On March 8, 2025, Everton Park SDA Church launched the Beacon of Hope Bible School which featured a graduation ceremony and a baptism. The afternoon’s proceedings were led by the East Jamaica Conference’s Bible School Coordinator, Elder Jennifer Dillon, who not only encouraged the graduands to share God’s word with others, but also to engage themselves in deeper study.
Following the church’s vote to grant the School official status, the resolution of the Bible School was led by the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director of the East Jamaica Conference, Pastor Michael Lewis who signed the register, followed by host pastor, Kiwayne Ferron and other key members of the local church.
Principal of the School, Elder Audrey Simon, shared that the School came into being as a collaboration between the Personal Ministries and Sabbath School Departments. “This was born out of a need to have our members become more familiar with the word of God and to also use the Bible School as an outreach medium,” she said. Of the 35 students who enrolled in the school, 32 children, youth and adults, completed their courses successfully.
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In the charge to the graduands, Pastor Lewis highlighted the two groups present in Psalm 1 – the blessed and the ungodly.
“When someone makes their diet God’s word, they are considered blessed. Whatever you do will prosper when you feed on the word,” he said.
Pastor Lewis briefly shared his personal testimony of becoming a member of the church through the influence of a Bible School thirty-nine years ago.
“This is the most powerful instrument of the church that can make people accept Christ and can keep people in Christ, because it [the study of God’s word] is not emotional, it is cerebral,” he stated.
He congratulated the graduands and encouraged them to continue studying God’s word and invited the congregation to put Christ first and to make God’s word a premium in their lives.
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Alvin Dixon, who made his decision for Christ official through baptism, shared that his desire to know more about God prompted his enrollment in the Bible School.
“I want to live a better life,” he shared, when asked why he decided to give his life to the Lord. He also expressed that he was feeling good about his decision.
Onesha King declared that the lessons were interesting and served to test her knowledge on things she learned during youth Bible Classes while helping her grow as a Christian.
“I have found the lessons very interesting and educational when it comes to different stories and Bible verses. The knowledge I have gained has helped me in the spiritual aspect of my life and I look forward to completing the other courses to come,” she added.
Elder Dillon challenged the members of the congregation to go into the community and into their homes to recruit persons for the school and to also study with persons so that the next graduation ceremony and baptismal service will be even bigger.
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