Dean of the College of Education and Leadership at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Dr Daniel Allida is encouraging parents and teachers to continue guiding students to spread a righteous influence and not to lose patience or courage.
Using the theme of the summit ‘Creating Agents of Change’ as he delivered the homily, he said three things must be done to achieve this goal in the Christian home, church and school:
1. Disciples must cultivate a close relationship with God
2. Teaching should be done by example
3. Where necessary parents and teachers should rebuke and correct wrong behaviour in love
He noted that to create change, Christians must go into the world.
“Apostello, the Greek term for apostle, means ‘to send out’. We are not to remain where we are. We have to be…salt and light in our communities. Don’t be passive or inactive church members. We have to do better for God’s cause,” Allida said.
He encouraged congregants to embrace Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Christian education noting that he attained 4 degrees including a PhD from SDA institutions.
Director of the Youth, Children and Adolescent ministry in the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC), Pastor Dwayne Scott, lamented the toxic effects that popular culture can have on youth. He called for SDA students to stand against the moral decline.
“Adventist Christians must be agents of change both in SDA and non-SDA schools. They must be a shining light signalling that it’s still good to be a Christian in the 21st century,” Scott said.
He said he is looking forward to seeing Pathfinder clubs, which teach youth life skills in a Christian context, established in other CJC schools in the near future to follow suit with the Willowdene Group of Schools which launched a club earlier this year.
The summit was organised in partnership with the Education Ministry which is directed by Roxanne Mckoy-Chambers. She brought greetings along with CJC executive secretary, Pastor Howard Grant-Langley, education director at the Jamaica Union, Pastor Michael Henry and NCU president, Dr Lincoln Edwards.
The summit featured participation from students enrolled in CJC schools including the Willowdene Group, Campbell’s Castle and West Indies College Preparatory, Victor Dixon High and NCU.