Dear members,
I wish you a Happy Independence Day. Fifty seven years is a very important milestone and period in our history. It so happens that as we celebrate as a nation, as we look for events and experiences to give thanks, we should at the same time be celebrating those achievements which make us proud as a nation. We do have many as we have made our mark as a little nation on the world stage. In arts and sports, politics and economics, medicine and Theology. We have much to be thankful for and can truly say in our national anthem, “Jamaica land we love”, and “Eternal father, bless our land”.
As we give thanks let us continue to pray for our nation. Let us pray for our people to part from darkness and receive the marvelous light of God’s kingdom. There are many social problems facing our country. These are not new as they are problems associated with human behaviour from the beginning of time. They are problems which exist in Europe, in Africa, Asia, North and South America and the Caribbean. The social behaviours of which we are petrified and disappointed such as political and economic corruption, murder, sexual abuse, indiscipline and the list goes on are not limited to Jamaicans These are behaviour which are generated from hearts that have turned away from God, have become disobedient and callous and have pursued evil desires and intentions. Governments have tried to curtail these behaviours by punishment in one form or the other, shame and isolation. In our little country States of Emergency and Zones of special operations have are some of the strategies used with mixed results. Notwithstanding these efforts, crime still persists. We must commend all the efforts and we must never cease to support these actions but we cannot stop there.
As a church our national Independence falls in the middle of two important milestones for us. We observe the Celebration of the one hundredth (100th) Anniversary of the founding of our Sunday school, and the ninety-ninth (99th) Anniversary of the founding of the Barbican Baptist Church. Both the Sunday school and the church were started before we became a full nation with our own flag and our own government. These institutions were not started to fight colonialism and promote political independence. No but we welcome these when they came. And the local church, especially Baptists were visibly involved in the struggle for emancipation and political, economic and social independence. However, we were founded to advance this purpose in a different way and we must never lose sight of that vision. Whereas I have not seen this documented anywhere, I believe what drove the church and Sunday school pioneers was a love for God, a desire to be obedient to Him and a commitment to spread the gospel so that the hearts of Jamaicans especially in this community would hear the gospel, and be transformed by that same gospel, as people turned from the darkness of evil to the light of God’s truth and redemption. It is for this reason I challenged the gathering at the Sunday School Anniversary Banquet, and by extension all who read this message to renew our commitment to God and to that original vision. I invited the group as I invite you that for the next 100 hundred days decide that you will deliberately and intentionally approach at least one person with the gospel with an intention to lead that person to Christ. If you need coaching on how to do this we can help. If you need some additional material to assist, this can be provided. Whatever is needed to facilitate the process get the help to do so. But by October 29, 100 days from July 21, each member should have spoken to at least one person who is not a Christian, with a clear commitment to lead that person to make a decision for Christ. We cannot change people, it is the spirit who does. But as Jesus called Andrew to be one of his disciples, Andrew went to call his brother Peter, so he could become a disciple of Jesus. Jesus taught them all how to become ‘fishers of men”.
Real independence comes when the individual experiences liberation from the control and domination of sin, and is set free to do good without restraint or compulsion, but out of love for Christ. Let’s celebrate. Happy Independence to all.
Pastor