Adventist Church in EJC Celebrates the goodness of God at Convention 2023

Thousands of Adventists turned out to worship and participate in  one of the most memorable convocations  in recent history during East Jamaica Conference’s (EJC)   two Conventions which were held on January 21 (Zones 1 - 3 ) at the Kencot SDA Church and on January 29 (Zone 4) at the Big Tent, pitched at the Red Hills field  close to the Morant Bay round-about in St. Thomas.

 

 

 

Both conventions were held under the theme ' Mission First, I Will Go' and  left attendees on a spiritual high with  the rich blend of  beautiful singing,  powerful testimonies and seasoned preachers presenting the  Word of God. Whereas the speaker for the Kingston leg of the convention was  Pastor Adlai Blythe, Treasurer of Jamaica Union (JAMU), the speaker of the Zone 4 Convention was  Pastor Levi Johnson, Executive Secretary,JAMU.  Both men invited members to heed the call of Christ and become actively involved in winning souls for Christ.

Hosting their first Convention since being elected to June 2022, the new Administration under the leadership of Conference president Pastor Meric Dale Walker,  impressed upon the church,  the seriousness of the times we are living in.  The president made a passionate plea for the gospel message to be preached as never before as the  earth is now in darkness.

 “I am happy to let you know that the leadership of the East  Jamaica Conference has  a burden, because we are seeing as never before that we are living in the darkest time of earth’s history and it is not just to  go through the motions but to give the trumpet a certain sound, to  cry aloud, to spare not and to let the church know that it is mission time,”  Walker said with urgency  when he addressed the church at the Kencot Church on January 21. “ It is not business as usual but mission unusual in unusual times  and we are to blow the trumpet in Zion  because we have the truth,” he added.

Powerful testimonies of the goodness of God  in the lives of his people were shared  at both conventions  but the testimony of Sis. Tiffany Lawrence from the Johnson Town SDA Church tugged at the heart of many of her listeners whose eyes welled up with water as she shared her personal conversation with God about her sick mother who she loves dearly.  

Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director, Pastor Anthony Baugh was more than pleased to share the good news of the tremendous success that the Conference experienced in the 2022 Harvest  in-gathering  effort. “We don’t beg we solicit and we have solicited and  God has been good to us,” Baugh said prior to sharing the report with the church in St. Thomas.

 

All four zones did exceptionally well in Ingathering this year with churches in Zones 1 - 3 returning more than $10.9M. “This represents more than 191% increase over last year,” said Pastor Baugh during his report to the church. “To God be the glory, great things he hath done.  We must sing the victory song,” Baugh said  while affirming the church for the great work that was accomplished.  It was a similar story in zone 4 where churches  registered significant increases over the year before. There was an overall decline in the sums reported but on the date of the Convention, this was due to 2 churches not reporting.

In both Conventions, the afternoon segment  came alive as members marched into the sanctuary behind  their banners and pastors. Some sang and waived their hands in the air   in a show  of support and solidarity  for the evangelistic mission of their church.