Punish, pity and pastor this Teenage mother

The reported incident of a nineteen year old mother abandoning her baby in an old animal shelter off Spanish Road in Kingston has cut to the very core of our emotions. My initial response is to simply condemn the mother as being an uncaring, inhumane person behaving the way that not even animals do. Perhaps Nicolette deserves some of the harsh comments that we will all throw at her. She has scarred the life of an innocent two year old. How can someone ignore the weeping of a two year old crying desperately, Mommy, Mommy?

The report goes on to say that this child has been experiencing abuse for two year. The citizens intervened but the authorities seem to have made an error of judgment in placing the child in the grandmother’s care apparently without consulting with Children’s Services so that follow up work could be done. This two year old was let down by her family and by the state. This nineteen year old mother must be punished; she must be made to know in no uncertain terms that in any society no matter what level we have reached this behaviour is unacceptable and cannot be condoned. I am not sure what is the appropriate punishment for this young lady, especially when you think that while her baby was crying away in the abandoned animal pen she was getting dressed to go to “Sting”. This girl should be ‘stung’for her irresponsible and heartless behaviour.

This nineteen year old mother needs punishment. That’s my first response. But something deep down tells me that she needs pastoral help more than anything else. There is a hint in the report that she was troubled on the night that she was getting dressed to go to Sting. Could it be that this girl still has a conscience, still has a heart, still cares? Many may find this hard to believe but in the worst of us there is at least a sprinkling of humanity. What can we do to rescue this girl from herself? This girl got pregnant when she was a little over sixteen years old. Obviously she was ill prepared for the responsibility of raising a child especially a child that is either physically or mentally challenged. Note well that I am not in any way excusing this young woman I am simply trying to understand the other side of her story.

A large proportion of teenage girls who get pregnant are from a disadvantaged or dysfunctional socio-economic background. Many were themselves born to teenage mothers who generally occupy underpaid and undervalued work positions. These young women can nevertheless be very good mothers if they receive proper support. Is it possible for this young woman to be transformed into a good mother? She needs our help. Nicholette needs lessons in how to be a good parent, she needs to be taught responsibility, she needs tough love.

My focus has been on this mother but I believe that we have to raise questions about the father. Where is he in all of this? Has he been a supportive father, present for his family or is he being distracted by another family that he has to pay attention to elsewhere? Women don’t get pregnant by themselves, there is a man involved. I believe that sometimes our young women are taken to the limit. After they are used by some of us sex hungry, porn fed men they are then left on their own with the herculean task of raising children.
Nicholette went to the end of the road but I tell you that they are many teenage parents who have not tied up their children and left them to die but have left them at the mercy of house fires or have loosed their hands and left them to the mercy of the streets.

As a nation we certainly need to pay more attention to family. All our attempts to fix the crime problem will end in futility if we continue to give scant regard to the teaching and practicing of sound family values. Our nation is being fed with too much filth. We rank number ten in the world in the list of countries that most explore porn sites on the internet. Many of our entertainers spit out filth on the stage and on the airwaves. Our diet is wrong and no surprise we have become so sick.

The story of this nineteen year old mother should be another wake up call to this nation. We cannot continue like this. I lament the fact that so many of us as pastors and churchgoers continue to be so irrelevant to this nation. This is a wake up call for me. Nicholette abandoned her baby and we hold her responsible but many of us have abandoned our call to carry out the Jesus mission, “ to preach the gospel to the poor; to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (St Luke 4:18)

What Makes Christmas Great?

Its Christmas time again but only a few bells are ringing and the fancy lights are as scarce as the sought after greenback US$. So many people are complaining that this is the worst Christmas they have experienced for many years. What really makes Christmas great? Is it the money, the parties, the gifts you receive or the pleasures you enjoy? At the risk of sounding quixotic I contend that Christmas is a time when we are blessed with the greatest opportunity to exhibit our truest humanity. We experience liberation to become human when we recognize the true meaning of the incarnation and submit to Emmanuel, the God who is with us. Jesus Christ demonstrates for us what it means to be truly human when he emptied himself so that we can experience fullness.

We become fully human when we recognize the humanity of others and treat them as fellow pilgrims created in the image of God. Acts of generosity and selflessness are expressions of our truest selves.

This is what makes Christmas great. Therefore each of us should seek to embrace the other and guard each man's dignity and enrich each person's life. Christmas affords us the opportunity to end each year as humans and sets the trend a new year.

The Stall Removal Ritual

Its Christmas time again and there is trouble in the market place. Stalls are being destroyed and people are frantically trying to rescue zinc and board as Caesar's men follow orders to clear the streets. For the person who may be sojourning to Jamaica for the first time this may seem shocking and very disturbing but for Jamaicans who live on the rock this is an annual ritual that we all have to endure. But do we really have to endure it?

I am for law and order but it puzzles me why the security forces have to wait for twenty stalls to be erected before they take action? Isn't it easier and more prudent to prevent one stall from going up than to try to take down twenty? Is it the drama that we relish?

I am tired of this ritual. I encourage the police to be more vigilant in preventing persons from engaging in these illegal activities and I encourage the authorities to be more caring and make every effort to make those who trade to be as comfortable as possible.

The Collective Voice - Response to Earlmont

I really appreciate Earlmont's comments on my "Vote Your Conscience" post. He has obviously given serious thought to the issue and is taking me to task on the comment I made which is quoted below. "Whenever we see leaders going against the popular view it is more often than not a sign of courage and higher reason."

I agree with Earl in cautioning against generalities. I am of the view however that the above comment is a "qualified generality." I certainly recognize the value of the collective conscience but a leader has to discern whether or not the collective voice is informed by the right values. It is my view that there are occasions when the collective conscience is compromised because it is shaped by forces like rage, prejudice and the need for revenge. I am reluctant to embrace the view that, “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” As a leader, the collective voice must not be ignored but it is not slavish obedience to the collective voice that makes me a democratic leader. It is rather my critical response to that voice, to inner conscience and to the minority voice that together must inform a leader’s judgment and decision making.
This indeed is a delicate issue and the matter of subjectivity continues to stare at us.

MP Responds to Conscience Vote Question

MP endorses leadership criteria
published: Saturday | November 29, 2008

The Editor, Sir:

I wish to support the points made in a published letter, by Mr Roy Notice, in your paper dated November 28. We do need to have these kinds of discussions regarding public policy making and the responsibilities of leaders.

It brings into focus the question of the basis on which leaders are elected and what is expected of them in shaping our nation and its future. I do believe that debate and discussion should serve to inform and shape opinions, which ought to be the basis on which decisions are made.

I also believe that political leaders have a duty and obligation to let the public know their position on all matters on which they will take a position that affects the public. It is argued that the judgement and reasoning of our political leaders ought to be major criteria that earn public confidence in those that lead.

Poignant reason

For this reason, Mr Notice's question is so poignant: "Do they (political leaders) nurture and build their conscience in order that they can be relied upon to make ethically sound decisions, even if they are not popular?"

No doubt, his belief that a major part of the nation's problems today has to do with conscience, should not be taken lightly.

I am, etc.,

FITZ JACKSON, M.P.

South St. Catherine

VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE?

The Jamaican Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to retain the death penalty legislation on the books. This was done through a "conscience vote". What is a conscience vote and whose conscience is being referred to? It would seem that what is meant by conscience vote is that all the members of the house were given the opportunity to express what is his or her conviction despite what the party may hold to.

It would seem though that some of the parliamentarians were unsure or afraid to do just that. Many of them referred to what their constituents dictated to them to do. They claimed they voted the conscience of those who sent them to parliament in the first place. Is this a cop out on the part of politicians? Are our politicians saying that on matters of nationally morality they would rather go with the popular view? What if the popular view is the less noble path to take?

Shouldn’t we commend those leaders who declare that even if they are voted out they have to follow their conscience? Whenever we see leaders going against the popular view it is more often than not a sign of courage and higher reason.
Many will ask whether or not we can trust our present political leaders to vote their conscience. What kind of worldview informs their conscience? Do they nurture and build their conscience in order that they can be relied upon to make ethically sound decisions even if they are not popular?

What is the role of conscience in making legislation or in public life? Should this be individual or collective conscience? Lets continue talking.

The Church's Agenda

Who sets the church's agenda? The mission of the Christian community of faith is not in doubt. As a community we are called to embrace and share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with the world. St. Matthew 28:19ff calls and sends us to the world. The charge is for us to go. It is the going that proves difficult to many of us. Very often our agendas as a church reflect our reluctance, unpreparedness or unwillingness to go. Our agenda is often a staying instead of a going agenda. We are an internally driven church that lives in but not with the community.

The only way our agendas will change is if we develop a love for the people of the world. When we see the image of God in each human being threatened by the dehumanizing forces of our time then our agendas will become different. The loving and caring attitude of a church will be reflected in its priorities, its preaching, its programmes and its policies. Broken hearts, wayward and neglected lives, hurting families, hopeless men and women, entrapped in a world of injustice, chicanery and godlessness must push us as a church to pray and act. This is what sets our agenda.

The mission we are on as a church is the mission of Jesus Christ and it is a mission to the world. It is an incarnational posture that we assume as we go into the world. We go in the midst of darkness and death to bring light and life.

When last have you checked your agenda? Are we simply seeking to enrich ourselves, preserve our traditions and expand our denominational borders? Or are we genuinely concerned about others? Love for God and the people of the world will keep us away from adapting the principles and practices of the world. To allow the world to set our agenda is to say that reaching and transforming the world in the name of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit is why we exist. That is when the fusion between our hearts and the heart of Christ would have truly taken place.

STILL CAMPAIGNING

Last evening I watched a news clip on TVJ showing the prime minister of Jamaica and the minister of finance on the campaign trail lambasting the PNP for wrecking the country and marveling at the demands that others are placing on them to fix it back so quickly. A few moments later I listened to the leader of the opposition as she in her usual passionate way warned those involved in the purchasing of the Hydel lands not to touch the transaction papers because when she gets to power the truth will be revealed.

Then it dawned on me! Something hit me hard! Our two leaders are still campaigning either to keep power or to get back into power while Rome burns. I am convinced that the current political leadership in this country is more concerned with holding on to power rather than serving the people of this country. At least one would expect that if our politicians had genuine love and vision for this country then they would unite in some way or form to tackle the crime wave and the economic winds that are threatening our stability and growth. Everybody is fighting for power.

My word to our leaders is that the campaign is over, almost eighteen months ago. The only campaigning that should be going on is the government should allow the country to see its forward thinking, its creativity, courage and fortitude as it tackles that which faces us. If the government was doing that then there would be no deed for the divisive rhetoric that has been coming from its top leaders. The opposition on the other hand should be opposing that which threatens national development or anything that is not in the best interest of the nation while at the same time giving their support to policies and plans that will help the country to achieve its dreams.

Is the Death Penalty the Answer? - (Kadene Porter)

Today I received some responses to a piece I wrote for my blog which was published in the daily observer. I copy one of the responses that was sent to me by Kadene Porter writing for Abeng News. What are your thoughts?
Is the death penalty the answer?

I was not at all surprised to read in the Jamaican media of the Rev. Al Miller's most recent claim regarding divine justice and the death penalty. The mounting fear of being the next random victim as well as frustration levelled at the governing authorities for their impotence and lack of urgency in finding workable solutions is pushing the patience of citizens far beyond their limit.

Addressing his congregation at Fellowship Tabernacle in Jamaica's capital, Rev. Miller sought to clarify his earlier use of the epithet 'dunce' to describe those opposing the death penalty. He explained that it was in light of divine wisdom that the word was used, to convey man's folly in seeking to override God's directive of the death penalty for the capital offence of murder -- not to be confused, stressed the reverend, with the same act committed by the state.

The reverend joins a very august group of clergymen who have recently called for the enforcement of the death penalty, notably Bishop Ronald Blair and the Rev. Terrence Brown, who has generously offered himself as the chief executioner. And in January of last year, Pastor Glen Samuels, President of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh Day Adventists also made the call for the resumption of death penalty enforcement, stating, "We have people who are continuing without fear and conscience to murder at will. I am saying that the matter of capital punishment must be put on the table. Locking them away is not a deterrent. We are producing a generation of murderers."

At least Pastor Samuels is correct in one aspect of his statement: We are producing a generation of murderers. But the clergymen seem to have neither the time nor inclination to look beyond the revulsion and rage felt by most Jamaicans regarding the brutality and murder, statistics which have attained unnerving levels. They seem to have conveniently forgotten that the constabulary responsible for apprehending murderers is riddled with corruption, or that like mosquitoes breed under certain favorable conditions, the conditions in the society are perpetuating the breeding of savage killers. These Christian leaders tend to view the endless murder-loop as 'demonic' manifestation rather than the effects of poor parenting, absence of social engineering and uncaring, unscrupulous politicians.

But let us agree with what is viewed as God's justice. The clergymen constantly use the Bible as reference for their radical pronouncements, as Rev. Miller states that "Governments represent the authority of God to dispense justice in the land, and so capital punishment would not be considered murder when dispensed for justice." But if the reverend is sincere about upholding the principles of the bible, he seems to have studiously omitted other reasons for the forfeiture of one’s life, found on the same pages.

The Bible provides a lavish array of crimes for which death is the ultimate punishment, murder being most prolific. When one looks at biblical justice, it is no wonder why the island is awash in a bloodbath. It seems that ordinary citizens, unable to receive any justice from the state, have taken matters into their own hands and are exacting biblical justice from the least of the evildoers.

They must be reading the same bible as Rev. Miller, where the death sentence is preferred punishment for myriad offences from striking or cursing a parent to the taking of a life (e.g. Deut. 22:13-30; Lev. 24:21). The Old Testament is so engorged with blood and gore that one is tempted to question the origin of the idea that human life is sacred, and since these pro-life advocates are miraculously transformed into harbingers of death, after life struggles through the birth canal, takes it first gasp and becomes tainted by its environment.

The public's fury resulting from the escalated levels of violence is quite understandable, but those who profess moral leadership have the responsibility of steering the nation away from knee-jerk reactions and bellicose rants to thoughtful reflection and measured solutions. As the pro-life videos educate the public on the heartlessness of abortion, here is a video that depicts biblical punishment: a young Kurdish girl being stoned to death, ostensibly for the sin of fornication. It was the duty of the male members of her family to throw the first stones. A later exhumation of the interred remains and an autopsy revealed that the mob was mistaken on their verdict.

Consider this when you watch the video: Are there any aspects of this barbaric act that bears any resemblance to "jungle justice" in Jamaica? In referring to biblical justice and Old Testament principles, are Miller and his cohorts cherry-picking as usual, or would they like to go for the full hog?

I must warn you however, that the visual effects are unsettling.

Conflicts Can Serve Us Well If....

Most persons will tell you that they prefer harmony, agreement and concensus to conflict. Conflicts can sometimes drain persons in an organization and make them forget to focus on the main thing. But conflict is not all bad. There is a sense in which a conflict may be a wake up call for an ogranization to change, to grow, to improve. My recent conversation with a friend reminded me of this. Whenever there are conflicts they tend to reveal:
1. People's capacity to cope with challenges.
2. The mindset of key persons in a group or organization.
3. Persons understanding of the vision and mission of an organization.
4. How equipped people are to handle differences of opinions.
5. What an organization is doing thats right and whats wrong.
6. Who the leaders and influencers are.
7. The need for change in structures, procedures, policies, personell and focus.

The role of the leader is critical in order for an organization to benefit from conflict. The leader:
a. Must not panic in the times of conflict.
b. Must steer away from attacking people personally.
c. Must draw on his / her expertise and inner resources.
d. Must know the rules and procedures of the organization.
e. Should be willing to change course when that becomes necessary.

God bless.

I'D RATHER BE A LIFEGIVER THAN A HANGMAN

I have been reflecting on the recent comments made three members of the Jamaican clergy on the capital punishment debate. Rev. Ronald Blair in his usual conservative and measured style called on the Government of Jamaica to activate the law and start hanging convicted murderers again. He genuinely believes that this will act as a deterrent to future murders. Rev. Clement Brown, the past President of the Spanish Town Ministers' Fraternal went even further than Bishop Blair and out of obvious frustration over the crime situation and the government's apparent tardiness, offered himself to be the hangman. One has to wonder how he would in his duty as clergy prepare the person for death, kill him and them do the last rites? Just wondering aloud!

It is the comments of the very outspoken Fellowship Tabernacle Pastor, the Rev. Al Miller that have not only raised the most eyebrows but have has caused puffs of smoke to come from the ears and noses of some in the society. In displaying a high level of intolerance to opposing views Miller categorizes those who believe that capital punishment will not act as a deterrent to crime as been “dunce”, in fact, “very dunce”, he says. I believe that all well thinking Jamaicans share the frustration of these men of the cloth even though there may be disagreement over the prescription for this state of chronic that we find ourselves in. To say that Jamaica's murder rate is too high is a gross understatement. To be ranked in the top twenty in the world as it relates to murder is most undesirable but to be fighting for the number one spot is earth shattering and ill-omened. Everybody is searching for an answer. My problem with the recommendation given by the clergy men is that it further deepens the culture of death in this country. Already communities are taking the law in their own hands and brutally killing captured thieves out of the frustration that the justice system moves too slow and in some cases has ground to a halt. With a thirst for blood and a justice system that is corrupt, poorly staffed and dilapidated one wonders about the wisdom of introducing capital punishment in this context. Responding to murder by killing four persons every year will not in my mind counter the death culture in this country. When we speak with many of the young men from communities where crime and violence are on the rise they often tell you that "mi dead aready". They have no future orientation. They have seen death around them and have resigned themselves to the reality that they will not live as long as Jesus. The threat of punishment by death is nothing new to young men who live on the edge everyday. Their argument is "before you can hang me you have to catch me". Many are confident that they have the fire power to outgun the police, the brain power to outsmart them and the money to buy them.

What then is the answer?? There is no one answer. There is no one sector that can solve the problem. This is not a political issue it is a survival issue. It is an issue that has implication for the generations to come. Here are seven simple suggestions that I posit:

1. Dust off all the crime plans that have been presented over the past ten years and see where they converge in terms of causes, effects and solutions.

2. Establish a national action team that consists of well thinking Jamaican citizens from all sectors of the society to give leadership to a national two year campaign to reduce crime by 50%.

3. Ensure that there is budgetary allocation to ensure that the police force is adequately manned, well equipped and well paid.

4. Target all crime ridden communities for development. Give business persons major tax breaks and other incentives to invest in these communities.

5. Have a zero tolerance approach to all crimes, from major to minor.

6. Strengthen the Youth Service Programme and give support to groups and associations that have a focus on helping young men between the ages of 12 and 21.

7. Challenge the church to lead the battle on the spiritual front, engaging in sustained ecumenical functional partnerships to rescue communities through prayer, capacity building, and the giving of hope to families.

I am convinced that capital punishment is not the answer. I would rather volunteer myself to be a lifegiver than a hangman. Though I may sound dunce I still believe that threatening to hang murderers will not lessen crime in this context. It will take more. Simply having more legislation passed is not the answer since those already on the books are not been enforced.

One of the critical element that is needed in all of this is leadership. Leadership that is analytic, practical, tough, selfless and just. Who will lead this SAVE JAMAICA CAMPAIGN???

Pt. 1 Leader or Warrior: The Church Leader's Role in Conflicts

Have you ever been to a church where there is more war than worship, more hatchets that harmony? Well maybe not, you go to an ideal church. Church conflicts can be a pain and can stand in the way of Kingdom building.

We can become distracted by personality clashes, power struggles, doctrinal differences and moral fingerpointing. Whatever the cause, if these conflicts are not managed then they can affect the public witness of the church and cause it to detour from its mission. I do not wish to give a dissertation on conflict resolution but permit me to share a few thoughts on how leaders can best create an atmosphere where conflicts are managed in a healthy way.

I believe that leaders must be clear about the mission and purpose of the church. When the church can concentrate its energies on placing first things first there is hardly any room for conflicts to thrive. Can you imagine a church where worship, evangelism, stewardship, ministry, fellowship and discipleship are at the center? The leader who keeps the church foccussed on the essentials will not spend time putting out fires. The absence of a clear mission and purpose will allow all kinds of factions to emerge and the church will turn on itself instead of being externally focussed and Jesus driven.

The leader would do well if he or she is equipped with good judgement, sound character, competence and confidence. This kind of leader creates an atmosphere of trust and security. A rounded leader gives confidence to the congregation. When people are confident about being led in the right direction they will feel more comfortable to voice their concerns because they sense these will be handled in a fair and just way. If the leader is deceitful, jittery, wavering and partial in judgement it creates the atmostphere for the breeding of conflicts.

My last word is that the leader must be clothed with a spirit of humility. A confident, humble leader will be approachable and will diffuse many potentially explosive situations. A leader must not take himself or herself too seriously. One has to learn to ignore many negative criticisms and attempts to embroil one in "cass, cass" (quarrels). Our case must not become bigger than the cause of Christ. When the leader removes herself from the center of focus and places Christ at the center attention will be rightly shifted. When as leaders however we crave the attention of others, we thrive on hero worship and gaining followers with blind loyalty the ground becomes ripe for conflict.

The leader can be a peacemaker or a creator of strife. We need to decide the kind of leader we want to be becuae certainly how we lead will affect how conflicts are managed in our churches and organizations

PASTORING WHERE THE LIGHTS ARE DIM

I had the honour of sharing the sermon at the welcome service for one of my colleagues in ministry. He just completed four years of ministry in the city where he did fairly well. He is now stationed in rural Jamaica where he is serving two fledging congregations in Trelawny. As my wife and I drove to the service we couldn’t help but comment on the narrow, pothole riddled, steep path that we had to take to reach the Freeman’s Hall church. The roadsides were overgrown and one had to compete with bushes to find space to drive on what was left of the road. There were only few houses and we saw no other vehicle or pedestrian. It was a long, slow drive to the church. The lights leading to the church were dim.
My friend is following the path that the Lord is leading. The Lord has led him along a path where not many others would be willing to follow on. The congregations are small, the resources are limited and the contacts are few. But as I listened to my friend shared about his call to the ministry I sensed that one can bloom where he or she is planted. He was convinced that he was sent to these communities by God. He is not naive, he was not pretending that the issues are not there but I sensed that he trusts God, loves people and doesn’t mind going into the uncertain as long as God is with him.
When called to pastoral ministry we declare that the world is our parish. This suggests that we have a commitment to engage people where ever they are once we sense the Divine urge. The way taken by the Divine can be difficult to follow at times. The Lord leads both where the lights are bright and where the lights are dim. It is easier, I believe, to go with God when God takes us to places where ministry is in keeping with our gifts and talents, where resources are available, where people are willing to be led and equipped to do the work of the ministry. These are comfortable places, places we love to be. There are however other paths that the Lord may lead.
When the lights around us are dim it is the inner light that shines in the soul that gives clarity of vision and fixity of purpose. It doesn’t matter how dim the lights are around us, if we have the eternal light of God shining in and through our lives we will be able not only to navigate our way through ministry but we can help others to find their way in life. I am convinced that what matters in ministry is not the lights that shine on us or around us but rather the light that shines from us. The challenge of Jesus is : "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven."

Perhaps doing ministry where the lights are dim is not that bad after all. We are less likely to get into the performance mode in order for the bright lights to shine on us.
Our desire should be for Jesus to make us a light for others as their lights go dim. So I pray: A LITTLE MORE OIL IN MY LAMP KEEP IT BURINING.

I pray for blessings on my friend Markel Wright as he journeys with God through Freeman's Hall and Joe Hut in Trelawny Jamaica.
peace.

Church of God Inducts New Bishop

Despite torrential rainfall hundreds of Jamaicans and overseas guests gathered at the Waltham Park New Testament Church to send up prayers for Rev. Dr. Barrington Brown as he was consecrated as Bishop of the church. The function was for the most part meaningful except for the unnecessary length of some of the presentations. There was an attempt to preach over the sermon and all that happened was that the second sermon was longer and of a much poorer quality. The quality singing, the first sermon and the response of the Inducted Bishop made the function worthwhile attending.

The focus certainly was on servanthood but the pomp and pageantry evidenced in the setting challenged the simplicity of servanthood. Some of the Bishops arriving in a limousine with police outriders seem to me not in keeping with the calls made in the service to a life of humility.
As I left the function I wondered whether or not we give more lip service to the idea of servanthood than genuine reflective practice. The speaker expressed so eloquently and passionately the call to selflessness, impeccable character and godliness that anyone who missed it was bent on doing so. Even after that stirring sermon as I examined my life I am still not convinced that I have fully embraced the servant posture of Jesus Christ. Am I totally given over to the Master? Is His agenda mine or am I operating off my own mandate? Do I seek personal recognition for service or am I seeking God’s glory?

The only answer that I am convinced about is that I want to make myself available to serve where needs are. My desire is to make a difference in the lives of people, to the glory of God. May all those who claim we have the call of God to be servants rise up and SERVE.

Jamaica in Trouble

Jamaica's greatest problem is not economic. We are having a leadership crisis in this country. It appears to me that national development is not on the top on the political agenda in this country. Preservation of power at all cost seems to be the overriding force that influences the decisions made by our leaders. Our leaders are consumed by their own priviate agendas. These agendas are often diametrically opposed to the nation's best interest. We need a renewal of leadership in this country.

Political leadership in this country is allowed to operate at a mediocre level because of the silence of church leaders, business leaders, leaders in education and civic society. We have imbibed the intoxicating wine of silence. We have relinguished the running of this country to a set of inept politicians. The church needs to recapture its prophetic voice and action.

Where there is poor leadership there will be poor followship. The silent leadership core in this country needs to rise and educate the followship so that we can take our politics more seriously.