Home/ Convention and Wellness Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
A Centerpiece of Service - The Convention and Wellness Center
President of the West Indies Union Conference, Pastor Patrick AAllen brought home a message of service to the approximately five hundred attendees at the Convention and Wellness Center Groundbreaking Ceremony on Sunday, June 29, 2008.
In his main address, Pastor Allen congratulated the Mission for its insight in taking on this bold venture of building a Convention and Wellness Center. He further gave a timely reminder of the mission of the church in meeting the needs of those around. He emphatically emphasized that
"Frequently we neglect some important aspects of our work and focus exclusively on proclamation. I want you to know today that preaching is a small part of the work that must be done for people's salvation. First, we must meet the temporal needs of people. If you relieve their physical wants and suffering you will find an open avenue to their heart. The church was not organized for us to have good social gatherings among ourselves.
It was not organized only for worship. It was organized for service. The church was organized by Christ to minister to needs wherever those needs are". With service as the foundation, Pastor Allen further implored, "Make it the Centerpiece of your Mission."
Pastor Patrick Allen delivering his sermon
In encapsulating this same message of service, which began as a dream, Pastor Michael Harvey, President of North Jamaica Mission, said, "Our dream has been painted on the backdrop of two strategic issues: Firstly, our health and welness emphases and secondly, our integration of community focus within our Mission.
Nestled within the garden parish of St. Ann and encompassing the neighbouring 'yam country' of Jamaica, Trelawny, the North Jamaica Mission is strategically located within the tourism belt of the island - a prime spot for growth and numerous possibilites which include the spreading of the health and wellness message of the church."
Pastor Michael Harvey
In elaborating further, Pastor Harvey continued, "North Jamaica Mission, with its over 12,000 members, needs a multi-faceted building for the housing of our numerous church and community events: conventions, camp meetings, concerts, seminars, youth camporees and the many other departmental and local church events.
For this we need the Convention and Wellness Center."
In speaking to the wider community, Harvey continued, "With and beyond the reach of our own, are the communities in which we live, serve and evangelize. Never once have we been unmindful of the responsibility we have towards our partners in community growth, our need of the business professionals, the government agencies
and the independent enthusiasts for the church has never and will never be aloof or removed from those with whom we interface. The Convention and Wellness Center is among the ideal ways to make a synergy between their needs and our common good."
A display of partnership in the building of the Convention and Wellness Center was ideally demonstrated by government officials such as:
- The Honorable Shahine Robinson, Minister of State and Member of Parliament for North East, St. Ann, who also represented the Prime Minister, the Honorable Bruce Golding;
- Mr. Mark Campbell, Chairman of Region I of the People's National Party, who represented the Leader of the Opposition, the Most Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller;
- His Worship the Mayor of St. Ann's Bay, Councillor Ivan Anderson
- Councillor Ian Bell from the Beecher Town Division and
- Councillor Desmond Gilmore from the Lime Hall Division.
Church leaders, who also came in numbers and displayed their support and congratulations included:
- Pastor Everett Brown, President, and Pastor Levi Johnson, Secretary of Central Jamaica Conference;
- Elder Bancroft Barwise, Treasurer of East Jamaica Conference and his wife Hyacinth
- Pastor Glen Samuels, President of West Jamaica Conference;
- Pastor Arlington Woodburn, President of the North-East Jamaica Field;
- Pastor Patric Rutherford, Chief Executive Officer, Andrews Memorial Hospital;
- Mrs. Marie Halsall, General Manager of the Book and Nutrition Center;
- Mr. Marston Thomas, ASI President of West Indies Union Conference;
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- Mr. Ewen Corrodus, representing Dr. Herman Ming, the Managing Director of Investment Management Limited and
- Dr. Newton Cleghorne, Dean, School of Religion and Theology, representing Dr. Herbert Thompson, President of Northern Caribbean University.
From the business communities showing their full support were:
- Mr. Carris Kong, Manager of Tuff Blocks Limited;
- Mrs. Judy Morgan, General Manager, Morgan's Hardware;
- Miss Sasha Walters, Manager of Sassy Designs;
- Drs. Neville and Angella Gallimore;
- Mrs. Marjorie Young
Pastors, elders and members from the 14 districts across North Jamaica Mission were represented and gave their support by breaking ground.
At the close of the day, approximately 12 Million Dollars in contribution and pledges was collected. This will begin the construction of the first phase of 57,290 square feet which is projected to begin in September 2008 on the 7-acre property of the North Jamaica Mission Headquarters.
This building will house 2 conference rooms, a counselling center, a prayer room, a health care facility, a barber and beauty shop, a gymnasium, a day care facility, recording studio, a snack shop, and cafeteria, among other amenities.
Phase II is projected to begin in September 2009.
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