With the drive to spark enthusiasm and improved involvement and performance in this year's Heritage Quiz, Pastor Alanzo Whyte, Ministerial Secretary of the East Jamaica Conference hosted an official launch at the New Haven SDA Church on March 4, 2023.
Pastor Whyte under whose portfolio the annual quiz falls, encouraged everyone to get on board and become a part of the heritage quiz team at their local church this year.
:: Photo credit:
“It is a joy to make this program available at this time and to stimulate our youths in the heritage quiz competition because it is a highly recommended program to buttress our youths,” Whyte said during his introduction. “In an age of false news, fake news and when social media is dominating the mind of our youths and leading many astray from the straight path, we are seeking to lead people in the way of righteousness,” he added.
Pastor Alanzo Whyte, Ministerial secretary of the East Jamaica Conference speak to the congregation during launch on March 4, 2023. :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
Pastor Whyte declared the Heritage Quiz competition launched after a powerful charge by Pastor Joel Jumpp, Youth Ministries Director, who was the guest speaker for the afternoon. The prayer of consecration for the event was offered by Pastor Manley Phillips, Director, Prayer Ministries & Spirit of Prophecy. Jumpp made a passionate appeal for young people to become engaged in the quiz at their local church and encouraged them to make the investment in spending time in the Word of God.
Youth Director of East Jamaica Conference gives charge during launch of Heritage Quiz on March 4, 2023. :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
Quoting from the SDA Bible Commentary by E.G. White, Elder Michael Porteous, Treasurer, EJC said, “The highest work of princes in Israel, of physicians, of teachers in our schools, as well as for ministers is to fasten the scriptures in the minds of the people, for God’s words are a leaf from the tree of life. What we have in this heritage quiz challenge is a tool to do just that work,” Porteous said during his greeting.
“The administration of the Conference is truly delighted to partner with the Ministerial department and the young people and the spirit of prophecy department in advancing the work”, Porteous said.
Speaking specifically to the young people of the New Haven and Riverton Meadows SDA Churches where he is the church pastor, Anthony Taylor made public his support for the program noting that it comes at a good time “because it will help to ground and educate our young people not just in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church globally but locally as well.”
Shawn Brooks, coordinator of the EJC Heritage Quiz program speaks during the launch on March 4, 2023 :: Photo credit: Phillip Castell
In giving his overview of the Heritage Quiz program, coordinator of the program in East Jamaica Conference, Bro. Shawn Brooks explained that the Heritage Quiz is an initiative of the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and that in EJC, the program is being spearheaded by the Youth Ministries and the Ministerial Departments.
Brooks advised that the Heritage Quiz seeks to teach our members about the heritage and doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica. Areas to be covered include:- Bible teachings and doctrines, The book of Daniel Chapters 1 - 6, the fundamental beliefs of the SDA Church and the Heritage Manual - Chaps 1 - 7.
“The quiz caters for all age groups in our church including 0 -12( Child), 13-18 (Teens), 18-30 ( Young Adults), 30 and over (Elders) and all four age groups must be represented on each team. Teams may be registered by churches or by districts and multiple teams may be registered per church.
Teams are being encouraged to register online via this Google Document link https://chat.whatsapp.com/ETBVZj7RCqx3m55v6AVEe during the month of March 2023.