M A G A Z I N E

BOULEVARD BAPTIST CHURCH | SEPTEMBER 2013 EDITION | ISSUE NO. 11

Youth in Mission
ministering through sport

BBC Footballers

Sermon: Making the most of every

OPPORTUNITY MIRACLE
Testimony:

My Life is a

Climate Change, a clear and present danger Kings Manor Development

Mission Statement: To develop our spiritual lives, evangelize the wider community and influence the world through Christ by organized preaching, public and private worship, Christian education and fellowship, while co-operating with other Christian bodies.
Boulevard Baptist Church

Boulevard Baptist Church 2 Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20 Tel.: 905-2422, 905-0118 or 832-1522 Email: boulevard.baptist@yahoo.com Pastor: Rev. Dr. Devon Dick Opportunities For Worship Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School: 8:00 a.m. 8:50 a.m. Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Prayer and Fasting: 1st Saturdays, 7:00 a.m. Editor-in-Chief: Sophia Williams Editors: Dorrett R Campbell and Hyacinth Brown Other Team Members: Carla Wilson-Redden, Francine Dallas, Simone Hull-Lloyd, Verna Edwards, Ricardo Holness, Claudette Reid, Duvaughn Dick, Petrona Faulknor and Lorna Fraser.

 The only source of knowledge is experience.

Albert Einstein

W E A LT H
www.weareproven.com
Head Office: 26 Belmont Road, Kingston 5, Tel: 876.908.3800-2 Mandeville Branch: 5-7 Ward Avenue, Tel: 876.625.0845-6 Montego Bay Branch: Unit 11, Suite B, Fairview II Shopping Centre, Bogue, Montego Bay, Tel: 876.908.3800-2 info@weareproven.com

Church On A

The Boulevard Baptist Church (BBC) has been involved in missions both locally and overseas. The Church equips and enables its members to undertake and fulfill this important role. Our community mission has been mainly in Marverly. We minister through a Soup Kitchen on a Saturday once monthly. In addition, we minister to the children at the Marverly Primary and Junior High School through breakfast assistance, back-to-school supplies and a weekly Bible Club. In addition to the Marverly childrens programme, other missions to reach the youth are carried out through sporting and educational activities. One is our Netball and Football Evangelistic Thrust. Most of those who use the facilities of the Church for these sporting activities are not members of BBC. We are able to minister to them and have had success in changing lives. Another is our ministry through devotional exercises to the students attending the classes of the BBC/HEART Trust/NTA Skills Training programme and our literacy classes. BBC eVoice | 1

These students are from the community but are not necessarily members of BBC. Our Local Missions have focused on assisting and developing churches, surrounding communities and the youth. The churches include: Point Hill Circuit St. Catherine, Union Hill St. Mary, and Aelous Valley St. Thomas. The last one is the only one being served presently. Other local missions include regular Prayer Walks, Prayer Vigils and witnessing to non-Christians by individual members. Our Overseas Missions include: Turks and Caicos Islands 2009: Ten missionaries assisted with Vacation Bible School; Haiti 1999: Eight BBC members assisted with Vacation Bible School, built chairs and desks for a Basic School and taught Arts and Crafts to teenagers; Guyana 1996: We joined with the JBU mission team to Guyana to teach and preach the Gospel.

Editors Pick of the Month

Sermon:

Jah kingdom goes to waste

Missions Month 2013 opened at the Boulevard Baptist Church on Sunday 1st September with a passionate plea by Dorrett Campbell for the Church to close the leadership gap in a world that is fighting one another for de power and de glory. In a sermon with the teaser title, Jah Kingdom goes to waste, Sister Dorrett used the story of Elis sons (1st Samuel 2: 12- 17) to urge the Church to provide exemplary leadership that transforms and renews Jamaica and restores harmony with our God and his creation so that we can pursue and enjoy peace. Noting that Mission is underscored by stewardship, Sister Dorrett added that as keepers of the Kingdom, we are accountable to God to deploy his gifts, time and resources responsibly. We must advocate for the preservation of the environment and speak out against those who abuse Gods natural resources to advance a narrow selfish agenda. She pointed to the effects of climate change on Small Island Developing States like Jamaica and cautioned that development should not come at the expense of mans dignity and survival. She opined that we have disrespected the purpose for which God had intended his natural resources plundered them; killed for them; played politics wid them Consequently, our poor stewardship has shattered the peace and harmony of nature and has bred crime, violence and other social atrocities. Our stewardship, she exhorted, must also extend to promoting healthy lifestyles and healthy relationships, thus guarding the temple of the Holy Spirit and each mans dignity and reputation. Sister Dorrett emphasized that the essence of the Churchs mission is to transform lives through discipleship and mentorship. She applauded the work of Boulevard Baptist in this regard, but lamented that greater effort was needed, and every Christian from the pulpit to the pew - must be involved. She concluded that if we did not heed the command of Matthew 28:18-20, then Jah Kingdom goes to waste and every drop of blood we taste a fi we own disgrace.

BBC eVoice | 2

Boulevard Baptist Church

Youth in Mission
Stephan Morrison
Stephan Morrison, 23 year old Law student shares his Christian journey and his work in Mission. I became a Christian at age 13 or 14. However the peer pressure and curiosity as a young man trying to find my place in an all boys school, led to me disregarding my Christian teachings. I was still very convinced of the truth of the Word of God, however, never willing to surrender every aspect of my life to Christ. The decision to live a Christian lifestyle would deprive me of the most entertaining aspects of youth, missing the fun experiences shared by my friends.
However over this summer God guided me to start attending the Young Adults Ministry on a Friday at 7:30pm. This group of young believers provided an anchor for me in Christ. I accepted that my purpose on earth was to serve God - everything else being secondary or insignificant to this purpose.

Young Christians participating in Love March September 14, 2013

I became involved in mission work and started participating in activities of my Church Group at Boulevard Baptist. I also accompany the Deacons on their visitations to the sick and shutin members of the Church. Through the Young Adult Ministry, I have been able to participate in various Christian events held in the Corporate Area: For example on September 14 there was a march titled The Love March by young Christians promoting sexual purity and the protection of Jamaicas children from sexual exposure. For Young Christians being distracted from giving priority to God because of school/work, as Christians we need to consider our time with God as a divine requirement. A young person starting a relationship with another person does not expect to build a lasting relationship unless you constantly communicate over the phone or in person. That is how you will get to know each other, build trust in each other and become best friends. So then how can we expect to have the ultimate relationship with God if we never make Him a priority; if we dont use our telephone line to God, which is prayer, and if we dont read his word in order to get to know him better?

BBC eVoice | 3

Boulevard Baptist Church

BBC Footballers
The existence of a football team at Boulevard Baptist goes as far back as 1977, and forms part of the Outreach programme of the Sport Ministry. There is now a new team in a rebuilding mode with players from various communities and varying abilities. The team consists of 16 to 18 active members, age ranging from16 to 25 years, with irregular visitors/older players up to 30 years old. So far, the team has completed the Whole Life Sports 2013 Summer Football League in the middle of the points standings and failed to advance to the semi-finals. The team meets once a week during the pre and post season, and at least twice during the season. Fellowship takes place after all training sessions, at church, and during practice and game matches. Majority of the footballers attend worship service once or twice per month, while on a special day requested, 13 to 15 players are in attendance. The members of the team are appreciative of the Churchs outreach effort, but more can be done to change the physical lives
BBC eVoice | 4

M I N I S T E R I N G T H RO U G H S P O RT
of the players. There is always the need to address more than the spiritual aspects such as mentorship, direction towards improved education, providing jobs and living accommodation.

The footballers are encouraged to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, to increase their involvement in church activities, which will direct and impact their lives as young men, and to build a strong enough team to have regular fellowship matches with other teams and share the gospel. Their testimonies include acceptance into various learning institutions, getting jobs and surviving violent acts against them. The team has the potential to grow and be a better team.

~ Deacon Varick Downie Chairman Sport Ministry

Yolande Beckford
Yolande (right) spends her last day in Japan with friends Fumie Shimojo (left) and Terrike Brown

shares her experience in Japan

BBC eVoice: Tell us about your experience during your first month. Yolande: Difficult. I literally cried daily. I have a very close knit family and not having them there was a huge wake-up call. I also fell off my bicycle, cut my leg and my head missed the sidewalk by a couple of inches. The situation was made even more traumatic as a Japanese lady and her child were driving by, watched the whole incident, but didnt stop to help me. BBC eVoice: Describe their education system. Yolande: The Japanese Education system is based on the American School system. They have a compulsory education period of 9 years which includes the elementary and junior high school years. Japan has one of the worlds best-educated populations, with 100% enrollment in compulsory grades and zero illiteracy. Schools usually operate on a three-term system with the New Year starting in April. BBC eVoice: How does the culture differ from Jamaicas? Yolande: Japan is guided by group norms whereas Jamaica celebrates and applauds individuality. This explains the Japanese characteristic of group behaviour. There is a Japanese proverb that says the nail that sticks out gets hammered the most, so you will find that most persons adhere to society norms and do not challenge the status quo. Many foods are eaten raw or with very little seasoning so that you can taste the authentic flavour of the food. They eat very healthily and they not only consume food for sustenance but use it for its medicinal and aesthetic purposes. BBC eVoice: What were your best and worst experiences? Yolande: I know that this will sound clich: however it was nothing but the grace and mercy of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I was able to find two church homes and it helped with the negative experiences. I had a lot of great experiences. I was a bit of a local celebrity in my little town, and being from the same country as Usain Bolt helped. I joined a Japanese Choir and the members of the Choir made me feel so welcomed. I also got involved in several other activities and met some wonderful people.
Article continues on page 6

BBC eVoice | 5

My first winter in Japan was one of my worst experiences ever. I was totally unprepared. Generally, Japanese houses are not insulated, and neither are they centrally heated. To cope I wore layers and layers of clothing, covered with a minimum of 3 blankets, and used small portable heaters. Finally, you know in Jamaica we dont go to work if likkle rain fall too hard. Well not so in Japan. I had to go to work three times during a tornado. It was very scary, the car shook violently and I thought that I would not make it. But if God is for you, not even the storm can be against you. BBC eVoice: Tell us about Japans religion. Yolande: I would say Japan is a hodgepodge of Shintoism, Buddhism and folk religion. They have many temples or shrines per square mile. However, in Nagasaki, where I lived, is considered the birth place of Christianity in Japan. I toured many Catholic Churches which are rated as world heritage sites by UNESCO. I did however visit a temple once and I did not like it. People sit on the floor, they throw money in these boxes and make wishes. They also write prayers on small sheets of paper and leave it for the gods.

(Photos L-R: Japans Flag, Overlooking the city of Nagasaki, interior of Oura Catholic Church, Nagasaki)

BBC eVoice: Name one thing about Japan that you like that is not characteristic of Jamaica? Yolande: One of the best things about Japan is its customer service - legendary worldwide. The customer is always right. I would love to bring the Japanese model here to Jamaica. Other great things about Japan are the amenities, the first world experience, and the ease of access to anything that may be desired. BBC eVoice: What would you say to anyone who wants to live and work in Japan? Yolande: It is one of the best things a young person can do for his or her life. It helps with character building, and helps you to discover who you really are, especially without all the comforts of home. My advice is to always remain professional, be open-minded and be willing to try new things. Handle each situation with grace and ask for Gods help in everything that you say or do.

BBC eVoice | 6

Boulevard Baptist Church

SERMON:

Making The Most of Every Opportunity

Be very careful, then, how you livenot as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)
General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU), the Reverend Karl Johnson exhorted the Boulevard Baptist congregation to reflect on how we use Gods time.
In a recent sermon titled, Making the most of every opportunity Reverend Johnson referred to Pauls exhortation to the Church at Ephesus to compel us to examine how we have used Gods time to evangelise the world. He noted that this was our mission the reason we exist; the reason we have church and the heart of Christianity. The Baptist preacher reminded us that evangelism is both a way of life and a lifestyle, therefore our lifestyle must support our verbal witness and underscore our evangelism activities; in the same vein, our experiences with God must be shared: our testimony should not be kept a secret. Reverend Johnson also exhorted us to examine the kind of advocates we have been and whether we have used Gods time to advocate for the protection of his creation, the dignity of others and care for those who were socially marginalised. He emphasized that we are Gods mouthpiece therefore, we should use our voice our influence to stand up and speak out against evil - not just in the wider society but in the churches and among families. The Church, he said, must be principled as we cant survive without principles, because Christianity is based on principles. The JBU General Secretary further challenged us to reflect on how we use Gods time to engage and transform lives. Our involvement and engagements in church, in secular activities, in the work place, wherever we are must transform lives, he argued. The projects we undertake must also be used to restore lives and to provide a fresh start for others. May God help us to this end.

BBC eVoice | 7

CLIMATE CHANGE

A Clear and Present Danger

~ Dorrett R Campbell There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

The global phenomenon, Climate Change is described by experts and politicians alike as inarguably the greatest environmental challenge of our time and the greatest threat to development. British climate statesman Sir David King is convinced that climate change is a greater threat than international terrorism. Jamaica and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), because of their limited size and proneness to natural hazards and external shocks, are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, despite the fact that we contribute very little to cause this catastrophe. In what seems like one of earths cruel ironies, the gases - Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide - that make life possible on earth are the very ones which threaten to destroy our very existence as they continue to heat up the planet rapidly - the effects of what is described as global warming or the greenhouse effect. Research has shown that over the last 100 years, the average temperature of the air near the earths surface has risen a little less than 1 Celsius, making the earth much hotter than it has been for at least a thousand years. Although from a laymans point of view, 1 Celsius does not seem all that much, experts say it is responsible for the conspicuous increase in storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and raging forest fires we have experienced over the past ten years. The constant rise in sea level, the dangerous impact on human lives from the emission of greenhouse gases, the erosion of natural beaches and landslides because of deforestation all contribute to natural disasters. This is compounded by the consequential negative effects on agriculture and food security, poverty and human suffering. So what can we do about this? Join us next month for Part Two of this article BBC eVoice | 8

My Life is a Miracle
At five years old I was poisoned with cassava and ackee. Everyone thought I would die. At the age of fifteen I left Montego Bay on a group excursion to Kingston. There I developed friendships, which made it possible for the group to plan another trip to Kingston soon after. While I looked forward to this trip, on that day my mother said I couldnt go as my pants was not ready. That was in 1957, when the Kendal crash took place, and I would have been on that train. I lost three friends in that crash. In 1963 I made a decision to join the army, while my Rastafarian friend who shared my birth date took a different path. He ended up dying in the Coral Gardens incident in Montego Bay. My other two friends who also participated were hanged. After joining the army, I was on a flight, where the plane lost its wing, however we managed to land safely. While travelling in a truck from Grange Hill with thirty other persons, the truck overturned and I was the only one who survived. I did not even receive a scratch. In 1987 I developed diabetes, and got all kind of medication. God spoke to me and I changed the medication. Since then I have not taken insulin. I was experiencing pain in my chest, the doctor said my pressure was excellent. Despite what the doctor said I was not comfortable within myself. I went to see another doctor; he took my blood pressure which read 205/190. I was instructed to do an ECG, and my left ventricle was damaged. I ended up doing a cardio vasectomy. I have high cholesterol and kidney problems, I have survived other crashes and I am still here. God is real, he is alive. I am a miracle, and I give God thanks.

~ Bro. Donald Williams

BBC eVoice | 9

Boulevard Baptist Church

Advertise through this medium and support our Sport Ministry the BBC Netballers and Footballers. This is an evangelistic outreach effort for our Youth.

Turks & Caicos

~Deacon Jenifer McLean
Rev. Oral Campbell, a Jamaica Baptist Union missionary who lived in the Turks and Caicos Islands for six (6) years, extended the call to Boulevard Baptist Church for volunteers to assist with Vacation Bible School in the summer of 2008. One year later, a team comprising of ten (10) persons went on mission to Turks and Caicos Islands to assist with Vacation Bible School July 4-18, 2009. Turks and Caicos are made up of 40 islands with a population of 23,000 inhabitants. Expatriates make up two-thirds of the population. There are 13 Baptist Churches in TCI. We were accommodated at the manse and at another house. During the Church service at Mount Moriah Baptist Church Rev. Campbell officially welcomed us to Middle Caicos and TCI. He expressed gratitude to us for having taken up the challenge to assist with VBS this summer. Deacon Claney Barnett was designated the Principal and the teachers were Wilma Reid, Coleen Collins, Stacey-Ann Clayton, Kathlyn Grant, Victoria Gibbs, David Wallen, Moya-Mae Gordon, Derrick Saddler and Jenifer McLean. Vacation Bible School was scheduled at three Baptist Churches- Mt. Moriah, Mt. Lebanon and Bethany located on three different islands over the two week period under the theme Digging In; The Bible Gods Guidebook for Life. At Mt. Moriah and Mt. Lebanon Baptist the sessions were conducted from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. All participants were presented with VBS certificates. After a hectic first week, we prepared to leave Middle Caicos for Providenciales. Mrs. Campbell arranged for us to explore the Middle Caicos Caves and we also went to the beach. At the Bethany Baptist Church we were amazed at the overwhelming turnout, with attendance numbering up to 166. Many parents turned out during the presentation of certificates to see what their children had done during the week of July 13-17, 2009. In Turks and Caicos we were well taken care of. The ministry of the team made a significant impact on the lives of individuals from all age groups. We give thanks for the opportunity to witness in another part of Gods Kingdom. BBC eVoice | 10

HIGHLIGHTING AN OVERSEAS MISSION

Are Baptist congregations dying?

~ Dorrett R Campbell
Sociologist Steve McMullin has noted that despite a high level of spiritual vitality in churches, several congregations are dying. He attributed this decline to a lack of understanding of the change in society, precipitated by technology; and emphasized the need for pastors to be trained for 21st-century social realities.
McMullin added that spiritually vital pastors needed help to understand and connect with their communities and to know how to communicate the gospel effectively among secular people. In his research conducted among 16 Canada and US based dying congregations of which eight were Baptist congregations, McMullin discovered that Pastors and church leaders were not well prepared for the kinds of changes taking place in the social environment. Many congregations, he asserted, were not responding to the changed social environment in ways that facilitated effective witness because their leaders dont know how. He proffered eight reasons for the continued decline in congregations. Chief among them are: 1. Inappropriate and faithless attitudes toward finances in church life. This, he argued, is evident in the tendency to hoard, rather than to use the finances of the church to support the vision and mission 2. Inability to maximise use of digital and social media to reach young people who make up more than 66% of the un-churched population 3. Failure to support Christian witness with a social and practical ministry that meets the social needs of our communities 4. Unwillingness to practise gender equity among our congregations, thus constructing certain traditional roles for men and women that are no longer socially relevant 5. Failure to train leaders to embrace and promote a practical ministry, hence they cannot make the necessary connections to the world to which the church has been called to go Are these applicable to the Baptist congregations in Jamaica? BBC eVoice | 11

Kings Manor

Houses for the Lord

Townhouse Development

Houses for the Lord .headlined an article in the Gleaner Newspaper of August 23, 2013 on the Kings Manor Development, signaling that construction on the Town House Development is on in earnest. Kings Manor Development Company Limited, in joint venture with the Boulevard Baptist Church and the Jamaica Baptist Union has finally got this Development off the ground. On completion of the five (5) townhouses, which is set for January 23, 2014, the ground floor will have a patio and garden area, internal laundry area, powder room, living and dining area that opens on to a back patio. The kitchen will be fitted with solid-surface countertops and the roof will be a combination of metal tiles and slab. Upstairs has en suite master bedroom another bedroom and bathroom as well as a balcony. Floors are ceramic tiled and each town house has two parking spaces. There is also a guardhouse to this environmentallyfriendly, gated complex, located at 15 Kings Drive, Barbican, Kingston 6. The price per unit is 21 million dollars but is subject to escalation. Each unit will also allow for expansion of up to 220 sq ft. See diagram of top floor below.

Listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange

20 Micoud Street, Castries, St. Lucia E-mail smurray@weareproven.com