, disabling brain disorder that affects about 1% of Americans. It may cause people to hear voices, see imaginary sights, or believe other people are controlling their thoughts. These sensations can be frightening and often lead to erratic behavior. There is no cure, but treatment can usually control the most serious symptoms. Symptoms of schizophrenia may include: Hallucinations -- hearing or seeing imaginary things Delusions -- wildly false beliefs Paranoia -- the fear others are plotting against you Symptoms may include lack of enjoyment in everyday life and withdrawal from normal social activities. People with schizophrenia often have abnormal ways of thinking. They may have trouble organizing their thoughts or making logical connections. They may feel like the mind is racing from one unrelated thought to another. Sometimes they experience "thought blocking," a feeling that thoughts are removed from their head. Despite popular belief, schizophrenia is not dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder.)
Schizophrenia causes a wide range of behaviors. People may speak incoherently or even make up words. They may act agitated or appear stone-faced. Many people have trouble maintaining basic hygiene or orderly homes. Schizophrenia can also cause repetitive behaviors, such as pacing. In contrast to common stereotypes, the risk of violence against others is small. Schizophrenia affects men and women at the same rate, and occurs almost equally in all ethnic groups around the world. Symptoms usually begin between ages 16 and 30. The onset tends to be earlier in men than in women. Schizophrenia rarely begins during childhood or after age 45. People with schizophrenia in their family may have a higher risk for the illness. The exact cause is not known, but scientists suspect
genes and environment both play a role. Inside the brain, levels of the chemical messengers dopamine and glutamate may be out of balance. And brain structures may be abnormal, too. For example, brain scans of identical twins show that the fluid-filled "ventricles" can be larger in a twin with schizophrenia, compared with a twin who does not have the illness. Activity levels can also be higher or lower than normal in some areas of the schizophrenic brain.
There are no lab tests to detect schizophrenia, so a diagnosis is usually based on history and symptoms. Tests may be ordered to rule out other medical causes of symptoms. In teenagers, a combination of family history and certain behaviors can help predict the onset of schizophrenia. These behaviors include withdrawing from social groups and expressing unusual suspicions. Prescription drugs can reduce symptoms such as abnormal thinking, hallucinations, and delusions. It's thought they work by regulating certain brain chemicals and receptors that influence thinking, perception, and behavior. Some people have troubling side effects, including tremors and weight gain. Schizophrenia drugs can also interact with other medications or supplements. In most cases, long-term medication is essential to managing schizophrenia. Counseling can help people cope with their problem behaviors and thoughts, and improve how they relate to others. In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), people learn to test the reality of their thoughts and better manage symptoms. Other forms of therapy aim to improve self-care, communication, and relationship skills. These strategies are not meant to replace medication, but can help people already stable on medication manage everyday challenges. Rehabilitation may include job training, money management counseling, and guidance in using public transportation or shopping for groceries. The goal is to help people with schizophrenia stay employed and maintain as much independence as possible. Rehab programs are particularly effec-
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Health as a Lifestyle tive when combined with psychotherapy. People with schizophrenia sometimes quit their medications because of side effects or a poor understanding of their illness. This raises the risk of serious symptoms returning and triggering a full psychotic episode. Regular psychosocial therapy can help people stay on medication and avoid a relapse or the need for hospitalization. Relationships can be a challenge for people with schizophrenia. Their unusual thoughts and behaviors may alienate friends, co-workers, and family members. Sticking to a treatment plan can reduce social isolation. One form of therapy focuses on forming and nurturing interpersonal relationships. In addition, support groups or family therapy can help loved ones better understand the illness. People with schizophrenia are much more likely than the general population to abuse drugs or alcohol. Some drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, can make symptoms worse. Drug abuse can also interfere with treatments for schizophrenia. Patients with a drug problem may benefit from substance abuse programs specifically designed for people with schizophrenia. Most drugs used to treat schizophrenia have no known risk for increasing the risk of birth defects, but decisions about medication treatment for schizophrenia during pregnancy should be discussed with your doctor. Schizophrenia can be confused with other mental health disorders so a careful evaluation is key. It can also be difficult to convince someone with schizophrenia to get help. Treatment often begins when a psychotic episode results in a hospital stay. Once the person is stabilized, family members can help prevent a relapse by encouraging the person to stay on medication and tagging along on follow-up appointments
5 Diet Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
1. Relying on Crash Diets Determined to lose 10 pounds fast, you turn to a crash diet. Perhaps your plan calls for nothing but grapefruit or cabbage soup each day. You slash your daily calories to fewer than 1,000, and sure enough, the pounds melt away. But when you eat so few calories, you train your metabolism to slow down. Once the diet is over, you have a body that burns calories more slowly, and you usually regain the weight.
2. Skipping Breakfast
Skipping breakfast seems like a simple way to cut calories, but it can make you hungry the rest of the day. This may lead to unplanned snacking at work and eating a supersized portion at lunch, making calorie counts soar. But breakfasts that are high in protein and fiber can curb hunger throughout the day. In fact, studies show people who eat breakfast every morning are more likely to maintain a healthy weight.
3. Losing Track of Your Snacks Maybe you count calories at every meal, but what about all those nibbles in between? There's the bag of pretzels at your desk, the little slice of cake at a party, the taste of your son's ice cream cone. All of this mindless munching adds up and could sabotage an otherwise well-planned diet. If you're serious about counting calories, you may want to use your smartphone or a notebook to keep track of each bite.
4. Sipping Too Many Calories Reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD on April 5, 2014 www.webmd.com
When counting calories, many of us tend to overlook what's in our drinks. This is a big mistake when you consider that some beverages have more than 500 calories. Even the calories in fruit juice and soda can add up quickly. What's worse is that liquid calories don't curb hunger. You're not going to eat any less after a high-calorie drink.
5. Drinking Too Little Water
This is one of the simplest diet mistakes to fix. Water is essential for burning calories. If you let yourself get dehydrated, your metabolism drags, and that means slower weight loss. So try adding a glass of water to every meal and snack. Reviewed by Michael Smith, MD on May 9, 2014 www.webmd.com
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The Light shares the following news stories on religion from across the world, for the information of readers. Opinions expressed in these reports/stories do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Light, the Gregory Park SDA Church or the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Family of God Church explores new worship format
come to worship, it should not just be because you are participating, but because you need God.” The divine worship service was followed by Sabbath School and Personal Ministries activities. After a short break, Bible Class and Adventist Youth Service ensued. All these services ended at 1:00 p.m. so that members could use the time following for lunch, fellowship and to conduct visitations in the community. Service for the day resumed at 4:30 p.m. for Vespers that is evangelistic in nature. Members are encouraged to invite their neighbours and friends to this special vesper service. According to Pastor Lorenzo King, “this vesper service is designed to have the church involved in evangelism all year round.” Damian Chambers Central Jamaica Conference Website www.centraja.org March 22, 2015
I
n an effort to improve attendance, and to increase the percentage of members involved in evangelism, the leaders and members of the Family of God Church (St. Catherine) are exploring a new format of worship for Sabbath Services. This new format (the first of which was held on Sabbath, March 21) saw the Divine Worship service as the first service of the day, starting at 8:30 a.m. The service was conducted by Pastor Lorenzo King, senior pastor of the Family of God District of Churches with Pastor Levi Johnson, president of CJC as the Divine Service speaker. During his sermon, Pastor Johnson commended the church and its leaders for this innovative move. He also said that he is awaiting the evaluation to see the impact of this new format. According to Pastor Johnson, “Worship is more than outward observance. Unless there is an inward experience with God there is no true worship.” He also said that, “Pastors are fulfilling the highest duty of their calling when they prepare themselves and God’s people for worship . . . the fundamental purpose of worship is to seek God. Therefore, when you
110-Year-Old Man Baptized in Guatemala
News continued on next page
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...Continued
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110-year-old man in Guatemala could well be the oldest man baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church and an example, church leaders said, that it is never to late to accept Jesus. Joaquin Tzoc and his new wife, Petronilla, 98, became the first people in their large family to join the Adventist Church when they were baptized in the mountainous town of San Andrés Sajcabajá near the border with Mexico . “Church leaders reminded those witnessing the baptism that it is never too late to give your life to Jesus,” said Gustavo Menendez, communication director for the Adventist Church in Guatemala . Adventist Church cofounder Ellen G. White was still alive and would continue writing and preaching for another decade . Church members visited Tzoc many times in his remote mountainous home over the years, but he always brushed off the idea of baptism or marrying his common-law wife, with whom he lived for decades. He said it was too late to get married because they were so old. Then he got sick and lost his sight. “The brethren said God used his circumstances,” Menendez said. “So he got married, and together they were baptized.” . Dozens of people from the Agostadero Adventist Church crowded around a pool as pastor Anibal Perez and another church member helped Tzoc into the crystal-blue water in late January. His wife was baptized the same day. The couple has five children and 20 grandchildren. Adventist News Network http://news.adventist.org/
College, a public school in northeastern Kenya. “Words can’t describe how horrific this event was to experience,” said Philmon Okal, one of the first police officers to respond to the attack and the Sabbath School superintendent at the local Garissa Adventist Church. “But this attack reminds me that the second coming of Jesus is very near,” Okal said. “We must continue to look for that day when violence, death and destruction will be no more.” Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group based in neighboring Somalia, has claimed responsibility for the Thursday, April 2, attack. The group, which says it wants to “liberate Muslim lands from occupation,” has staged other attacks against Christians but none as brutal as last week. Stanley Rotich, a member of the Garrissa Adventist Church, said he was in a nearby building when he heard gunshots. He immediately called Nyumbuto, the Adventist student leader, by cell phone. The conversation abruptly ended when the phone was disconnected. He later learned of his friend’s death. Nearly 600 students managed to flee the campus during the hours-long assault, and about 80 were injured, some seriously. Kenya’s president has promised to bring the attackers to justice and ordered bomb strikes against al-Shabab targets in Somalia. Investigators have detained five suspects on suspicion of supplying weapons to the attackers. The Seventh-day Adventist Church on Wednesday expressed condolences to the loved ones of those who died and said it mourned with them. Members of the Garissa church, many of whom were acquainted with the 10 slain students, said they were “heartbroken.” “We are heartbroken by this senseless loss and solicit your prayers for all of the victims of this terrible tragedy,” the church said in a statement.
10 Adventists Killed in Kenyan University Massacre Adventist News Network http://news.adventist.org/
A
t least 10 Seventh-day Adventists were among the 148 people slain when four Islamist militants stormed a Kenyan university last week in an attack against Christians, church leaders said Wednesday. Among the dead is Eric Nyumbuto, leader of the student-led Adventist church on the campus of Garissa University
University students join a demonstration condemning the gunmen attack at the Garissa University campus, in the Kenyan coastal port city of Mombasa Adventist News Network http://news.adventist.org/
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Central Jamaica Conference, Second Quarter
April Wed-Thur 1-30 Thur-Mon 2-6 Fri 3 Sab 4 Sab 4 Sab 4 Mon 6 Wed 8 Fri 10 Sab 11 Sab 11 Sab 11 Sun 12 Sun 12 & 19 Tue 14 Thur 16 Fri-Sun 17-19 Sab 18 Sab 25 Sab 25 Sab 25 Sab 25 Sun 26
Launch of Singles’ Club in Local Churches AY Federation Campores Good Friday Missionary Magazines Personal Ministries Day Vision One Million Celebration - Conferencewide Easter Monday Executive Committee 1st Quarter Reports due at CJC Office Adventist Mission Emphasis (offering) Youth Spiritual Commitment Celebration (Northern Hemisphere) Stewardship Day – Conference-wide Communication Workshop – Conferencewide Disaster Preparedness Training Launch of International Sabbath School Teachers’ Association – JAMU Chapter Fruit, Vegetables & Grains Day Parenting Conference (Conference-wide) – Palmer’s Cross Church Literature Evangelism Rally Christian Education Day Spiritual Revival Emphasis Spiritual Emphasis - Educational Institutions International Evangelism Commencement of IICM Training – St. Catherine
May Fri-Sun 1-31 Fri-Sun 1-31 Fri-Sun 1-31 Sab 2 Sab 2 Sab 2 Sab 2* Sab 2* Sab 9* Sab 9
Children’s & Adventurers’ Month Drug Awareness Month Parish/Federation Sports Days Community Services Evangelism Children’s Emphasis & Baptismal Day Children’s Convention (Linstead Church) Day of the SDA Books (IADPA) Disaster & Famine Relief Emphasis Tell the World: Big Cities Children’s Convention (Portmore Church)
Sun 10 Mother’s Day Wed 13 Executive Committee Sab 18 Children’s Convention (May Pen Church) Sab 18 Youth Day – Conference-wide Sab 16* Sabbath of Hope Thur 21 Fruit, Vegetables & Grains Day Sab 23 Schools of Prayer in IAD Territory Sab 23 Children’s Convention (Mandeville Church) Sab/Mon 23(25) Labour Day Sun 24 Five K-run/Walk (O-SAY) for Better Communities Mon 25 Federations Labour Day Projects Sab 30 Children’s Convention (Sydenham Church)
June Sab 6 Sab 6* Sab 6 Wed 10 Sab 13 Sab 13 Sun 14 Thur 18 Sab 20 Sab 20 Sab 20 Sun 21 Sab 27 Sab 27
Bible Correspondence School Emphasis Women’s Ministry Emphasis Personal Ministries Day Executive Committee Adventist Laypersons Service & Industries (ASI) Day Men’s Day of Prayer Young Professionals’ Brunch – Versalles Hotel, May Pen Fruit, Vegetables & Grains Day Launch of Lay Workers’ Museum Youth Day – Conference-wide Elders’ Appreciation Day Father’s Day Vision One Million Baptismal Day 13th Sabbath Offering (Northern Asia-Pacific Division)
*Programme provided by the General Conference or by the Inter-American Division **One week before each “Mission To The Big City/Town Outreach” all night prayer meeting on the Saturday night at the main church +Worldwide Offering. Special offerings are included in the systematic plan of the Division # Organized Baptisms are conducted and recognition of those baptized during the quarter