Children & Adolescents' Convention Hosted at Mandeville S D A Church

Published May 20, 2018 | Camille Nicely-Gordon, Mandeville SDA Church

Some of the participants in the Children & Adolescents Convention | Credits: Camille Nicely-Gordon

Around the world and across our nation the month of May is celebrated as “Child Month”. As such the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist celebrates with all children across the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon, and St. Catherine under the theme- “New Jerusalem”

On Sabbath May 5, 2018, the Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted its Children & Adolescents Convention. Children & adolescents led out in all of the day’s services.

For the divine service there were two child speakers: Selvin McIntosh & Dimanie Lindsay. 

First Speaker - Selvin McIntosh | Credits: Camille Nicely-Gordon

Selvin, an eleven year old preparatory school student, was the first speaker. He presented a brief history of the earthly Jerusalem, outlining its origins, and reminding us that it was supposed to be a city of righteousness, showing to the world the blessings that came to a country that keeps the commandments of God.  However, Jerusalem didn’t fulfil the purpose for which God established it.  Selvin then admonished the congregation to live like people on a journey to the Promised Land-the New Jerusalem, the city of Righteousness, the City of Peace.

The second speaker, Dimanie, a fifteen year old high school student, asked the congregation to imagine walking on streets paved with gold so pure that they look like glass, and walls, built from twelve different precious stones. This is how Revelation 21 presents the New Jerusalem as the capital of the New Earth.

Second Speaker - Dimanie Lindsay | Credits: Camille Nicely-Gordon

After expounding on the splendour of the city he once again asked the congregation to use its imagination to picture the Glory of the Lamb shining through all the different colours of the precious stones in the wall. He then mentioned some characteristics of those who will live in the New Jerusalem:  no guile in their mouths, obey all of God’s commandments, bear the fruits of the Spirit, recognize that their bodies are God’s temples, obedient to the laws of health, and bear the name or character of Christ.

Commenting on the day's activities, Blossom Thomas, Director of the Children’s’ Ministry Department, noted that despite the many challenges during the process of planning of the Convention, her passion and aim was to give the children an opportunity to present God’s message in their own way. She also indicated that if the opportunity should arise again for her and her team to plan such a programme, she would ensure that more time is devoted to its planning.

Visitors and church members were in “awe” of the day’s service. They could be seen, at the end of the service, congratulating the children for leading out and presenting God’s message to the church and the world at large.

Teachers in the Children Ministry Department. From left:Peaches Henry, Andrea Young, Nellie Green, Judith Marshall, Jahnae West, Kaycian West, Nastashia Mattison, Desiree Leslie, Joan Murray-Brown, Audrey Gyles, Blossom Thomas & Dayna Thomas.
Missing: Pearline Richards | Credits: Camille Nicely-Gordon