Jamaica: Church dedicates new homes for orphaned children

Mrs. Sharon Fleck, a member and volunteer with International Children’s Care (ICC) cuts the ribbon to officially inaugurate the home. Left to right: Pastor Leon B. Wellington, president of EFCCI, Pastor Everett Brown, president of the church in Jamaica, Pastor Levi Johnson, president of the church in Central Jamaica, and Elder Marston Thomas, president of the ASI Inter-America. Images by Nigel Coke/IAD

March 6, 2013 – Four Paths, Clarendon, Jamaica….Kemar Douglas/IAD Staff.

The Educational Foundation for Children Care Inc. http://efcci.interamerica.org/ (EFCCI), in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Jamaica and the Adventist-laymen’s Services & Industries (ASi), dedicated the first in a series of homes to be used as a children’s village last week. The Hemsley Johnson Home at the Alta Vista Children’s Village compound in Four Paths Clarendon, Jamaica was dedicated.

During the dedication ceremony, Pastor Levi Johnson, president of the church in Central Jamaica, recounted the vision of establishing a children’s village or homes for orphaned children some eight years ago.

“I am happy that we are almost at the end of the fulfillment of that dream,” said Pastor Johnson. “No doubt, we will continue to provide Christ centered ministry to people we serve and in particular our children.”

“There is nothing like being a part of dream that has come to fruition at a time when it is needed the most,” stated Pastor Leon B. Wellington, president of EFCCI and vice president of the church in Inter-America. “We can only benefit from our many partnerships, including the one with International Children Care (ICC) and their many years of running a number of children’s home around the world.”

Leaders and organizers pose for a picture in front of the new Children’s Village in Central Jamaica.

Pastor Wellington explained that he hopes the new children’s village can be a model complex for the care of children. The village is part of a home complex that will house family to foster orphaned children.

“We want to give each child a new vision of life and a new perspective of their future. This we hope to accomplish by utilizing the idea that each home will have a mother, father and an aunt to care for the children,” said Pastor Wellington.

Pastor Everette Brown, president of the church in Jamaica thanked the family of Hemsley Johnson, now deceased, for providing resources to commence the project and after whom the first house has been name.

“The Adventist Church has the opportunity, through this project, to change and transform lives not just in the spiritual realm, but in the development of the whole man,” Pastor Brown said.
President of International Children’s Care http://www.forhiskids.org/ Mr. Rick Fleck was keynote speaker during the ceremony.

“We are pleased that children will have a chance, here in Jamaica to grow in a family setting. God has a plan for these children, they may have lost their biological parents, but they still have a heavenly one and should benefit from family and home setting,” stated Mr. Fleck. “Throughout ICC’s existence we have seen situations were God has completely turned around the lives of children making them into professionals, who otherwise may have ended up in the cycle of poverty and crime.”

“No child should be categorized as nobody’s child and therefore we endorse the concept that it takes a village to raise a child,” stated Mrs. Judy Morgan, president of ASi Jamaica. “We are responsible for our children and when parents are unable to perform their duties surrogates must step in and make a difference in the life of that child.”

In a world where too many children are being abused and in need of a stable home, such an initiative will provide adequate development for children, according to Dr. Grace Kelly, chair of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Northern Caribbean University.

“This initiative provides for children an atmosphere and a haven to grow, develop and flourish beyond the age stipulated by a regular children’s home. NCU stands resolute to provide any of the need resources to make this venture successful,” said Kelly.

The home is not yet operational as official government approval and staff training is still in progress, church leaders said.