"The passing of the Honourable Dr. Kenneth Lee O'neil Baugh, OJ, is truly a sad day for Jamaica. The nation has lost a veritable patriot who, while being a politician, was never political. He was a true servant who was the epitome of humility, dignity, and integrity" - The Prime Minister, The most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP
Health Centre
A new health centre being constructed in Point Hill, the constituency which he last served as a Member of Parliament, will be named after him. This is seen as a fitting tribute, seeing that he gave free health care to so many people in that town and the surrounding districts. Ground was broken in November 2019.
(Above: Ian, Loida, Samenthur, Tim, and Sheree)
It was truly a blessing having Tim and Samenthur Blake, plus Ian and Loida Nicholson, in Montego bay and Savannah-La-Mar (Sav) in March 2019. Tim and Sam are Lead Evangelist and Women's Ministry Leader (WML) in Hartford Connecticut, and they are passionate and experienced church builders. Ian is an Elder, serving with his wife, Loida in the Hartford Church. The Church is known as the Heart; and that is exactly what they brought, lots of love and they gave their hearts as they served the saints.
Mark and Sophia Clarke, who moved back to Westmoreland Jamaica late last year, were previously members of the Hartford Church. Through their great love for Mark and Sophie, and their strong Caribbean connection, they decided to visit, serve and inspire the Churches in Montego Bay and Sav.
It was a weekend filled with inspirational lessons. Tim and Sam taught the Sav ministry about building a church from a small group. They also visited the Sav infirmary, where they got an opportunity to touch not just the hands but also the hearts of the residents.
The Montego Bay small group leaders were called higher by a lesson on Shepherding and Unity from Ian and Loida. The weekend culminated with a BYND service, where 79 disciples had an attendance of 162 person. All praise be to God!
Tim preached a heart-moving message that connected with many of the visiting guests and disciples a like. Since then, many persons have started studying the Bible. One evening, two women came to study the Bible and brought three friends along with them. So, the four sisters faithfully studied the Bible with five women. Many more continue to express their desire to seek after God. We faithfully hold on to the scriptures that remind us to rely on God.
Luke 10:2
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
The migration phenomenon with Jamaicans is typically going in one direction - away of the island. When members of the church migrate, they are typically servants of the church, so their departure leaves a gaping hole in the leadership of the church. Therefore, it is of great delight when disciples migrate to Jamaica, especially when they come to serve the church.
The disciples in the west are overjoyed to welcome Mark and Sophia Clarke from the church in Hartford, Connecticut, who have moved back to Westmoreland, Jamaica, and have agreed to lead the ministry in Savannah- La-Mar (Sav). The team of disciples from Sav are excited and eager to work together to win the people of Westmoreland for God.
They have started with once per month Friday devotionals and Sunday services. The team of disciples has friends and family who come out consistently, and several visitors have started to study the Bible.
Please keep the Sav ministry on your hearts and in your prayers.
On March 12th, 2019 members of the Montego Bay Christian Church family and friends from Hilo had the pleasure of serving a hearty breakfast to the students of Albion Primary School.
This is a program that has been on my heart since 2017, shortly after my family moved to Jamaica. As I saw the needs at my daughter Jasmine’s school, where classmates would eagerly partake of her lunch, generally because they didn’t have their own. So Jasmine and I decided to send extra lunches to help a few students. As we spoke to a teacher to see how this lunch plan could be expanded, it came to my attention that there was an even greater need at Albion Primary School. So we contacted Albion and made plans to start the school feeding program. (We still send lunches for a few students at my daughter’s school, but we focused on the needs at Albion).
This idea has now blossomed into a bi-annual event, where we provide things like porridge, sandwiches, franks with beans, cake and tea to the students who need breakfast at Albion Primary High School.
Disciples donated, prepared and served the breakfast. Mellonie Boothe, a disciple and teacher at Albion, has been encouraged and inspired by the loved shown to the students of her school.
The first year, Hilo supermarket gave donations of food items and a representative came and gave gifts to the most improved student of each grade. This year, Ms Phillip, the Hilo representative who came last year, called to ask if we can partner with her to serve the students as her birthday treat.
On Tuesday, Ms Philip and Ms Davis, the store manager, came and provided a large quantity of the food that was served on March 12th. They were inspired and asked if they could be part of our next scheduled school feeding.
The first year we fed approximately 120 students. This year we fed approximately 160 students. At the end of serving the last group of students, one of the children came back to say thank you and God bless.
At the end, we spent time thanking God for providing for the needs and for the privilege of serving in this way.
Please continue to pray for us and that God continues to grow the program to consistently meet as many needs as possible.
Courtney Bailey was appointed to the role of Teacher for the Kingston Church of Christ in 2012, and has served in the teaching ministry for other Caribbean churches of the International Churches of Christ. He co-founded the Damian Jean-Baptiste Caribbean School of Ministry, along with Tyrone Marcus, a disciple from Trinidad & Tobago whom he helped become a Christian whilst they were both law students at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados. Courtney has been an outstanding student and servant of God and continues to be so. He is currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in theology at the United Theological College of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. He initially enrolled in the Masters programme, but was invited to apply for an upgrade to the PhD programme based on his performance.
In early 2019, Courtney Bailey became the managing partner of one of the largest law firms in the English speaking Caribbean. If asked, he will tell you that he owes his success to God. He is keenly aware that all his talents have been God-given, and he uses them for God’s glory. Courtney is firstly a man of God, a meticulous student of God’s word, a family man, then a lawyer. It is his drive to be excellent in his service to God that has enabled him to advance professionally. He epitomizes Colossians 2:23, the scripture that reads, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”.
Courtney’s success ought to motivate and encourage all servants of God. If one strives to please God, then one becomes more of what God intended: for us to be made in his glorious image. Success, therefore, may be right around the corner. Believe the word that reads, “All hard work brings a profit” (Prov 14:23). Let this example motivate you to put God first, while being excellent on your job. God will be glorified and your will find success.
The St. Catherine Ministry had time to celebrate and rejoice with the angels in heaven as they welcomed their new sisters in Christ. Nasya Reynolds and Deandra Westcarth from the teen’s ministry made Jesus Lord of their lives and were baptized on December 30th 2018 and January 1, 2019 respectively. These young ladies grew up in the church, as their parents have been faithful servants of God for many years. It is truly inspiring to see the younger generation make Jesus their Lord, and families being united in Christ. We pray that God may use them to help their generation and the next to come to know Him as their Lord and savior. Let us continue to reach out to the next generation and pass on to them what has been given to us.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11: 18 - 19)
Shantal Barrett, a young teen disciple of the KCOC church came up with an initiative to purchase and distribute food items to those less fortunate in and around New Kingston after church. On Sunday, December 16,2018, this idea became a reality. The Kingston Church of Christ (KCOC) Teens and Teen Workers went in and around areas of New Kingston where food items such as patties and cran-waters were distributed to less fortunate people. A sum of $6000 JMD was raised amongst the teens to purchase these food items. A total of 20 teens and workers volunteered their time, which helped to make this event successful.
Anya came to church in 2016 when she began to live with her aunt, "Aunty Marcia", who is a disciple in the church in St. Catherine. Anya wasn't quite like the other teens who have since become Christians in that she initially was befriended by an adult, Nomali Campbell. She would sit with Aunty Nomali on Sundays and hangout with her at various places and activities, including the monthly "Singles Lyme" at Cafe José.
In the course of time Anya expressed interest in studying the Bible. At the time there were no female disciples in the teen ministry and so she studied the Bible with adults and continued to fellowship with persons in the singles ministry. Anya wanted change in her life and she knew that that change would come from God. At her first study, her heart of repentance was obvious; her aunt shared with those who were studying with Anya that Anya was so moved by the word of God that she wrote her a letter in response. She continued her Bible studies with this determination and on June 5th, 2017 she was baptized into Christ. Since then she has continued to be her fun-loving self, hanging out with teen disciples and adults alike.
Although Anya hasn't had the easiest life and her journey with God has had its typical challenges, she has persevered, retaining a kind heart, and being willing to serve and help others.
This is an inspiring story of Xavier Walker and Lishawn Anderson, two teenagers of the May Pen church, who got baptized into Christ on the same day. These two friends and brothers in Christ have had such wonderful friendship from a tender age. They went to the same day care, same primary school, and now they are living in the same community. In 2015 Lishawn started coming out to church. The following year, he wanted to go to Teen camp but didn't get to go because of lack of funds. Xavier grew up in the Church, son of disciples, and has attended the Camp before. In 2017, Lishawn was determined to attend Teen Camp and was the first to make a down payment. He continued to make his deposits until he paid the Camp fee in full. Lishawn and Xavier were ready and excited to be going to Camp together. It was a wonderful time for both. They were so inspired that they both made the decision to study the Bible. On the 29th October 2017 Xavier and Lishawn were baptized into Christ to God's honour and glory. They are young and vibrant men with incredible talents, please keep them in your prayers that God may use them to bring much honour and glory to his Name.
