Jamaica – 2013 Inaugural Women’s Conference Transforming Lives

 It began with a mission trip to Jamaica for a men’s conference held in October. Life changing experiences were shared during a special missions program held in November at New Covenant Baptist Church. In April, another opportunity to do mission work arose to return to St. Catherine Parish in Linstead, Jamaica. This mission trip would be to put on the first Women of Jamaica Conference. An appeal was issued for a team to support the journey and the tasks ahead. Because God moved on the hearts of nineteen women and three men, they answered the call to be part of the team, affectionately known as Team Jamaica. Team Jamaica included seasoned missionaries who answered the call upon their lives serving in foreign and domestic mission fields, the not so seasoned missionaries who previously served but not as extensive as their counterparts, and the first time missionaries, no mission field experience outside the states. Prior to the trip, a meeting was held to introduce everyone and to get acquainted with team leaders in order to discuss the plans for the trip and the upcoming conference. Facilitators were selected for the sessions, devotional periods, and various duties which were to be performed upon arrival. Everyone was encouraged to get as many prayer warriors praying for a successful mission trip. Even though there was a sprinkle of uneasiness folded in because of the unknown factors yet to be experienced for the first time, there was an overwhelming mixture of excitement. Enthusiasm remained high by the encouraging words from the seasoned missionaries to the freshmen missionaries. It was an unspoken fact that the conveniences afforded to those in the U.S. would be left behind once standing upon the soil of the country of Jamaica. The vessels God chose to send He would use however He wanted. The women of Jamaica had been praying for the conference since October when it was announced during the Real Men of Jamaica Conference. As the news about the conference ignited much conversation amongst the ladies, the excitement begin to spread like wildfire. Team Jamaica received word that over five hundred women would be attending the conference. The excitement was definitely contagious!

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With the time rapidly approaching for the trip to begin, an advance team arrived in Jamaica a day early in order to prepare the facility prior to the rest of the team’s arrival. Team Jamaica’s home for the week would be located at the 4-H Camp in Linstead. A small camp nestled in the middle of a small community surrounded by a wooded area that housed a large chicken coop, a shelter which housed numerous rabbits, a vegetable garden, numerous fruit and almond trees, and several stray dogs which provided security. The dogs barked at anyone entering the driveway other than the current occupants of the building. As the evening slowly creeped over the Jamaican horizon, the rest of the team arrived at camp. With no time to waste, there was a small window of time to get acclimated to the new surroundings, eat, have a period of devotion and receive marching orders for first thing Friday morning. That evening, everyone was separated into teams to visit several schools and a health facility for the following morning. It was time for missions!

The sun rose and peeked over the mountains sending its warming heat into the 4-H building gently reminding the occupants that time was quickly approaching. The first order of business on Friday morning was to get with designated team members and prepare devotions and travel to the designated facilities. Unlike the majority of the schools in the United States, the Jamaican school system expects and warmly embraces morning devotionals. The children

ranging in ages from three to eighteen eagerly participate and anticipate beginning their days in praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Jamaican children are very well mannered in a group setting and show much respect for the visiting missionaries by standing to their feet, every time, to reply when “good morning” is spoken. This is the normal start to a school day. Even at the early ages of five years old, most of these children know what they want as an occupation. When asked this question, a show of hands with eager responses replied, cardiologist, nurse, lawyer, and the list goes on. Although these children have set attainable goals, every student is educated in a trade for life skills the last year before graduating. The Jamaican school system understands the future of their country will be in the hands of this upcoming generation. The educators strive to grow these children by instilling a sense of core values to each child by feeding them the importance of having self-esteem, being respectful, and a good education to give back

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to their love of country. This is reflected in one of the school’s mission statement: “Treat a child as though he already is the person he’s capable of becoming.” The educators know the value of their children and are persistent in making the investments come to fruition.

After a morning filled with visitations to several of the schools and the health center, all the teams eventually returned to the 4-H camp. While part of the team worked on the conference registration materials, other team members decided to go on an exploration of the grounds surrounding camp. Two workers at the camp acted as guides, leading the way with machetes in hand, beating back the

attacking tall brush, as the team tentatively followed into the wooded area. Reaching a clearing, the team was given the opportunity to see the various fruits that flourished on the property. A special treat was experienced by sampling tropical fresh fruit, nuts, and coconuts picked from the trees leaving an indelible memory to last a lifetime for each team member. As the shade chased the sun behind the mountains, the evening brought with it a new adventure. The team had previously been invited by Pastor Denzil Jack, who has a circuit of four churches in the surrounding areas, to attend one night of a week-long tent crusade. The theme of the tent crusade was “Jesus to the Rescue,” taken in part from the Youth Rally which was held in October. Entering the tent, it was obvious from the volume of everyone singing that they were in the community for a purpose. The concern for the community seemed to weigh heavy in the midst of all attendees as everyone was encouraged to lift hands and face each town to the north, south, east and west of St. Catherine Parish and proclaim Jesus to the rescue to each of the surrounding communities. After prayers were offered, it was time for more praise and worship. Praise and worship is a staple to the Jamaican culture and was evident as they raised the roof in harmonious sound, with praises unto the Lord. While the late hour was evident to the team members, the return to camp was not a time for rest, but time to prepare for the following morning’s women’s conference. Those leading classes could be found alone, praying and studying over notes for the conference. The praise and worship team gathered together in the upstairs common

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room to sing in preparation to lead praise and worship for the following day’s activities and the remaining team members added the final touches to the registration materials. While the sun had long been set and the day had been long, morning was just a few hours away and there was still much work to be completed. As the sun stretched its way up through the horizon, it cast its bright illuminating rays on the small camp before its powerful light announcing the arrival of morning. The hustle and bustle began. Team members were anxiously getting all their materials together and trying not to leave anything behind as they made their way to the vehicles awaiting them outside to carry them to the Bread of Life Church for the long awaited Women’s Conference. Upon arrival to the church, women were already waiting in line with hungering anticipation for the start of the conference. Once the registration tables and materials were setup inside and outside, these women were able to choose whatever seat they wanted. As the sun beat against the roof which shaded the registration tables, the Jamaican women approached. Women arrived alone travelling great distances; they brought their daughters, family members, and friends. They walked, some drove, some were ferried by taxis and even family members dropped them off. They approached the steps to the registration tables with a purpose. When greeted, their infectious smiles were reciprocated in turn as they were fitted with a name tag and a program of the day’s events. Imagine the great numbers who clamored to get to Christ when He taught, this was brought to a modern day forefront, because these women came to see Him through His Team Jamaica vessels. It appeared that the attitude of the women entering the conference was one of pride because they were finally having the opportunity to attend their own conference. This is something the Jamaican women had prayed for and the sanctuary filled with wall to wall women, confirmed their prayers had been answered. It was a joint effort to ensure that all instructors had everything they needed while simultaneously holding all classes in the same room. The noise level and the temperature didn’t seem to bother the attendees as they eagerly digested every morsel they could glean from their instructors. The opportunity to take at least three sessions was available and everyone was fed a delicious lunch. The conference ended with praise and worship, an emotional address from one team member, and an invitation to those wanting the prayer of salvation or just in need of prayer. At the end of the conference, the attendees were offered a movie to enjoy and many made the decision to stay later through the evening. As the layer of darkness, once again descended over the community, the success of the conference was in everyone’s minds and hearts. Later at the 4-H camp, the team met to share what they experienced throughout the day. After everyone shared the day’s events, it was time to divide into teams to prepare to visit the different churches for Sunday services the following morning. Morning broke and team members hastened to get dressed for the final day for Sunday services and prepare luggage for the trip home. The spiritual energy was palpable and

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almost euphoric from the lingering effects of the successful conference. Some of the team’s responsibilities for the morning services consisted of fellowship, rendering testimony, leading praise and worship, and preaching the Word. When assignments were secured, each team left when the designated vehicle arrived for pick up. Team by team left the 4-H camp in route to their respective church. After services were completed, the teams headed back to their home away from home to have a final meal and gather belongings for the long trip home. Meeting for the last time to discuss the morning’s events, there was one common denominator in the Jamaican churches and that was the lack of a male presence. Most of the church services in Jamaica are conducted and pastored by women. After clasping hands and forming a circle for prayer, it was time to go home. The team which arrived in Jamaica would not be the same team returning to the U.S. The Real Men of Jamaica conference has been held for many years through a concerted joint effort made by several men from the Tennessee Baptist Convention (TBC) and several churches across the state of Tennessee. One of the main focal points of the men’s conference is to issue a challenge to the men of Jamaica to become the head of their household. This is conveyed through efforts to encourage the men to surrender their lives to Christ and in doing so, becoming workers in the kingdom of God. This will enable the men of Jamaica to become the husbands and fathers that God intended them to be and will get them on board to growing the Jamaican family unit.

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Team Jamaica received the opportunity to share in a little portion of history with the Jamaican people by being a small part of the inaugural Women’s Conference held in their country. This experience had an outreach stretching from the United States to Jamaica. Laying aside what one is usually accustomed to and allowing oneself to embrace the custom of another is life changing. The ability to share with one another how God enables these broken vessels to be mended and placed in another place for His use is life changing. Remember that God never calls one to a place to fail. He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. 2013 Jamaica Team Members Tennessee Baptist Convention, Brentwood, TN Lana Rose Denise Bronaugh Linda Rader Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN Ann Davenport Carolyn Outland First Baptist Church, Lenoir City, TN Bobby Turner Love Fellowship Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN Tonya O’Guinn New Covenant Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN Kristie Blevins Delores Brabson Doretha Brabson Pastor Fredrick E. Brabson, Sr. Yvonne Cox Minister Alvin Gwathney Deborah Gwathney Donna Hardy Phillip Hester Senta Hester Jackie Hinton Julia McGlown India Oliver Norma Reeves Gwen Valentine