Jamaica-Transforming Lives - New Covenant Baptist Church

Jamaica – 2013 Inaugural Women’s Conference
Transforming Lives
It began with a mission trip
to Jamaica for a men’s
conference held in October.
Life changing experiences
were shared during a
special missions program
held in November at New
Covenant Baptist Church.
In April, another opportunity
to do mission work arose to
return to St. Catherine
Parish in Linstead, Jamaica.
This mission trip would be to
put on the first Women of
Jamaica Conference.
An
appeal was issued for a
team to support the journey
and the tasks ahead.
Because God moved on the hearts of nineteen women and three men, they answered
the call to be part of the team, affectionately known as Team Jamaica.
Team Jamaica included seasoned missionaries who answered the call upon their lives
serving in foreign and domestic mission fields, the not so seasoned missionaries who
previously served but not as extensive as their counterparts, and the first time
missionaries, no mission field experience outside the states.
Prior to the trip, a meeting was held to introduce everyone and to get acquainted with
team leaders in order to discuss the plans for the trip and the upcoming conference.
Facilitators were selected for the sessions, devotional periods, and various duties which
were to be performed upon arrival. Everyone was encouraged to get as many prayer
warriors praying for a successful mission trip.
Even though there was a sprinkle of uneasiness folded in because of the unknown
factors yet to be experienced for the first time, there was an overwhelming mixture of
excitement. Enthusiasm remained high by the encouraging words from the seasoned
missionaries to the freshmen missionaries. It was an unspoken fact that the
conveniences afforded to those in the U.S. would be left behind once standing upon the
soil of the country of Jamaica. The vessels God chose to send He would use however
He wanted.
The women of Jamaica had been praying for the conference since October when it was
announced during the Real Men of Jamaica Conference.
As the news about the
conference ignited much conversation amongst the ladies, the excitement begin to
spread like wildfire. Team Jamaica received word that over five hundred women would
be attending the conference. The excitement was definitely contagious!
With the time rapidly approaching for the trip to begin, an advance team arrived in
Jamaica a day early in order to prepare the facility prior to the rest of the team’s arrival.
Team Jamaica’s home for the week would be located at the 4-H Camp in Linstead. A
small camp nestled in the middle of a small community surrounded by a wooded area
that housed a large chicken coop, a shelter which housed numerous rabbits, a
vegetable garden, numerous fruit and almond trees, and several stray dogs which
provided security. The dogs barked at anyone entering the driveway other than the
current occupants of the building.
As the evening slowly creeped over the Jamaican horizon, the rest of the team arrived
at camp. With no time to waste, there was a small window of time to get acclimated to
the new surroundings, eat, have a period of devotion and receive marching orders for
first thing Friday morning. That evening, everyone was separated into teams to visit
several schools and a health facility for the following morning. It was time for missions!
The sun rose and peeked over
the mountains sending its
warming heat into the 4-H
building gently reminding the
occupants that time was quickly
approaching. The first order of
business on Friday morning
was to get with designated
team members and prepare
devotions and travel to the
designated facilities. Unlike the
majority of the schools in the
United States, the Jamaican
school system expects and
warmly
embraces
morning
devotionals.
The children
ranging in ages from three to eighteen eagerly participate and anticipate beginning their
days in praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Jamaican children are very
well mannered in a group setting and show much respect for the visiting missionaries by
standing to their feet, every time, to reply when “good morning” is spoken. This is the
normal start to a school day.
Even at the early ages of five years old, most of these children know what they want as
an occupation. When asked this question, a show of hands with eager responses
replied, cardiologist, nurse, lawyer, and the list goes on. Although these children have
set attainable goals, every student is educated in a trade for life skills the last year
before graduating. The Jamaican school system understands the future of their country
will be in the hands of this upcoming generation. The educators strive to grow these
children by instilling a sense of core values to each child by feeding them the
importance of having self-esteem, being respectful, and a good education to give back
2 to their love of country. This is reflected in one of the school’s mission statement:
“Treat a child as though he already is the person he’s capable of becoming.” The
educators know the value of their children and are persistent in making the investments
come to fruition.
After a morning filled with
visitations to several of
the schools and the
health center, all the
teams
eventually
returned to the 4-H
camp. While part of the
team worked on the
conference registration
materials, other team
members decided to go
on an exploration of the
grounds
surrounding
camp. Two workers at
the camp acted as
guides, leading the way
with machetes in hand,
beating
back
the
attacking tall brush, as the team tentatively followed into the wooded area. Reaching a
clearing, the team was given the opportunity to see the various fruits that flourished on
the property. A special treat was experienced by sampling tropical fresh fruit, nuts, and
coconuts picked from the trees leaving an indelible memory to last a lifetime for each
team member.
As the shade chased the sun behind the mountains, the evening brought with it a new
adventure. The team had previously been invited by Pastor Denzil Jack, who has a
circuit of four churches in the surrounding areas, to attend one night of a week-long tent
crusade. The theme of the tent crusade was “Jesus to the Rescue,” taken in part from
the Youth Rally which was held in October. Entering the tent, it was obvious from the
volume of everyone singing that they were in the community for a purpose. The concern
for the community seemed to weigh heavy in the midst of all attendees as everyone was
encouraged to lift hands and face each town to the north, south, east and west of St.
Catherine Parish and proclaim Jesus to the rescue to each of the surrounding
communities. After prayers were offered, it was time for more praise and worship.
Praise and worship is a staple to the Jamaican culture and was evident as they raised
the roof in harmonious sound, with praises unto the Lord.
While the late hour was evident to the team members, the return to camp was not a
time for rest, but time to prepare for the following morning’s women’s conference.
Those leading classes could be found alone, praying and studying over notes for the
conference. The praise and worship team gathered together in the upstairs common
3 room to sing in preparation to lead praise and worship for the following day’s activities
and the remaining team members added the final touches to the registration materials.
While the sun had long been set and the day had been long, morning was just a few
hours away and there was still much work to be completed.
As the sun stretched its way up through the horizon, it cast its bright illuminating rays on
the small camp before its powerful light announcing the arrival of morning. The hustle
and bustle began. Team members were anxiously getting all their materials together
and trying not to leave anything behind as they made their way to the vehicles awaiting
them outside to carry them to the Bread of Life Church for the long awaited Women’s
Conference. Upon arrival to the church, women were already waiting in line with
hungering anticipation for the start of the conference. Once the registration tables and
materials were setup inside and outside, these women were able to choose whatever
seat they wanted.
As the sun beat against the roof which shaded the registration tables, the Jamaican
women approached. Women arrived alone travelling great distances; they brought their
daughters, family members, and friends. They walked, some drove, some were ferried
by taxis and even family members dropped them off. They approached the steps to the
registration tables with a purpose.
When greeted, their infectious smiles were
reciprocated in turn as they were fitted with a name tag and a program of the day’s
events. Imagine the great numbers who clamored to get to Christ when He taught, this
was brought to a modern day forefront, because these women came to see Him through
His Team Jamaica vessels. It appeared that the attitude of the women entering the
conference was one of pride because they were finally having the opportunity to attend
their own conference. This is something the Jamaican women had prayed for and the
sanctuary filled with wall to wall women, confirmed their prayers had been answered.
It was a joint effort to ensure that all instructors had everything they needed while
simultaneously holding all classes in the same room. The noise level and the
temperature didn’t seem to bother the attendees as they eagerly digested every morsel
they could glean from their instructors. The opportunity to take at least three sessions
was available and everyone was fed a delicious lunch. The conference ended with
praise and worship, an emotional address from one team member, and an invitation to
those wanting the prayer of salvation or just in need of prayer. At the end of the
conference, the attendees were offered a movie to enjoy and many made the decision
to stay later through the evening.
As the layer of darkness, once again descended over the community, the success of the
conference was in everyone’s minds and hearts. Later at the 4-H camp, the team met
to share what they experienced throughout the day. After everyone shared the day’s
events, it was time to divide into teams to prepare to visit the different churches for
Sunday services the following morning.
Morning broke and team members hastened to get dressed for the final day for Sunday
services and prepare luggage for the trip home. The spiritual energy was palpable and
4 almost euphoric from the lingering effects of the successful conference. Some of the
team’s responsibilities for the morning services consisted of fellowship, rendering
testimony, leading praise and worship, and preaching the Word. When assignments
were secured, each team left when the designated vehicle arrived for pick up. Team by
team left the 4-H camp in route to their respective church. After services were
completed, the teams headed back to their home away from home to have a final meal
and gather belongings for the long trip home. Meeting for the last time to discuss the
morning’s events, there was one common denominator in the Jamaican churches and
that was the lack of a male presence. Most of the church services in Jamaica are
conducted and pastored by women. After clasping hands and forming a circle for
prayer, it was time to go home. The team which arrived in Jamaica would not be the
same team returning to the U.S.
The Real Men of Jamaica conference has been held for many years through a
concerted joint effort made by several men from the Tennessee Baptist Convention
(TBC) and several churches across the state of Tennessee. One of the main focal
points of the men’s conference is to issue a challenge to the men of Jamaica to become
the head of their household. This is conveyed through efforts to encourage the men to
surrender their lives to Christ and in doing so, becoming workers in the kingdom of God.
This will enable the men of Jamaica to become the husbands and fathers that God
intended them to be and will get them on board to growing the Jamaican family unit.
5 Team Jamaica received the opportunity to share in a little portion of history with the
Jamaican people by being a small part of the inaugural Women’s Conference held in
their country. This experience had an outreach stretching from the United States to
Jamaica. Laying aside what one is usually accustomed to and allowing oneself to
embrace the custom of another is life changing. The ability to share with one another
how God enables these broken vessels to be mended and placed in another place for
His use is life changing. Remember that God never calls one to a place to fail. He
doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.
2013 Jamaica Team Members
Tennessee Baptist Convention, Brentwood, TN
Lana Rose
Denise Bronaugh
Linda Rader
Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN
Ann Davenport
Carolyn Outland
First Baptist Church, Lenoir City, TN
Bobby Turner
Love Fellowship Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN
Tonya O’Guinn
New Covenant Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN
Kristie Blevins
Delores Brabson
Doretha Brabson
Pastor Fredrick E. Brabson, Sr.
Yvonne Cox
Minister Alvin Gwathney
Deborah Gwathney
Donna Hardy
Phillip Hester
Senta Hester
Jackie Hinton
Julia McGlown
India Oliver
Norma Reeves
Gwen Valentine
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