The message of the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) Adventist Christian Education (ACE) Week, which ran from April 16 to 22, can be distilled into one phrase as stated by education director Roxanne McKoy Chambers - “Through the power of the Holy Spirit ACE transforms lives and restores in man the image of God as revealed by Jesus Christ himself.”
The ACE Week Sabbath service on April 22, was held at the Braeton Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church where Chambers gave the homily using the topic ‘Educating for Service Now and for Eternity’.
She referenced the well-known Bible story in Daniel 3 of the three Hebrews who found themselves caught in a contest for allegiance to their human king, Nebuchadnezzar, or to God on the plain of Dura in Babylon centuries ago.
“It was the typical manifestation of the Great Controversy. False worship versus true worship. False education versus true education…We (still) have the Babylonians (today) and we cannot allow them to devour our children. The promise is sure “I will contend with those who contend with you and I will save your children,” Chambers stated.
She called for constituents to support, pray for and sponsor students at the educational facilities across the CJC which include the Willowdene Group of Schools, Campbell’s Castle Preparatory School and Northern Caribbean University (NCU).
A series of online presentations preceded the Sabbath service and ran as follows:
On Sunday April 16, education director of the Jamaica Union, Pastor Michael Henry, spoke on ‘Preparing for Eternity’.
“May we never forget that the main purpose we run schools is that our children will come to know Christ and embrace His mission,” he said with conviction, himself being a product of Adventist schooling from the primary up to the tertiary level.
Associate professor in the School of Religion and Theology (SRT) at NCU, Dr. Ikechukwu Oluikpe, focused on ‘God’s Kingdom Education’ on Monday April 17.
“When we know the value of the kingdom of God we invest in it. While people are seeking after worldly things, God's people are to seek His kingdom and its education because we know the benefits,” he advised.
‘Classroom Management: The Law of Love’ was the topic in focus on Tuesday April 18 and was presented by assistant professor at Andrews University, Dr. Martin Hanna.
“Whether you teach in a school, during the Sabbath school or you teach your children at home, you are still to apply the principles of the law of love in the management of your classrooms…When God gave us Jesus, He gave us a Master Teacher. Jesus reveals to us the love of God,” Hanna explained.
NCU president Dr. Lincoln Edwards spoke on the topic ‘Save our Children’ on Wednesday April 19.
“Young people need a safe environment that allows them to make mistakes and be corrected in love and encouraged instead of condemned. When we do that, it is a beautiful thing to watch them grow and thrive,” he said.
On Thursday April 20, associate professor in the SRT at NCU, Pastor Damian Chambers, presented on ‘The Bible and Christian Education’.
“The Bible must be part of the curriculum of SDA institutions. Do not minimise it...We expose our children to all kinds of knowledge but we are sometimes ashamed to expose them to the Bible. How can we find direction in a dark world except we have the Word of God?,” Chambers said.
President of the University of the Southern Caribbean, Dr. Colwick Wilson, was the final weeknight presenter on Friday April 21 with the topic ‘Doing What it Takes’.
“I am convinced that christian education works…Be disciplined in doing whatever it takes in sending the message that education is not just for service today but for eternity,” he stated.
The 2023 CJC Education Week was organised to raise awareness among the membership and other stakeholders about the benefits of Adventist christian education and to encourage greater buy-in to the various programmes available.