The Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) has pledged its support for two new initiatives proposed by the world church and the Inter-American Division (IAD) - ‘Back to the Altar’ and ‘All the Family in Mission’- which will roll out in January 2024.
Speaking at the launch held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Portmore on December 9, CJC President Nevail Barrett joined the other local conferences in the Jamaica Union namely West, East, North and North East in committing to work for the success of these programmes.
“Happy families make happy congregations. Spiritual families make spiritual congregations. The devil knows that that's why he continues to destroy our families and I'm happy to report to you President Brown that the Central Jamaica Conference is committed to this initiative,” Barrett said.
According to backtothealtar.org, the initiative is “a landmark global appeal of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, calling all people into a daily personal worship time with God”. The premise is that many members are “neglecting the essential communion with God” amid the busy pace of life which inevitably leads to spiritual decline.
The IAD ‘All the Family in Mission’ (AIM) initiative will combine with ‘Back to the Altar’ to encourage families to establish and maintain the family altar while also engaging in community outreach. AIM is composed of four segments:
1. Growing in the faith
2. Serving in the community
3. Sharing the gospel
4. Reaping God’s harvest
Pastoral families will lead the charge with a special week of consecration for them from January 29 to February 2, 2024. Thereafter, there are select periods devoted to bible study and community projects. The reaping component will take place in 3 instalments:
- April 20 broadcast from the Honduras Union
- June 29 broadcast from the French Antilles-Guiana Union
- September 28 broadcast from the Jamaica Union
Jamaica Union president, Pastor Everett Brown, said while delivering the homily that the time is right for programmes like these.
“We thank God for the spiritual leadership of the leaders of our church at the General Conference and the Inter-American Division. They continue to allow the Holy Spirit to lead them and we have joined them in launching and owning these two initiatives as if they are ours. There are many persons on your street there are many members of your family who need to experience His grace. The Holy Spirit is ready for Jesus to finish his work in us so that we can go home,” he said.
The comprehensive initiative which involves all church ministries will see youth exchanges across conferences for community impact, couples inviting unchurched couples for Bible study, children participating in devotional and evangelistic activities, health promotion and more that will be detailed by the leaders in charge.
Members are encouraged to register for AIM at aim2024.interamerica.org. The guide document from the IAD can be viewed here. The Jamaica Union will also provide supplementary resources to the churches at the appropriate time as the programme progresses.