Adventists boost morale across 175 police stations in Jamaica
Sergeant Everton Williams (left) and DSP Melvin Kerr (second left) examine one of four wall fans presented to the Mandeville Police Station during projects day activities on Oct. 25, as part of the church’s celebration of 125 years of Adventism in Jamaica. They were also given two microwaves. Looking on are:(L-R) Anthony Dowding and Simone Thomas, pastor and member of the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church respectively in Manchester. Images by Nigel Coke/IAD.
October 28, 2015 | Mandeville, Jamaica | By Nigel Coke/IAD
Pastor Everett Brown (right) president of the Adventist Church
in Jamaica presents one of two microwave to DSP Melvin Kerr of the
Mandeville Police Station during projects day activities on Oct. 25 as part of the Church’s celebration of 125 years of Adventism in Jamaica.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) received a morale boost on Oct. 25, 2015, when Seventh-day Adventists from the more than 740 congregations pooled their financial and physical resources to renovate the working environment of police stations Island-wide.
The day dubbed “Projects Day” forms part of the activities of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica to celebrate 125 years of Adventism in Jamaica.
“As we give thanks to God for what He has allowed us to do over the past 125 years, we should give back something to the community, said Pastor Everett Brown, President of the Adventist Church in Jamaica. The Jamaica Constabulary Force was selected as the entity that would benefit from this impact and we are pleased that today 175 police stations and posts of the JCF are being impacted by members of our church.”
Activities undertaken by Church include painting, landscaping, retrofitting of furniture, the handing over of equipment, plumbing and electrical work.
Church members in Mandeville dig the area where work started on an extended area of the premises for individuals to give reports at the station.
At the Mandeville Police Station in Manchester, the staff at Jamaica Union Conference office which in headquartered in the parish, joined forces with the Churches in that region to expand the physical structure of the station by extending the reception area, and carrying out plumbing and tiling work on the female bathroom. A presentation of four wall fans and two microwaves was also made.
“We hope that as a result of what we are doing here in Mandeville and across Jamaica, the members of the JCF will have a more pleasing and conductive environment to work in as they serve us and serve Jamaica,” added Brown.
In addition to the work that was done on October 25 and which is ongoing, the Church, through Northern Caribbean University (NCU) will offer three full four-year scholarships to rank and file members of the JCF as of August 2016.
“On behalf of the police here, we welcome this work and it is highly appreciated”, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Melvin Kerr. This will help greatly in making our work easier. The Adventist Church continues to support and partner with us and is showing that they not only offer prayers, but are able to help us physically and academically.”
Pastor Dudley Hosin (center), prayer ministry coordinator for the church in Jamaica prays with and for officers of the New Port Police Station during projects day activities.
The Church’s eastern region also donated much needed chairs to the Emergency Communication Department at the office of Commissioner of Police in Kingston less than a week ago.
In late September, the Church’s North East region renovated the Islington Police Station in the parish of St. Mary with painting, plumbing and electrical works. They also donated mattresses to the JCF team there.