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The
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) is
devoted to “Preaching and Sharing Words of Hope” as we unite in
spirit, fellowship, doctrine and purpose.
This was the aim of the first every Lay Preachers’ Summit as
hundreds of lay preachers and evangelists gathered at Camp Verley,
Spring Gardens, St. Catherine, Jamaica on March 9-10, 2007. After
experiencing what can be described as a rich empowerment of the Holy
Spirit, we all were revitalized for ‘Service Above Self.’ The Lay
Preacher’s Summit opened on Friday evening, with a dynamic and soul
stirring presentation by our president, Pastor Everett Brown, who
set the paste for inspired men, women and children of God to teach
and preach with conviction.
Other presenters included Dr. Enell Hall, Vice President (West
Indies Union of Adventists), Dr. Newton Cleghorne, Dean, School of
Religion (Northern Caribbean University), Pastor Levi Johnson,
Secretary (CJC), Pastor Everett Smith, Personal Ministries and
Sabbath School Director (CJC), Pastor Thomas Bryan, Stewardship
Director (CJC), Pastor Kemar Douglas, Associate Communication
Director (CJC) and Pastor Wayne Palmer, Newport Circuit of Adventist
Churches (CJC).
The participants were moved by the advanced methods and principles
for aggressive evangelism, along with techniques and criteria in
soul winning, enabling them to secure more decisions for Christ.
Some of the powerful principles and topics discussed, in enhancing
effectiveness as a soul winner for Jesus included:
1. Surrendering to Christ, that is Preachers first priority.
2. Visit in the home and address the family issues
3. Gaining progressive assent in appeals
4. Preach and teach the entire message to yourself
5. Preach and teach with conviction
6. Preach and teach with passion
7. Preach and teach with urgency, hold your hearers captive
8. Preaching with PowerPoint.
This is just the beginning, all persons who completes the course
will be certified at the Lay Preachers Institute in December 2007,
after they have completed their practicum; holding of a lay effort.
The love of Christ is the power that softens the heart and leads to
obedience. We should never lose sight of the fact that it is the
goodness of God that leads to repentance. Let us all make God’s love
real to individuals if we expect favourable decisions.
“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus
will save.”
Fanny J. Crosby
-Althea Brown and Kemar Douglas
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