On February 23, a group of 37 youth arrived at the JBUMA’s Kingston Gardens Health & Outreach Centre at 2:15 pm. They were placed in three teams focusing on painting, gardening and interacting with youth in the community.

The wall at the front of the property; the base of the house; and the latticework on the veranda were painted. Due to time constraints, a portion of the latticework was not completed but plans are being put in place to complete it in the near future.

The gardening team: removed overgrown plants from the sides of the walkway, replaced them with hedge plants; replanted some of the plants removed from the walkway on other areas of the property; planted in the garden plot at the front of the house; and applied topsoil and fertilizer to all areas with plants.

Interaction with the youth from the community was guided by the theme ‘Living In Peace’. A mural was done by the 7-12 year olds reflecting their interpretation of the theme, while those 13 years and older participated in a discussion on being ambassadors of peace in their families and communities. At the end of the day, all three groups shared their experience, stating that it was time well spent and that this type of activity should be continued and replicated in their communities.

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Camps 2012…God’s Peace:Living It and Loving It!

Camps 2012 will be a blessing to all! The preparations for the JBYUD Summer Camps have commenced. On Saturday, April 14, 2012 the training sessions for camps personnel will begin. The Camps Commission of the JBUYD is seeking the support and assistance of pastors/moderators and youth leaders in identifying and recommending mature individuals who can serve as counselors/facilitators and nurses. These persons should possess gifts suited for this ministry and a commitment to the Lord and His church.

Qualifications for camp personnel/facilitators include:

• A member of one of our Baptist Churches for at least 2 years;
• Proven record of commitment to Christ and involvement in Church;
• Demonstrable signs of maturity as a Christian;and
• Individual should be age 21 and over.

Camp 2012 Dates

April 14: Camps Personnel Retreat Pt. I

May 12: Camps Planning Meeting

June 02: Camps Personnel Retreat Pt. II

July 09 – 14: Intermediate I & II Camps

July 16 – 21: Junior Camp

July 30 – August 04: Youth Camp

Camps 2012 – Letter to Churches re Counselors/Facilitators

Camps 2012 – Counselors/Facilitators Application Form

Camps 2012 – Counselors/Facilitators Reference Form

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9th Caribbean Baptist Youth Festival

The time is fast approaching! The 9th Caribbean Baptist Youth Festival will be held from July 25-29, 2012 under the theme “Sold Out-Fully His” at the Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica. Young people from all across the Caribbean will come together to declaring “Sold Out-Fully His”. There will be enriching spiritual encounters through worship; fellowship; and cultural exchange!

Festival activities include:

• opening ceremony;
• business session;
• prayer sessions;
• gender sessions;
• praise and bible study;
• family fellowship;
• special praise (out door activity);
• city tours & mission opportunities; and
• closing celebrations.

Complete your registration form and return it, along with your deposit, to the offices of the Jamaica Baptist Union, no later than April 27, 2012.

Accommodation for the event will be provided at the Knutsford Court Hotel as well as two other hotel properties. Home Stays can be made available, however you must indicate as soon as possible. Participants who will find their own accommodation are only expected to pay the festival registration fee of J$8,000 (US$100) by April 30 or $9,500(US$120) as of May 1, 2012 (non refundable).

For more information or clarifications call the offices of the JBU at 969-6268/877-7556 or visit the Festival website at www.cbfyouth.org.

Camps 2012 promises to be a blessing to all!  It is that time again when we seek the help of our pastor/moderators and youth leaders in  identifying and recommending mature individuals who can serve as counselors/facilitators and nurses and prepare them for involvement in this critical area of ministry. These persons should undoubtedly possess gifts suited for such an engagement, matched by a commitment to the Lord and His church.

Qualifications include:

• A member of one of our Baptist Churches for at least 2 years;
• Proven record of commitment to Christ and involvement in Church;
• Demonstrable signs of maturity as a Christian;and
• Individual should be age 21 and over.

Camp Counselor Correspondence                                                                                   Camp Counselor Application Form to be completed by all applicants                      Camp Counselor Reference Form to be completed by pastor/moderator

Sports & Leisure Evangelism Sub-Committee of The Jamaica Baptist Union Mission Agency (JBUMA) is planning another mission at the upcoming, Boys and Girls Championships, on Saturday, March 31, 2012, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The JBUMA is now seeking to assemble the team of Mission Volunteers for this event. Mission Volunteers will:

• share their faith;
• hand out bottles of water; and
• distribute evangelism tracts.

Click Here For More Information

Click Here For the Boys & Girls Champs Correspondence

At this moment I would like to introduce to you the theme for the two year term 2011-2013; “Blessed and Branded: Ambassadors of Peace”. The theme is based on Matthew 5:9 which says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” NIV. This theme is in line with the wider JBU theme; “Being God’s People in God’s World:Living in Peace”. It bears witness to the fact that through our relationship with God in Jesus Christ, we belong to God’s family and should display God’s distinctiveness.

Our schools and workplaces are filled with examples of individuals doing things they would not normally do just to ‘fit in’. If we look back on events in our lives we too may have done some things just to find some sense of belonging. We all have a need to belong and it is this need that advertisers capitalize on to sell their products – wear this, drink that, listen to this and you will belong.

In a world that tells us to do all sorts of things to belong, it is comforting to know that God values us for who we are and calls us to belong to something greater than ourselves. We are called to be God’s children, to belong to God’s family. With God’s help we become the best person we can be as we become more like God. In a time when people take on labels such as Gaza and Gully we should embrace the label child of God. In receiving God’s peace we should be conduits of that peace in our world. Throughout this two year term take advantage of all the opportunities to receive and be ambassadors of God’s peace.

It is here again, Youth Sectional Meeting! JBUYD Sectional Meeting presents an opportunity for Baptist young pepole to come together for fellowship and have fun in the Lord. This year as we seek to live out our new theme, Blessed & Branded: Ambassadors of Peace, we will be undertaking an outreach project. We will be visiting the Kingston Gardens Health and Outreach Centre where will engage in various activities such as:

• Painting- outer walls and the veranda area;
• Gardening-Tending to plants; weeding; planting plants; and washing garden plants and stones; and
• Interacting with the Community Children and Youth-sharing the word of God and praying with them.

As God’s children we are called to be ambassadors of God’s peace, come along and join us as we work together and share the peace of God with our friends in Kingston Gardens.

Read more about the Kingston Gardens Health and Outreach Centre.

Many people enter the New Year with much anticipation. They may hope to do better in school or at work or to invest more time in their relationships – with family members, their significant other or with God. Some vow to spend less time on facebook, trim their friends list, lose some weight or read the Bible more. Many express these expectations in the form of resolutions and even devise measures to achieve them. In essence many people view the New Year as a fresh start.

It is definitely a good thing to look to a new year as a fresh start. It is a time when we can put aside destructive behaviours or habits and adopt more beneficial ones, or we can renew our resolve to continue on the path to success. Right now the month of January is almost over. How have you used this fresh start so far? Have you been able to maintain or implement the steps towards realising your expectation? Or have you already given up and gone back to the ’same ole, same ole’. Your fresh start for the New Year may just seem like a hopeless cause that you have no chance of regaining.

Well that is far from the truth. No,you can’t start the new year over, but you do have over 300 fresh starts ahead. Yes everyday is a fresh start! Each day is God’s gift to you to use as you choose. Lamentations 3:21-23 speak to the fact of God’s faithfulness and love. God’s mercies are extended to us daily and enable us to persevere come what may. You don’t have to wait for a new year to change, to persevere, or to make things better. You just need to get a hold of each day, commit it to God and step out in God’s strength. Have a fresh start today.

JBU ASSEMBLY 2012-You Can Help!

The Jamaica Baptist Union invites Baptist students/youth/young adults (individuals 12 years and over) to volunteer to serve as Stewards at our Annual General Assembly. It provides a wonderful opportunity for persons to:

• offer voluntary service to the work of their Union;
• fellowship and share with other Baptists in various ways;and
• be exposed to the inner workings of the Union.

For more details on the work of a Steward/Volunteer please see the attached information.

Assembly 2012 – Stewards/Volunteers Programme Brochure

Assembly 2012 – Stewards/Volunteers Registration Form

If you or someone you know are interested in applying please complete the registration form attached and email to arlene.henry@jbu.org.jm or

fax to 924-6296 Attention Arlene Henry

Coming In July!

9th Caribbean Baptist Youth Festival

It will soon be here! The 9th Caribbean Baptist Youth Festival under the theme “Sold Out- Fully His” Come and experience the worship, the fellowship and the cultural exchange as young people from all across the Caribbean join together to declare “Sold Out – Fully His”.

See  further details on the cost and registration below

9th Caribbean Baptist Youth Festival Registration Form (Local)

 CBYF Memo to Pastors & Churches 

The Jamaica Baptist Union invites Baptist students/youth/young adults (individuals 12 years and over) to volunteer to serve as Stewards at our Annual General Assembly. It provides a wonderful opportunity for persons to:

• offer voluntary service to the work of their Union;
• fellowship and share with other Baptists in various ways;and
• be exposed to the inner workings of the Union.

For more details on the work of a Steward/Volunteer please see the attached information.

Assembly 2012 – Stewards/Volunteers Programme Brochure

Assembly 2012 – Stewards/Volunteers Registration Form

If you or someone you know are interested in applying please complete the registration form attached and email to arlene.henry@jbu.org.jm or

fax to 924-6296 Attention Arlene Henry

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Coming In July!

9th Caribbean Baptist Youth Festival

National Young Adult’s Retreat

Register Now! We want to see you there. Download the registration form here:YAFC Retreat 2011 – Registration Form
Tell everyone at your church about it. YAFC Retreat 2011- Letter to churches