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Adventists Assist Needy Students in St. Ann and Trelawny
Sixteen students from schools in the parishes of St. Ann and Trelawny were given cash grants totaling $200,000.00 to assist them with textbook purchases as the new school year enters its second month.
The grants were presented during a function held at the headquarters of the North Jamaica Mission of Seventh-day Adventists (NJM) in Drax Hall, St, Ann on Sunday October 4, 2009, and is a joint effort between NJM and the Adventist Lay-persons’ Services and Industries (ASi) North Jamaica Chapter.
“People have real needs at this time during our economic crisis,” said Pastor Michael Harvey, President of the Adventist Church in North Jamaica. “We are committed to ministering to the needs of people, not only to those within the four walls of the church, but wherever the needs are in the wider community. This initiative fulfills two of our strategic issues: Education and The Church in the Community.”
Pastor Michael Harvey, President of the Adventist Church in North Jamaica, outlining the role of the church in assisting members of the community
Pastor Harvey admonished the recipients to make good use of this scarce education assistance. He said, “Study hard so that you do not join the statistics of those young people who are contributing to the ills of the society due to a lack of proper education. Be a positive change agent, so that Jamaica can be a better place.”
“There are a lot of students who are in need of educational assistance even while they have gone so far in the school year,” said Mrs. Judy Morgan, president of ASi-NJM. “There are many who are still unable to purchase all the required text books for school. We realized this and have decided to do something about it.”
The funds, Mrs. Morgan added, came from contributions from the members of ASi, who have in the past assisted members of the community in times of need such as hurricane, bereavement and contribution in the pursuit of tertiary education.
Mrs. Judy Morgan, President of ASi-North Jamaica Mission Chapter
“I am very happy and overwhelmed,” said 16 year-old Santana Salmon, a fifth form student of the Albert Town High School in Trelawny. “I have not purchased all my text books for school yet and this will assist me in getting some more.”
16-year-old Santana Salmon (right) receiveing her grant from Mrs. Judy Morgan, President of ASi. At left is Pastor Michael Harvey, President of NJM
Sayon Harding, a 12 year-old student at Aabuthnott Gallimore High School in St. Ann was also elated to receive his grant. I feel good to know that I can now buy the rest of my school books with this money. I thank the Church for what it has done for me and the others present here today.”
ASi is a membership-based organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that encompasses business and professional lay-persons who are intricately involved in actively fulfilling the Church’s mission.
The NJM, which comprises the parishes St. Ann and Trelawny, has a membership of approximately thirteen thousand, worshipping in seventy-six congregations.
Article by Nigel Coke
Photos contributed
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