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JAMAICA BAPTIST UNION (JBU)

PRESIDENT ELECT-REV. DR. DEVON DICK

OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS SORRY…

Fasting with a difference!

46th Anniversary Celebrations

Festival of Choirs 2015

JBU Assembly 2015

Men’s Health: The PSA blood test

Behind the Music: Bro. Augustine McLeod

Seminal Sermons:

The Hand of God

Sunday Excellence!

Behind the music:

Bro. Lloyd Clarke

Water is health

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Sunday School Excellence!

At Boulevard Baptist March is Sunday School Emphasis Month and excellence was highlighted during Sunday School High Attendance Sunday on March 15. Certificates were presented for the JBU Examination 2014. Seven persons obtained honours, six received credit and seven got a passing grade. Four persons received certificates of participation. Additionally, vouchers valued at $2000 and $2500 each were handed out to persons for highest attendance and achieving honours respectively. Tajeem Brown, an outstanding Sunday school student, was presented with a special cash award. In pics displayed below Sis. Mary Dick presented certificates and vouchers to some of the successful students. L-R: Shantika Brown, Najique Skyers-Campbell, Melissa Thompson, Tajeem Brown, Anthony Rattray and Zuri Sewell.

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The Invaluable Benefits of Sunday School

The benefits to be derived from attending Sunday School have not been promoted as it truly deserves,

given the research that has been done. It has no doubt made a difference in the wholesome

development of many persons.

Based on research from Duke University, Indiana University, the University of Michigan, the Center for

Disease Control, Barna Research Group and the National Institute for Healthcare Research, youth who

actively participate in a faith-based community such as Sunday School are more likely to:

Increase their average life expectancy by 8 years

Significantly reduces use and risk from Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs

Dramatically lowers risk of suicide

70 percent faster rebound from depression

Reduce the risk for committing a crime

Improves attitude at school and increase their school participation

Reduce risk for rebelliousness

Reduces the likelihood that they would binge drink in college

Improves overall satisfaction with life and general happiness

Provide a life-long moral compass

In addition these youth wear their seatbelts more often, are less likely to engage in violent behaviour

and perform better academically.

Other research, as noted in the book: “Serving Adolescents & Youth”, written by Professor Maureen

Samms-Vaughn, researcher of the University of the West Indies and head of the Early Childhood

Commission explained that faith-based youth lead a more productive lifestyle than their counterparts.

Additionally, Church consultant and author, Dr. Thom Rainer expressed that new Christians who attend

Sunday school are five times more likely to still be involved in church five years later than those who

only attend worship services. From his experience, Sunday school held some nice surprises, as he

learned just how practical the Bible is, meeting new friends and feeling more a part of ministry.

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Sunday school, a Big Reward for a Small Investment!

The organ is referred to as the king of all

instruments and requires no ordinary skills

to deliver the huge range of sounds and

voices from the complicated design of this

versatile and powerful musical instrument.

Lloyd Clarke is one highly skilled organist

who performs this task in an extraordinary

manner. The Boulevard Baptist

congregation has been privileged to

experience his talent as an organist for

fourteen years and he shares with the BBC

E-voice on his experience over these years.

BBC E-voice: How long have you been playing

the organ?

Lloyd Clarke: I started playing the organ

approximately forty years ago. In the earlier

years, I practiced whenever I got access to an

organ.

BBC E-voice: Were you taught to play or is it

natural talent?

Lloyd Clarke: I was formally coached in piano lessons by music teachers Mr. & Mrs. Theodore, Mr.

Sydney Morris and Miss Ena Helps. Over the years I have sought the assistance of organ tutors Mr.

John Binns, Mr Dwight McBean, Dr. Kaestner Robinson. The books used for organ lessons are Organ

Primmer by John Stainer and The Organ by Walter G. Alcock.

Sophia Williams

Behind the Music – Bro. Lloyd Clarke

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BBC E-voice: How does it feel to be honoured by the church?

Lloyd Clarke: This gives me a humbling and appreciative feeling and indicates that I have been

performing my duties well.

BBC E-voice: Do you play at other churches?

Lloyd Clarke: I also play at Meadowvale S.D.A. church, Webster Memorial United Church, Garrison

Church – Up Park Camp.

BBC E-voice: Do you find that there is a lot of demand for this kind of talent?

Lloyd Clarke: There is quite a demand for organ music. It would appear that not enough students are

studying the organ formally. Much demand is also shown for organ music regarding funerals,

weddings and graduations.

BBC E-voice: How demanding is it for you?

Lloyd Clarke: It has been quite demanding for me. Sometimes I have back to back services without

taking breaks. Sometimes the hours for choir rehearsals clash and I have to decide which to attend.

In addition I still find time for private organ practice two to three times per week to keep up to date.

BBC E-voice: Any special experience since your 14 years at Boulevard Baptist that you wish to share?

Lloyd Clarke: A special experience in my 14 years is the award received from the Women’s Federation

in 2011 and 2014. There was a sense of warmth and appreciation.

BBC E-voice: Of which church are you a member?

Lloyd Clarke: I am a member of Rollington Town S.D.A Church. This was where I got baptized in my

pre-teen years.

BBC E-voice: Do you play other instruments?

Lloyd Clarke: In addition to playing the keyboard instrument, I also do singing lessons at the music

school, I operate (Andante Music School). I was once a member of the bass section in the Jamaica

National Chorale.

BBC E-voice: How rewarding it has been for you?

Lloyd Clarke: Apart from the financial benefits attained, it has been a blessing spreading the Word of

God through music. Nothing pleases me more than to see a congregation or/and choir raise their

voices in praise to the Lord and I’m happy to be a part of that.

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Yes, believe it or not music in worship was despised by the early church. It was not until about

650 to 700 years after the church was established that instruments were introduced in the

worship service. The Fathers of the early church were vehemently opposed to the use of musical

instruments in worship. Similarly, the Reformers, some 500 years ago detested such practice in

the church.

Not to be excluded on this issue are the views and beliefs held by the founders of the Lutheran,

Reformed and Methodists churches that held no bar in making their convictions known. Here

are their views based on our source: http://www.bebaptized.org/music.htm

Martin Luther: "An organ in the worship of God is an ensign of Baal."

John Calvin: "Musical instruments in the celebration of praises of God would be no more

suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of other shadows

of the law...men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in such noise; but the simplicity

which God recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing."

John Wesley: "I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they

are neither seen nor heard."

Charles Spurgeon (Baptist): “What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole

congregation by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes! We might as well pray

by machinery as praise by it.”

Adam Clarke (Methodist): "I am an old man, and an old minister; and I here declare that I

never knew them productive of any good in the worship of God; and have had reason to believe

that they were productive of much evil. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire: but

instruments of music in the house of God, I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music;

and here I register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of the Author of

Christianity."

“Music in the house of God, i

aboMinate and abhor”

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Deputy Chief Education Officer, Dorrett Campbell has urged the Boulevard Baptist

congregation to respect the Minority and appreciate the contribution of all, irrespective

of how small that contribution might be.

She argued that although there was a general perception that big was better and

minority views were inconsequential, “the crux of the matter is, in the kingdom of God, it

doesn’t matter whether you are bigger, better, richer, poorer, in the majority or the

minority, great or small, strong or weak. What matters is that you place God at the

centre of everything you do.”

She was preaching recently, on the topic, The hand of God; and referencing Mark’s

version of the story of the feeding of the five thousand, she encouraged the church to

give what they had, irrespective of how small it was, because the hand of God would

take it, bless it and multiply it and use it to bless others.

Placing emphasis on Mark 6:34, Sis Campbell pointed to the Care Basket which is part

of the Outreach Ministry of the BBC and urged members to “drop a likkle ting in it every

first Sunday; if it is even a tin of mackerel; someone else will appreciate it…”

She referred to the disciples’ inability to see beyond the huge crowd and discern the

infinite sufficiency of Jesus, noting that, “sometimes we place limitations on others and

on our capabilities and in so doing, dishonour the word and promises of God.”

Similarly, she urged members to avail themselves to God, who would take them, break

them and sometimes splinter them, but in the process make them a multiplied blessing

to others.

Seminal Sermons

The hand of God

Dorrett R Campbell

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“… it doesn’t matter what you are or what

you have done, If you come to him with a

willing and repentant heart, he will take you

as you are, break you up, and make you a

multiplied blessing to others…,” the DCEO

affirmed.

Sister Campbell admitted that sometimes

the breaking process was a very difficult

experience, but in her estimation it was

necessary for the remoulding because,

“when God breaks us he is merely opening

us up for introspection and reflection before

creating room in us for more blessings!”

Brokenness, according to Sister Campbell,

“is surrender of our wills - our little stubborn

streak; our little fears and our little self-

doubt; our little egos; our little selves.”

Brokenness, she continued, “also means

that we are malleable in the hands of God

and pliable to his will.” This flexibility, she

explained, “helps us to be open to new

ideas, new possibilities, new ways of doing

old things and also prompts us to respect

diversity, minority views and minority

contribution.

“The truth of the matter is, in the kingdom

of God, it doesn’t matter whether you are

bigger, better, richer, poorer, in the majority

or the minority, great or small, strong or

weak. What matters is that you give God

the little that you have… that you give Him

the little who you are. The hand of God will

take it, bless it, sanctify it, multiply it and

use it to His glory,” she concluded.

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`

Ouchh!... That’s my toe!.. Stepping on someone’s toe is hurtful enough! So what have your words

been doing to your pastor – hurting or encouraging? Now you will know, as Dr. Thom Rainer, church

consultant and author, relates his own interactions with a number of pastors.

[Just recently], I had conversations with dozens of pastors. These pastors love their churches and

the members. They are really committed to their callings. But they are real people who can really be

hurt. The pastors shared with me seven common themes of the things that hurt them the most.

1. Criticize the pastor’s family. Few things are as painful to pastors as criticizing their families,

especially if the criticisms are related to issues in the church.

2. Tell the pastor he is overpaid. Very few pastors really make much money. But there are a

number of church members who would like to make the pastor feel badly about his pay.

3. Don’t defend the pastor. Critics can be hurtful. But even more hurtful are those who remain

silent while their pastor is verbally attacked. Silence is not golden in this case.

4. Tell your pastor what an easy job he has. It can really sting when someone suggests that

the pastor really only works about ten hours a week. Some actually believe that pastors

have several days a week off.

5. Be a constant naysayer. Pastors can usually handle the occasional critic. But the truly

painful relationships are with church members who are constantly negative. How do you

know you’ve succeeded in this regard? The pastor runs the other way when he sees you.

6. Make comments about the pastor’s expenditures. I heard it from a pastor this past week. A

church member asked, “How can you afford to go to Disney World?” Wow.

7. Compare your pastor’s preaching and ministry unfavourably to that of another

pastor. Many times the member wants you to know how much he or she likes that pastor

on the podcast compared to you. If you really want to hurt your pastor, you can make

certain he knows how inferior he is.

So, if your life’s goal is to hurt your pastor, one or more of these approaches will work just fine. But,

if you are like most good church members, you want the best for your pastor. So just do the

opposite of these seven. And if you are worried that your pastor will not remain humble unless

someone puts him in his place, don’t worry. There will always be plenty of those other church

members around. Do you identify with these seven items? What would you add?

B

Seven Ways to Hurt Your Pastor

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Pastor: Rev. Dr. Devon Dick

Opportunities for Worship

Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday School: 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. • 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Prayer and Fasting: 1st Saturdays, 7:00 a.m.

Editor-in-Chief: Kameaka Duncan

Editor: Sophia Williams

Other Team Members: Francine Dallas, Duvaughn Dick and Claudette Reid.

Boulevard Baptist Church

2 Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20

Telephone: 905-2422

Email: boulevard.baptist@yahoo.com | Website: www.boulevardbaptist.org.jm

Mission Statement:

To develop our spiritual lives, evangelize the wider community and influence

the world through Christ by organized preaching, public and private worship,

Christian education and fellowship, while co-operating with other Christian

bodies.