In a continued effort to motivate women in the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) to engage in evangelism, seven young women taught from the Word of God during the “Proclaim” series hosted at the Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDAC) from June 10-17.
The CJC Women’s Ministries department invited the speakers to deliver messages centred on the experiences of women in the Bible.
The presentations proceeded as follows:
On Saturday, June 10, ordained elder serving at the Cedar Grove SDAC and president of the Manchester Lay Workers Federation, Alecia Mitchell, presented on the topic “A Love that Precedes One’s Choices”. Pulling from the story of Rahab in Joshua 2, Mitchell reminded listeners that God calls people from all walks of life.
“Sometimes our lineage doesn’t look so good. We are not from a wealthy or famous line. But because God is the one who has the final say we don’t have to worry. God’s love transforms our desires, thoughts, and actions. We become new creations. It’s different now!” she said.
Simona Wade of the Newland SDAC spoke on Sunday, June 11 using the topic “Who Started It?”.
“The instant that man accepted the temptations of Satan, Christ stood between the living and the dead saying, ‘Let the punishment fall on me, I will stand in man’s place, he will have another chance’,” she said, recounting mankind's fall and the plan of salvation recorded in Genesis 3.
Ashley Johnson of the Mandeville SDAC presented on the topic “What a Touch!” on Monday, June 12. She noted that the woman bleeding for 12 years, whose story is found in Mark 5, was healed when she touched Jesus in faith.
“There are persons who are going to obeah men and other sources for healing, but we need to stop looking for healing outside of Christ…we have a faith problem…our faith needs to be activated,” said Johnson.
On Tuesday, June 13, Jada Francis of the May Pen SDAC spoke on “Doing What It Takes” with a focus on the story of Ruth.
“Sometimes the solution won’t come in the package you expect. You’re gonna have to be okay with that. Because at the beginning of the book of Ruth who would have thought that this widowed, childless foreigner would be in the lineage of Jesus? That is the power of God,” Francis said.
Brandy Evans of the Royal Flat SDA Church spoke on Wednesday, June 14 on the Woman of Samaria as recorded in John 4, using the topic “Her First Real Love”.
“Isn’t it alarming that after six men she wasn’t satisfied…God was the seventh man on the scene, yet He was her first real love…One single encounter with God will change your life completely,” Evans stated.
On Thursday, June 15, Alecia Higgins of the Mandeville SDAC spoke on the topic “Delayed But Not Denied”. Higgins examined Martha’s disappointment in John 11 when Jesus arrived too late to prevent her brother Lazarus’ death.
“Sometimes we don’t understand that God’s ‘no’ means a ‘yes’ to greater and grander things. Meditate on the times God has come through for you after long periods of waiting. Remember that He is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” she encouraged listeners.
Using the topic “Am I Wearing His Ring?” Imani Adonis of the Northern Caribbean University spoke on Friday, June 16 focusing on the woman doubled over for 18 years in Luke 13:10-17. Jesus healed the woman on Sabbath, an act which upset the rulers of the synagogue because it breached their traditions.
“The Sabbath is more than just a day where we don’t go to work or school. It’s a time for healing, restoration, and salvation. Our response, just like the woman in the text, ought to be to glorify God,” Adonis stated.
CJC Women’s Ministries director, Rox-Anne Mckoy Chambers concluded “Proclaim” on Saturday, June 17 using the topic “The Cry of Mordecai”. She stated that just like Jewish-orphan-turned-Persian-queen, Esther, when God elevates people, they should override attachment to “the palace of comfort” in order to intervene and intercede for God’s people in crisis.
CJC president Nevail Barrett appealed for Christian women to commit to God’s work.
“Maybe you have been silent for a long time, but the Lord has brought you to the kingdom for such a time as this. God has given you skill sets and talents to do exploits for Him. Choose to say, ‘Lord I want to use what you have given me to advance Your cause,” Barrett said.
Also on June 17, the CJC Women’s Ministries department partnered with the Mandeville SDAC, led by Pastor Joel Shillingford, for an afternoon "End-It-Now" anti-violence community march. They distributed care packages, offered free health checks, and hosted an evangelistic service in the Mandeville Park.
The “Proclaim” series was launched in 2021 by former Women’s Ministries director, Claudia Bailey, to give women aged 18 to 36 a visible platform for ministry. The age range, which is a critical time for making life-altering decisions, is chosen to attract others in that range to the gospel.