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Scores of members turned out in support of North Jamaica Mission Convention 2008, which was held at two venues. Under the theme "Buoyed and Challenged by the Signs of Hope", the first Convention was held on January 20 at the Falmouth Seventh-day Adventist Church in Trelawny. Pastor Milton Gregory, Vice President and Health Ministries Director of West Indies Union Conference was the main speaker. In keeping with the theme of the World Church for 2008,"Signs of Hope", Pastor Gregory delivered a message of power from the book of 1 Kings 18. He spoke about the atrocities that Ahab, King of Israel , sanctioned, and how he developed the reputation of being the most evil ruler. However, while in the midst of decadence, God demonstrated to the idolatrous nation, through his manservant Elijah, that He was the only true God and wrought a mighty miracle on Mount Caramel that the nation of Israel were brought to their knees in full acknowledgement of their Creator.

Special guests in attendance were Dr. Gloria Gregory, Professor in the School of Graduate Studies at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), and Dr. Herman Ming, Managing Director of West Indies Union Investment Management Limited.

Rich melodious renditions were given by Falmouth Seventh-day Adventist Youth and Senior Choirs.

Seven (7) persons demonstrated their love for Jesus publicly through baptism.

In the St. Ann Leg of Convention 2008, Sister Princess Lawes, Assistant to the President and Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty at West Indies Union Conference, rang out the message "The Battle is not yours, it is the Lord's." With reference to the story in 2 Chronicles 20:15, Sister Lawes emphasized that if God could use two men and a group of singers to conquer the Moabites, He will fight the battle for you! With reference to the goal for Pentecost and More, she stated, "Today, we are up against many challenges; we have those who believe that we cannot baptize 7000 persons by March 15, 2008. West Indies Union is 250,000 strong. If God can use two men and a choir to conquer a city, what about 250,000 strong? We need to revise that figure. We need each soldier to bring one, for the battle is not ours, it is God's!"

Special guests in attendance were Dr. Patrick Williams, one of the Vice Presidents of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) with responsibilities for Technology, Extension, and Strategic Planning, and Ms. Donna Thomas, Director of Admissions and Enrollment at Northern Caribbean University. The Brown's Town and Moneague Seventh-day Adventist Church Choirs, and the St. Ann's Bay High School Choir all gave renditions during the Convention.

After the devotional aspect, Pastor Michael Harvey, President of North Jamaica Mission, declared in his main address to the members, that "to be an Adventist is to believe in Evangelism... Our evangelistic message must be relevant and comprehensible at all levels of culture to people with no Christian background." He further asked, "Are we real or plastic Christians?" "Plastic Christians" he declared, "don't bleed". "We cannot stand apart from society and just invite people to come to church on our terms. We must go where the people are. We must communicate in terms that make sense to them. Speak their language! We must address the deep issues that shape their lives."

Pastor Harvey also introduced one method of meeting the needs of those in the household of faith and individuals in the community, the Compassion Secret Closet Pantry . Through this programme, members are encouraged to make quality contributions in a discreet manner to the assigned individuals of their local church. The assigned personnel will then prudently make the necessary allocations. Pastor Harvey's presentation also addressed Community Involvement, Education, Stewardship, and the Convention and Wellness Centre.

At both Conventions, Pastor Wenford Henry, Secretary of North Jamaica Mission encouraged the church clerks to give a monthly report on church membership and Elder Dane Ellis, Treasurer urged the members to continue to give towards the cause of God. The Departmental Directors of North Jamaica Mission gave highlights of their accomplishments in 2007 and projections for 2008. During this segment, Pastor Karl Archer, Personal Ministries Director, gave a "fattening" report on Harvest Ingathering. He commended all churches that reached and surpassed their goals. Special mention was made at the St. Ann Convention, of the St. Ann's Bay High and Preparatory School for surpassing their goal. Top ingatherers of the Mission came from Mount Egdecombe Seventh-day Adventist Church, Salem District.

The customary District Pageantry was yet another highpoint of the day's activities. Pastors and their respective members marched up with their banners, singing praises to God. They demonstrated zest and zeal as all were in preparation to work for Jesus in Pentecost and More and beyond. Immediately following this, four (4) persons surrendered their lives to God in the watery grave of baptism.

North Jamaica Mission is rejoicing in Jesus for all that He has done and for the great things that He will continue to do.