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NJM Prided with First Graduates from Elders Certification Programme
“Impressive, orderly, neatly arranged” were just a few of the comments received about the distinguished forty-five elders from North Jamaica Mission who shone with pride and a strong sense of accomplishment at the West Indies Union Elders Certification Graduation Service held on Sunday, September 27, 2009.
The approximately 313 graduates from North Jamaica Mission and West Jamaica Conference combined were hosted in the cool and spacious West Jamaica Conference Centre in Salem, Montego Bay. This service culminated the Elders Certification Training which began in 2008. The programme began with an aim to train and motivate local church elders to be effective in ministry; to furnish them with cutting edge information and skills for ministry; to develop a united understanding of the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; and to support the leadership function of our church.
The Mission President, Pastor Michael Harvey commended the elders on their certification and he encouraged them to remain loyal, faithful and committed to God, the church and to the work that He has called us to do. Pastor Harvey also gave high commendation to the Ministerial Secretary, Pastor Donald Smith after the programme. He said, “Our group of elders did us proud, they were truly looking good and this speaks volume to the way we operate in North Jamaica Mission.”
As the elders observed the graduation proceedings, Pastor Jonas Arrias, Associate Ministerial Secretary from the General Conference, spoke squarely about the importance of elders for the smooth functioning of the church. He said that of the 120,000 churches world-wide, there are 25,000 pastors. Thus, the statistics show a great disparity between the number of churches that need effective leadership and shepherding.
With this in mind Pastor Arrias emphasized that the elders are necessary to the work and need to be properly equipped for this function as the Pastoral ministry alone cannot carry this magnitude of responsibility. He placed emphasis on unity not just in content and beliefs but also with each other. Pastors and elders united together as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.
Pastor Donald Smith explained that, “The aim and objective of this Elders Certification programme is important to the smooth operation of the local church. I am happy that the West Indies Union has seen a need and is doing something about it. I look forward to its continuance because as pastors we truly cannot do this work alone.”
The first elder from the St. Ann’s Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sis Dorothy Warmington expressed, “It was an extremely proud moment for us elders, though small in number we were prepared, we looked smart, we were very organized and took pride in what we were about.”
“It was a brilliant programme,” said Elder Daniel Campbell from the Brown’s Town Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“I got an enlarged grasp of the role and function of the elder. For the assignment aspect, we had to produce a wealth of knowledge based on the sanctuary service, evangelism and a Sabbath day operation of the church. It was very practical because we had to observe and critique the various programmes of the church which gave a greater sense of responsibility for the elder or leader in these modern times. I am proud to be a graduate of this programme.”
North Jamaica Mission conducted five certification training sessions from which sixty-eight persons were reported for graduation. However, twenty-three elders graduated in absentia. Though small in number the Mission family is truly proud of this accomplishment.
From l-r Pastor Donald Smith - NJM Ministerial Secty; Dr. Enell Hall - WIU Ministerial Secty; Pastor Jonas Arrais - GC Ministerial Secty; Pastor Hector Sanchez - IAD Minsiterial Secty.; Pastor Michael H. Harvey - NJM President
(Behind) NJM Elders Certification Graduates
Article by Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher
Photos contributed
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