More Than a Celebration: The Gospel in Our National Colours
“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” — Psalm 100:5
My wife, Cheryl, loves this time of year. There’s a joy that lights her face when August rolls around—a joy braided in memory, legacy, and pride. She’s famous for adorning herself head to toe in the national colors. Black, green, and gold dangle from her earlobes, wrap around her wrists, and shine on her sandals. She doesn’t just wear the flag; she embodies this year’s Emanci-Pendence theme: “Be Proud. Be Bold. In the Black, Green and Gold.” But this theme is more than patriotic pageantry. It is a soul-deep invitation to remember where we’ve come from, who has sustained us, and what divine love has carried us through.
In the hush of early morning prayers, the heartbeat of this nation remains steady—not because the struggle has ceased – but because the steadfast love of Christ has not. That love journeyed with us through slavery and colonialism, through hurricanes and pandemics, through hunger, poverty, and pain. It is a love that does not falter when we do, that walks with us in darkness and rejoices with us at dawn.
The Psalmist writes, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Psalm 107: 1). That eternal truth is not abstract in Jamaica. It is lived. Visible in every grandmother's whispered prayer, every church packed on a Sunday morning, every child who rises despite circumstances. Our national survival isn't merely political or economic - it is deeply spiritual.
As we reflect on Emancipation, we return to the night of July 31, 1838, when thousands of formerly enslaved Jamaicans gathered in churches across the island. At midnight, a coffin was buried—symbolically laying to rest the shackles of slavery. That moment was not just political liberation—it was a declaration of divine dignity. Galatians 5:1 echoes this truth: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” For our African ancestors brought to these shores in chains, that promise wasn’t poetic—it was prophetic.
The call to be bold is a call to honor our ancestors’ courage and faith. They did not survive by will alone, but by a power greater than themselves. Christ walked with them in the cane fields, heard their groans when the world remained silent, and still walks with us today—through every inner-city lane, every job interview, every hospital corridor, every anxious exam hall.
But what do we have to be proud of as Jamaicans? We boast a culture that captivates the world, a music that unites generations, and a history that inspires. Though we are small in size, we are strong, resilient, and capable of great things. We celebrate icons like Marley and Garvey for their enduring global influence. Our athletes - Bolt, Fraser-Pryce, and others - have made the black, green, and gold synonymous with excellence. Our national heroes - Nanny, Bogle, and Sharpe - taught the world what courage looks like. As Baptists, we swell with pride over leaders like Rev. Dr. Neville Callam, former General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, and now Rev. Karl Baldwin Johnson, the first Caribbean president of the Alliance, elected in 2025 - a profound testament to Jamaica's enduring spiritual leadership.
Still, being proud of Jamaica feels complicated. We love our country fiercely, bursting with pride whenever Bolt breaks a record or another Jamaican wins a Grammy—but we worry deeply. Violence takes too many lives. Corruption erodes trust. Too many youth believe their future lies elsewhere. Economic inequality widens. Core values are quietly eroded. Our schools are under-resourced. Our hospitals are strained. Our leaders often
feel distant. And yet—yet—the Jamaican spirit endures. Resilient. Creative. Unyielding. The black, green, and gold remind us that though hardships there are, the grass is green and the sun shineth. That is the quiet truth many Jamaicans hold close.
Through all our trials, faith remains our compass. According to a 2021 Pew Research study, Jamaica is one of the most religious countries in the world, with over 97% of the population identifying with a faith tradition—primarily Christian. Guinness World Records notes that Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other country— about 2.75 per square mile. From roadside tabernacles to grand sanctuaries, our places
of worship are not just buildings—they are beacons of hope, community, and cultural memory.
Even the national colors preach: black represents the strength and creativity of a people molded through hardship; green symbolizes the fertile hope of our land; and gold reflects both the sun’s brilliance and the divine richness that undergirds our faith. They are not mere aesthetics. They are testimony.
Indeed the resilience of our people is mirrored in our faith. A 2020 study in the Journal of Religion and Health found that strong religious belief in Caribbean populations was linked to greater resilience, better mental health, and deeper life satisfaction. In other words, faith isn't just good theology - it's good public health.
So, what does it mean to be proud and bold? It means confronting our truths without flinching. It means living our freedom not just as a memory, but as a mission. It means loving Jamaica fiercely and faithfully. It means doing your part - in your little corner - to make the world a little better. It means seeing the steadfast love of Christ not only in sermons, but in our streets - in how we raise our children, serve our communities, and speak truth to power.
As Cheryl steps out in her flag-colored outfit this Augus Mawnin—earrings glinting, sandals clicking—she carries more than a festive spirit. She carries the weight of history, the spark of resistance, and the light of faith. She walks in the footsteps of those who sang freedom songs by candlelight and clung to the cross in stormy seasons. This Emanci-Pendence season, let us do more than wave the flag. Let us live it. Let us be proud. Let us be bold. In the black, green, and gold—celebrating and anchored always in the steadfast love of Christ.
Amen.