JAMAICA BAPTIST UNION

CONVENTION & 165TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

TO BLAZE MEGA-GOSPEL TRAIL IN MONTEGO BAY

                                                                                                  By: Erica James- King

JBU member churches islandwide, a delegation from the Haitian Baptist Churches, Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) will be participating in this five-day gospel explosion. The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort and Calvary Baptist Church are the venues for the day sessions and evening worship services, respectively. Daytime activities will include Bible studies, panel discussions, lectures and workshops. The thematic focus for each of the five days, respectively, is: Our Faith, God’s Distinctive Mission – Mission Without Boasting,” “Our Faith, God’s Extensive Mission – Mission Without Boundaries, Our Faith, God’s Inclusive Mission – Mission Without Barriers, Our Faith, God’s Pervasive Mission-Mission Betwixt and Between, and Our Faith, God’s Subversive Mission – Mission that Breaks Stronghold & Boldly Serves.

One of the highlights of Wednesday’s activities will be the Believers’ Convention lecture, which will address the topic, “Faith in the Public Square”. Co-presenters will be the Rev. Lyn Green, General Secretary of BUGB and Rev. Dr. Burchell Taylor, Pastor, Bethel Baptist Church (Half-Way-Tree). A Ministers’ Conference on “Making the Mind our Business – Mental Health Awareness” will take place on Wednesday. The presenter will be Dr. Maureen Irons Morgan, Director, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Ministry of Health.

On Thursday, mission opportunities for the conferees will comprise community outreach programmes and home visitations in the Lilliput, Spot Valley and Cornwall Courts areas, and a march from Calvary Baptist Church to Sam Sharpe Square. An open-air worship service will take place at Sam Sharpe Square on Friday evening.

The closing services of the General Assembly are slated for the Montego Bay Convention Centre. This is a historic happening, as it is the first time in 28 years that the closing services are being held outside of the Kingston and St. Andrew Metropolitan area.

Another history-making feat for the JBU General Assembly is that for the first time in the life of the Union, it will receive into its membership, churches located outside of Jamaica’s geographical borders. A circuit of three churches in Haiti, Eglise Christanisme Du Calvaire Baptiste, will be given the right hand of fellowship by the JBU.

Meanwhile, as a part of the 200 year-old bond between BUGB/BMS and JBU, the groups will engage in bicentenary discussions. David Kerrigan, General Director of BMS World Mission and Rev. Lyn Green, will be the speakers, representing the British Baptists at the General Assembly. Other preachers/speakers include Rev. Michael Shim-Hue, JBU President and the pastor of Greater Portmore Baptist Church; Rev. Douglas Fowles, the pastor of Fullersfield Circuit of Baptist Churches; Rev. Dr. Glenroy Lalor, Baptist the warden at United Theological College of the West Indies; and Rev. Dr. Sam Green, the pastor of Grace Missionary Church.

This highly anticipated Believers’ Convention and General Assembly promises to be a time of soul searching, worship, wonderful fellowship and great inspiration.