By Nigel Coke,
The 172 stations and 11 posts of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will benefit from a special ‘projects day’ activity to be undertaken by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica as part of its 125 years of Adventism in Jamaica celebrations.
The Church, which boast more than 730 congregations across the ‘length and breadth’ of Jamaica will, on October 25, 2015, use its penetration of churches to effect improvement to the JCF stations based on a needs analysis.
Pastor Everett Brown (left), shakes hand with ACP Leon Rose after a meeting of Seventh-day Adventist leaders and the police on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
“One of the main ministries of the Church over the past 125 years has been its ministry to the community in which it serves”, said Pastor Everett Brown, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica. “As we celebrate this milestone, it is fitting to identify with a project that will impact a very significant group of people who have been serving Jamaica, and who the country owes its deepest gratitude for the upholding of law and order.”
Pastor Brown said he believed that the JCF has been hard pressed to contain crime and violence, and the Seventh-day Adventist organization – through its local churches – have the resources to make life a little bit easier for police officers as they seek to bring crime and violence down to a manageable level.
ACP Leon Rose (right) engages (L-R) Pastors Everett Brown, Arlington Woodburn and Eric Nathan after a meeting of Seventh-day Adventist leaders and the police on Thursday, September 3, 2015.
“We are looking forward to partnering with the JCF by providing equipment for them so that their surroundings will be more conducive to work,” Brown continued. “Also, we recognized the difficulties that the rank and file members face each day as they fight crime and violence, so we will be offering them the services of our professionals to deal with the high levels of stress that they encounter. We want to be there for them if they need someone to talk to as an ongoing support.”
In recent times suspected cases of suicide have crept into the ranks of the JCF as they grapple with the country’s high rate of crime and violence, in addition to their personal challenges.
“I think that one of the significant parts of our agreement is how we use the resources of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, particularly in psycho-social and emotional involvement, to help some of our members who at this time are experiencing emotional stresses; we think that is very critical,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the services division, Leon Rose.
According to Chaplain Emeritus, Bishop Dr. Gary Welsh, who now serves as Regional Director for the International Conference of Police Chaplains, “the Adventist community is the longest consistent supporter of police chaplaincy and the para-professional counseling care of the police fraternity through Northern Caribbean University (NCU).” He said that of the 425 volunteers that serve as station Chaplains, more than 60% are Adventist Pastors.
“The areas that we have discussed, which also includes the JCF’s physical structures will have a significant impact on the partnership between us and one of the most significant faiths in the country,” ACP Rose added.
There is ongoing discussion between the Church and the JCF concerning technical and academic support.
The Church’s celebrations start on October 3 with a Thanksgiving Service at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Mount Salem, St. James in the morning, followed by an award and recognition ceremony in the afternoon.
Then, on November 22, the NCU grounds in Mandeville will be the venue for a grand anniversary expo, health fair, and heritage quiz final. The day’s activities will culminate with a Musical Showcase featuring some of the best soloists, groups and choirs in the Seventh-day Adventist movement.
