A Publication of the Gregory Park SDA Church Communication Department

March 2014 Issue #17

Page 2

A speaker excited about Christ! A message centred on

Christ! A revival for Christ!

The Jesus the Only Way series of revival meet-

ings held in March 2014, reflected the heartfelt desire of

every true worshipper for a closer walk with God. It is no secret

that “a revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and

most urgent of all our needs” (Selected Messages, bk.1, p. 121)

The Evangelist, Elder Lionel Robinson, of sister church

Waterford SDA, could hardly contain his excitement about God

and His goodness. Every message presented revealed his enthu-

siasm and love for God. Accompanied by his beautiful wife, Elder

Robinson delved into God’s word and spoke with authority on

topics such as ‘The Biggest Informer in Christian Pen’; ‘21st Cen-

tury Madness’; ‘No Puppy Love’ and ‘PUSH’. These messages

were delivered with passion and zeal, informed and reminded

listeners of the life changing truths in God’s words.

The meetings were held Sunday, Wednesday and Friday

nights in addition to Sabbath Service. Sunday and Wednesday’s

meetings were conducted in the church courtyard, ensuring that

even more persons in the immediate vicinity of the Church would

also receive the message. God’s word as also delivered by Elder

Cavan Davis who ably stepped in on March 26 in the absence of

the Evangelist.

The Music, Health, Family Life, and Youth Departments

were among those who worked along with the Personal Ministry

Department to ensure the success of the meetings. The beautiful

singing and health tips and family life tips along with the powerful

messages were aspects which will linger in the minds of those

who attended. Also etched into the minds of the listeners are the

words of the theme song ‘Worthy is the Lamb’, the fellowship

song ‘We are United in Jesus Christ’ and the departure song ‘Our

God is an Awesome God’.

The meeting came to a close on Sabbath March 29th.

The preacher was emphatic in his message ‘Tell hell I am not

coming”. The male group, ‘Inspiration’ from Braeton enriched the

service with beautiful singing. The series had ended and but the

nuggets of truths spoken by the preacher remain. These truths

include:

‘You being saved is dependent on Christ; you being lost

is dependent on you’

‘Many books can inform you, only the bible can trans-

form you”

‘When life knocks you down on your knees, you’re in a

perfect position to pray’

‘Prayer is not a spare wheel that you pull out when in

trouble. It is the steering wheel that guides our lives’

‘If you are in the company of Jesus, prepare yourself for

a storm’

The month of Revival was not without fruit as along with

each member’s personal recommitment, two precious souls were

added to the family of God through baptism. God is indeed an

awesome God.

Revival declares, Jesus the Only Way

Elder Robinson

delved into God’s

word and spoke

with authority on

topics such as

‘The Biggest In-

former in Christian

Pen’; ‘21st Century

Madness’; ‘No

Puppy Love’ and

‘PUSH’.

Issue #17

The Pastor’s Desk Church Pastor Blondel

Campbell brings greetings

and reflects on the first

quarter of 2014

Youth Retreat 2014

Women’s Weekend The Women of Gregory Park Experience a

weekend of prayer and praise which included

International Day of Prayer

Scenes from the Quarter

Metro Mission 2014 Metro Mission 2014 is a part of the Global

Seventh-day Adventist Church’s campaign

to evangelize the major cities of the world.

Jamaica Union Jamboree

SMS Messaging Service

Black Adventist Pioneers

A brief profile of three

SDA Pioneers who broke

new ground for

Adventism

Publications

Adventist Resources The Light

Health as a Lifestyle

News

Calendar of Events

3

8-9

14-15

4

5

6

7

10

11

12

13

16-17

18

The Light

BLONDEL Campbell Pastor, Gregory Park Circuit of Churches

P raise the Lord! God continues to be faithful and true to

us in spite of ourselves. Let us give him thanks for His

leading in the life of the Church over the past years and espe-

cially in this stage of earth’s history when the signs all indicate

that his coming is even at the door!

The Church is still a blessing as it carries forward its

mandate of preaching the gospel to ‘all the world’ which repre-

sents the communities of Gregory Park. In preparing the church

for such an important mandate, the Personal Ministry Depart-

ment spearheaded a ‘revival’ to re-energize the members for

active duty. To God be the glory for our young Elder and Pastor in

training – Lionel Robinson for the remarkable job he did in pre-

senting to us God’s messages of love. Our members were truly

blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit and more so our visi-

tors a few of which answered the call of the Lord. To the ‘babies

of the Gregory Park family’ keep your focus on Jesus who is the

author and finisher of your faith. Yes, we are living in challenging

times but remain ‘anchored’ in Jesus and He will lead you safely

to our eternal destination. Well done family members for your

support not only by your presence but in your prayers as well.

We have been re-energized by Elder Lionel Robinson

and therefore ready for the ‘rigors’ of MM14 – Metro Mission

2014 – ‘a vehicle’ bringing hope to the major cities of our coun-

try. I am encouraging every member to get on board the MM14

train plying the Portmore/Greater Portmore domain; by praying

for our evangelists, Bible workers, visitors; that the Lord will

move in a mighty way through His servants and rescue souls

‘shackled and burdened by sin’ into the liberty of our Saviour. As

you pray allow the Holy Spirit to move you to add your financial

support as well and be out in your numbers from the start on

April 27 to the final climax on May 25. Every able bodied saint is

needed for the success of this mission into the enemy’s camp.

Therefore as we pray and give financially let us also give our-

selves to the Lord.

As the Church prepares for this big evangelistic event,

the heads of departments have been busy with ensuring that the

members are fed spiritually during their special days. I must

make special mention of our Women’s Ministry and Family Life

Departments for reminding us of the important roles that our

women and families play in carrying out the gospel commission.

We were indeed blessed by the messages and encouraged to

see our women and various families being led by the Spirit of

God in such an awesome way. Thanks to the leaders and the

team members of these departments for a spiritually enriching

day.

The families of God are not only increasing spiritually

but also physically as we say congratulations to Brother and Sis-

ter Wilson on the new addition, baby Blake Christian Wilson and

Sister Lavern Grey for her bundle of joy, Zenovia Danielle Grey.

Let us continue to pray for God’s leading in their lives.

When our Lord calls us into His service; His call in-

cludes those skilled in the art of construction as well and we give

God thanks for our ‘skilled saints’ who came out to assist in the

raising of the wall of the side of the church. Thanks for a job well

done for the Lord.

Let us continue to pray for our Elders, Leaders and

other Officers that they will be led by the Holy Spirit as they minis-

ter to the Church and not to be forgotten are our youth who will

be going on their Youth Retreat sometime in August. Let us pray

that as youths they will be strengthened to continue to serve our

God.

With Christ as our focus let us remain steadfast in the

face of the various challenges that assail us and proclaim the

third angel’s message as we onward march to Zion the beautiful

city of our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God con-

tinue to pour out His blessings upon us all.

Editorial Committee

Melissa Brown Marjorie Stone Fiona Dyer Wilson Damian Wilson

Issue #17

Do you

know the morning

watch text for today

or the reading for the bible year?

Do you want to be kept

informed of announce-

ments and Church

notices?

Make sure you

are a part of the

Church’s SMS Mess-

aging Service.

Messages will be

sent directly to your phone

The service is

absolutely free to

all members of the

church

To be added to the SMS

Messaging Service,

submit your contact

details to Ceraphia

Roper, Melissa Brown or

Jean-Mark Davis

GPSDACHURCH

Bible year readings

(March 9-15) Deut

30:31, Deut 32:34,

Josh 1-4, Josh 5-8,

Josh 5-11, Josh 12-

15, Josh 16-18) Faith

can move mountains.

Returns to Portland

The Light

Group photo from 2009 Youth Retreat at Jamaica Crest Resort

The main building on the property

The pool area

One of the rooms at the Resort

After a meticu- lous search for a suitable loca- tion for this year’s Youth Retreat, the Adventist Youth Council has settled on Jamaica Crest Resort for their annual three-day outing. Youth Retreat will run from August 1-3, 2014, after a break in 2013. “We believe that we have selected an ideal property that offers both value for money and the kind of comfortable, relaxing environment with the necessary amenities to make for a Retreat everyone will enjoy,” insists Adventist Youth Leader, Ceraphia Roper. “We also wanted to en-sure that we could accommodate anyone who is interested in attending, at a price point that was fairly reasonable especially when compared to previ-ous years,” she explained. The Jamaica Crest Resort, which was also the site for the 2009 Retreat, offers a laid back tropical retreat setting with old-fashioned charm and hospitality. The property is located seven miles east of historic Port Antonio at Fairy Hill in Portland on seventeen acres of tropical paradise, surrounded by lush green gardens, and lawns. Other amenities include pool area, large conference rooms, modern/updated rooms, ample green areas for games and recreation, and dining facilities. While details are finalized by the Council and new and innovative ideas take shape in the months leading up to the Retreat - a number of usual plans and activities will be a part of the weekend including: spiritual/Christian workshops, board games, physical and social activities and ban-quet dinner. “We want our young people to start planning early, put your funds aside or turn them over to the Youth Department so you can book your space and ensure that you are a part of what promises to be a memo-rable and exciting weekend,” the AY Leader concluded.

Issue #17

“Prayer opens our lives to God’s cleansing power. During prayer, the Holy Spirit X-rays our souls. We see hidden sins and defects in our character that keep us from being the powerful witnesses He longs for us to be. Prayer draws us into an intimate relation-ship with Jesus. In prayer, we open our minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We seek His wisdom, not our own”. “Just as the Berlin Wall fell as God’s people prayed, so the walls that keep us from an intimate experience with Jesus fall as we plead with God” (Finley 2010) Prayer is a privilege which Christians embrace daily as they face life’s challenges. The women look forward to Interna-tional Women’s Day of Prayer with great anticipation. It is an annual event which provides women with the opportunity to strengthen their prayer life as they are empowered by God to serve in his vineyard. The Women’s Ministry Department of Gregory Park Seventh-day Adventist Church planned a weekend of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day of Prayer. The women organized community impact to allow church members to go into the community, sensitizing persons to the events planned as well as the upcoming Revival series ‘Jesus the Only Way’. The weekend of activities began with a vesper service on Friday, March 28th. The evening was shared by sister churches in Portmore. The women from Newlands, Braeton, Greater Port-more, Tent City and Portmore SDA turned out in their numbers to share in the rich experience of praying together and sharing testimonies of God’s goodness. The evening’s programme was moderated by Sis. Janet Able-Simpson. The Women’s Ministry Director at Gregory Park, Sis. Janet Gordon, welcomed all present. There was beautiful singing from Newlands SDA as well as from Sis. Claudette Thompson of Tent City SDA. The beautiful singing and testimo-

nies from sister churches touched every heart as worshippers sat transformed by the compelling details of God’s mighty acts on behalf of His children when they pray. Sis. Carmen Griffiths and Sis. Victoria Henry, both from the Greater Portmore Church left no uncertainty as to the power of God and His goodness to us. The charge for the evening came from Sis. Mckoy- Chambers. She was a powerful presenter who allowed God to use her once again to proclaim His words. The worshippers were spellbound as she delved into God’s word and lead us into exam-ining the theme ‘He Lifts Up My Head’. Sabbath, March 1, 2014 was equally spiritually refresh-ing. The prayer focus was maintained throughout the morning’s proceedings as members and visitors walked to the altar to lay all before the Lord. One could sense the presence of the Lord in His sanctuary on His holy day. It was a spiritual feast available to everyone who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. The Divine Hour message was presented by Sis. Sackeria Hinds of NCU, St. Ann. We were fed the bread of life as she shared with the Church from the scriptures. The AY segment was entitled ‘The Golden Years’. The guest presenter was Sis. Walters, a nurse from the Berea SDA Church. She examined a number of issues relating to Women and aging. She explained how other family members, by being aware of the changes, could be more sensitive and understanding. Vesper was conducted by Sis. Jacqueline White. It had indeed been a well spent International Women’s Day of Prayer. Let all continue to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonian 5:7) for ‘when we pray, God hears more than we say, answers more than we ask, gives more than we imagine…In His own time and His own way’.

’

Sis. Sackeria Hinds

- Marjorie Stone

”

“

The Light

MM14 coming to Caymanas/Portmore Area

M atthew 9:35 says; ‘Jesus went through all the towns

and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaim-

ing the good news of the kingdom and healing every

disease and sickness.’ The buzzword in the local

Adventist community right now and for much of this year is

‘MM14’. Metro Mission 2014 is a part of the Global Seventh-day

Adventist Church’s campaign to evan-

gelize the major cities of the world.

Kingston has been selected

as the major city being targeted by the

Jamaica Union, the largest urban

populated city in Jamaica. The cam-

paign which is dubbed “Hope for the

Cities” has been well underway for

months now throughout East Jamaica

Conference with meetings in Barbican

Square and the National Heroes’ Cir-

cle.

MM14 will also involve major

evangelistic campaigns in major cities

and towns across Jamaica. Each local

conference is expected to identify the main city/town in that

Conference, while there will be smaller meetings around the

Conference. For the Central Jamaica Conference, Spanish Town

has been identified as the main thrust for the Conference. Other

campaigns will be held in Portmore, Old Harbour, Mandeville,

Linstead and Frankfield.

While MM14 was officially launched on Sunday, January

12, 2014 at Half Way Tree Square, the Portmore phase will run

from April 27 to May 25 with Pastor Alton Williams under the

theme, ‘Hope for the City: Operation

Rescue.’ The site will be at the Cay-

manas Gardens open lot, between

Surrey Meadows and Independence

City. The lead-up to the Crusade will

be supported by outdoor meetings

across the districts in Portmore, in-

cluding a meeting at the site during

AY on Sabbath March 22. .

. In an open letter to the Churches

in Jamaica Union, Union President

Everett Brown said that “This initia-

tive requires the full support of every

member of the church to join us in

praying for the success of this programme, and to participate in

the mission to the cities and towns by making a special contribu-

tion to defray the expenses of conducting the initiative.”

This initiative requires

the full support of every

member of the church to

join us in praying for the

success of this pro-

gramme

MM14 Road March and Launch in the Capital City (January 12,

2014)

Final Sabbath of the Footprint of Hope Series, A MM14 Pro-

gramme with Pastor Glen O. Samuels (March 1, 2014)

Pastor Everett Brown

Issue #17

Church Treasurer, Orrett Davis and other (skilled) men of the Gregory

Park Church lend their time and talent towards raising the wall to the

right of the Church - Sunday February 9, 2014

Pastor Blondel Campbell raises his hand in praise following the presenta-

tion by Pastor Roy Dennis, Family Life Director of Central Jamaica Confer-

ence - Sabbath February 15, 2014

Jaydene Brissett attends to a ‘customer’ during Hair Daycare, a

fundraising event of the Adventist Youth Department, Sunday

March 9, 2014

A group of young people at Camp Verley at the “Equipping Our-

selves for Service: Youth Leadership Training 2014”, February

23, 2014

A section of the Women’s Choir during International Women’s Day of

Prayer, March 5, 2014

The Light

Damian and Fiona Wilson,

holding their son Blake

Christian Wilson and Sis

Lavern Grey with her daugh-

ter Zenovia Danielle Grey

during the Blessing for both

children on Sabbath March

15, 2014. At the altar are

friends and family members

supporting the parents.

Members of the Youth Choir perform an item during a

meeting of the Revival (top left) while Evangelist, Bro Lionel

Robinson gestures to the outdoor congregation during his

presentation (right).

◄ The Children’s Choir lift their voice in praise during

Divine Service on Sabbath March 22, 2014

Issue #17

A certain Hollywood writer/director is cred-

ited with saying, “If you want to make God

laugh, tell him your plans.” This isn’t be-

cause God delights in making light of our

own plans, but just how those plans often pale in

comparison to the loftier ones He has for our lives.

In 2004, Tajloi Cunningham, a former member

of the Gregory Park SDA, who also sang on the Youth

Choir for a while, left Jamaica to continue his educa-

tion abroad. But somewhere in that process he re-

ceived and responded to a higher calling. “I com-

pleted high school and then went on to Walla Walla

University where I began studying aviation and

earned my private pilot’s license. But while enjoying

my career choice God persuaded me, under drastic

circumstances, to give it all up to do Theology. I have

now graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in

Theology with an Aviation and Biblical Languages

Minor.

Tajloi now worships at the Berean Fellowship

for which he was a student pastor from 2011-2013,

and the Walla Walla University SDA Church in Walla

Walla, Washington State.

Young Cunningham is a part of a family that is

deeply entrenched in Gregory Park Church history as

his grandfather, Keith Wright, is one of the early mem-

bers of the Church. Of his memories of Gregory Park

that meant the most to him, he says were Bible Class,

where he learnt and gathered so much information

about the Bible. Since leaving Jamaica he has vis-

ited three times. However he has not been able to

keep up much with the happenings at his home

church as other relatives and close friends also left

over time, but he has been able to keep up with gen-

eral happening in Jamaica.

Comparing the worship experience he says

“both have great music but the main difference

would be in the type of music. At Gregory Park the

music was more conservative with a lot of hymns

while both Berean and the University Church are not

quite focused on that. Berean is more of an African

American gospel type with up-beat music and some

hymns while the University Church is more classical

music and some hymns. Often times the University

Church will have an orchestra. All are friendly

churches. Gregory Park stands out from the other two

in terms of preaching and sermon content.” he

opines.

As for future plans Tajloi says he intends to

continue his schooling at Loma Linda University where

he will be doing a Master’s of Science in Chaplaincy.

“My goal is then to become a Chaplain in the United

States Air force for 10-15 years after which I will seek

to become an evangelist or a church pastor. I also

want to start a food service for the poor and the

homeless.”

Tajloi Cunningham

The Light

Black Adventist Pioneers Part II Last year we introduced you to six black Adventist Pioneers who made significant con-

tributions in their respective areas or opened doors for others. Again, in acknowledge-

ment of Black History Month (February) we introduce you to three more such persons.

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth was born into

slavery in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in

1826. After going to court to recover her son, she became the first black woman to win such a case

against a white man. Sojourner Truth was named Isabella Baumfree when she was born. She gave her-

self the name Sojourner Truth in 1843. Her best-known extemporaneous speech on gender inequali-

ties, "Ain't I a Woman?", was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.

During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army; after the war, she tried un-

successfully to secure land grants from the federal government for former slaves.

1843 was a turning point for Truth. She changed her religion and adopted her chosen name.

She became a Millerite Adventist in 1843, attending several Adventist campmeetings and set out

preaching. However she left the Millerites for a time after Jesus did not appear in 1844. Later in 1846

she re-associated with the Millerite group that became known as Seventh-day Adventists.

James Kemuel Humphrey was born in the parish of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, on March 7, 1877. He at-

tended elementary school in the parish and graduated from Colbert College, where he distinguished

himself as an exceptional student and eloquent speaker. On December 19, 1900, he married Viola

Anderson of Kingston, Jamaica, embarking shortly thereafter on a career as a Baptist minister.

Always painfully aware of the plight of people of African descent in the “New World,” Hum-

phrey left Jamaica in 1901 to visit Africa. On his way there he stopped off in New York City, where he

was converted to Adventism. Humphrey joined the Seventh-day Adventist church, walking away from

the Baptist ministry, itself a significant step. He aborted his trip to Africa, deciding to remain in New

York City, where his wife joined him the following year.

Humphrey’s meteoric rise in the Adventist Church continued through the 1910s. Humphrey

continued to hold tent revivals in New York City, and by 1920 his church, the First Harlem Church, had

about six hundred members. Humphrey was asked to serve in more leadership positions in the Greater

New York Conference, and by the end of 1922, four Black churches were in the Greater New York Con-

ference, all of them under the supervision of Humphrey. The delegates from his church were often the

only black delegates in the Conference Sessions. Humphrey baptized over 300 persons between

1920 and 1927. The First Harlem Church was the largest SDA denomination in the Greater New York

Conference and Humphrey was pastoring both it and its daughter church, Harlem Number 2.

Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, USN (Ret.) is a modern day pioneer. Born November 1, 1948, Black is the

62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becom-

ing the first African American and the first Seventh-day Adventist to hold this office. The Senate elected

its first chaplain in 1789. .

He served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of rear

admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, the senior chaplain

of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2013

In 1995, Black was chosen from 127 nominees for the NAACP Renowned Service Award, for

his contributions to equal opportunity and civil rights. .

In 2002, he received the Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award from the

Morehouse School of Religion. In 2004, the Old Dominion University chapter of the NAACP conferred

on him the Image Award, "Reaffirming the Dream - Realizing the Vision", for military excellence. .

Black is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He is married to Brenda Black, née Pearsall and to-

gether they have three sons.

Rear Admiral Barry C. Black

James Humphrey

Issue #17

PUBLICATIONSPUBLICATIONSPUBLICATIONS

of the Quarterof the Quarterof the Quarter

To get copies of these and other SDA Christian Literature: Speak with your local Publishing Director

Visit your local Book and Nutrition Centre

Kingston, 74 Constant Spring Road.

Spanish Town, 58 Brunswick Ave

Mandeville, 5 1/2 Annex Drive,

Ocho Rios, Native Plaza, 58 Main Street

Montego Bay, 30 Church Street

Savana-la-mar, 6 Rose Street

Visit the Inter-American Division Book Store Website

at http://store.iadpa.org/

Or any other online book store such as Amazon or

Barnes and Noble

In this issue of Publications of the Quarter,

we introduce you to a new piece of read-

ing material on the works of

Ellen G. White

Read more about this seminal piece of work in the

Church News Section on page 17

Everything About Ellen G. White in One Resource

This masterwork brings together hundreds of articles that

describe the people and events in the life of Ellen White, as

well as her stand on numerous topics and subjects including:

Doctrine and Theology

Health and Lifestyle

Life Events

Places

People

Everything from the hymns Ellen White loved to the homes

she lived in are covered in heavily referenced articles. You’ll

find a detailed chronology of her life and extensive articles on

her ministry, her theology, and her statements in the light of

advancing scientific knowledge. Whether you’re preparing a

sermon, teaching a class, or finding answers to personal

questions, this single resource has the answers you need.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jerry Moon

Jerry Moon is an expert in Adventist studies and topics related to

Ellen White. His Ph.D. dissertation dealt with the interaction of W. C.

White and his mother. Moon is currently the chair of the Church

History Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Semi-

nary. His previous books include W. C. White and Ellen G. White: The

Relationship Between the Prophet and Her Son and The Trinity (with

Woodrow Whidden and John Reeve).

Denis Fortin . Denis Fortin served as dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theologi-

cal Seminary from 2006 to 2013, where he currently is a professor

of theology. He is an expert on Ellen White’s life and work and since

1995 has shared with Jerry Moon the teaching of an influential

course on issues in Ellen White studies. His previous books include

Adventism in Quebec: The Dynamic of Rural Church Growth, 1830-

1910.

By Jerry Moon, Denis Fortin

ISBN: 9780828025041 | 1504 pages | Review and

Herald Publishing | Copyright 2014

$US 69.99

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Issue #17

Health as a Lifestyle

REWARDS OF EXERCISE 1. Better Mood

Cranky? Get moving. Exercise makes you feel happier. When

you work out, your body makes endorphins -- "feel-good"

chemicals in the brain. You can actually start to feel better

within a few minutes of moving. But the effects of regular ex-

ercise can last for a long time.

2. More Energy

You might not expect it, but using energy to exercise gives you

more get-up-and-go. Sometimes when you're tired, the last

thing you want to do is move. But when you exercise regularly,

that fatigue goes away and you find yourself with a lot more

pep.

3. Good Night's Sleep

Get regular exercise to help you fall asleep faster and sleep

more soundly. The harder you exercise, the more likely you

are to have a good night's sleep. It doesn't matter when you

exercise, as long as you don’t have trouble sleeping. If you do

have problems, though, work out earlier in the day.

4. More Confidence

You just walked a mile or ran your first 5K. Success like that

can boost your self-esteem and make you ready to conquer

anything. Exercise makes you feel good about yourself.

5. Less Stress

Exercise calms your body and your brain. When your body

works hard, the levels of stress hormones -- like adrenaline

and cortisol -- drop. Stress and anxiety fade away, especially

after aerobic exercise.

6. More Productive

Want to be more efficient at work? Take a break and get

some exercise. In one study, people who got moving in the

middle of the day were much more productive when they went

back to work. They also were happier and got along better

with their co-workers

7. Weight Control

Exercise and diet work together to keep your weight healthy.

Whether you want to lose some inches around the waist or

just avoid putting on extra pounds, exercise is the key. Try to

work out 30 minutes most days of the week.

The Light

Health as a Lifestyle

8. Long Life

Regular exercise can add years to your life. And that

counts even if you're not a hard-core fitness buff. Just

get moving. Even a little exercise can help you live

longer than not exercising at all. The American Heart

Association says each hour of exercise adds 2 hours to

your life.

9. Strong Bones and Muscles

Your bones and muscles get stronger when you work

out. It's especially important to do weight-bearing exer-

cise, such as weight-lifting, tennis, walking, and danc-

ing. This can help build bones as you get older. And it

can help ward off osteoporosis and protect your balance

and coordination.

10. Healthy Heart

It's no secret that exercise is great for your heart. Regu-

lar workouts lower your risk of heart disease, improve

your blood cholesterol levels, and help control and even

prevent high blood pressure.

11. Lower Risk of Cancer

Regular exercise can cut your risk of some cancers, in-

cluding colon, breast, and lung. And people who have

cancer have better quality of life when they exercise.

12. Less Arthritis Pain

If you have arthritis, regular exercise can help ease your

pain. And it can make your daily activities easier. Try

non-impact exercises like swimming. They can be easy

on sore joints.

Source: Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on April 19,

2013. WebMD.com

Oral Care

W ith proper care, your teeth and gums can stay healthy

throughout your life. The healthier your teeth and gums

are, the less risk you have for tooth decay and gum

disease.

There are four basic steps to caring for teeth and gums:

1. Brushing

2. Flossing

3. Eating right

4. Visiting the dentist

Tips for Flossing Your Teeth

Floss your teeth once a day. Flossing gets rid of food and plaque

between the teeth, where your toothbrush cannot reach. If plaque

stays between teeth, it can harden into tartar, which must be re-

moved by a dentist. To floss:

Remove about an 18-inch strip of floss from the dispenser.

Wind the floss around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving

a 1-inch section open for flossing. Floss the top teeth first, then

the bottom.

Place the floss in your mouth and use your index fingers to

push the floss between the teeth. Be careful not to push too

hard and injure the gums.

Move the floss up and down against the tooth and up and

around the gum line. The floss should form a C-shape around

the tooth as you floss.

Floss between each tooth as well as behind the back teeth.

Use a clean section of floss as needed and take up used floss

by winding it around the fingers.

Also, antibacterial or fluoride mouth rinses can reduce bacteria that

cause plaque and gum disease, according to the American Dental

Association.

Floss

Source: healthfinder.gov: "Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums."

FamilyDoctor.org: "Mouth and Teeth: How to Keep Them Healthy." Columbia University College of Dental Health: "Eight Steps to Dental Health." American Dental Association.

Monteiro Released From

Prison in Togo Ends nearly 22-month detainment; others still in

jail after being convicted

Issue #17

Continued on next page

The Light shares the following news stories on religion from across the world, for the information of readers. Opinions ex-

pressed in these reports/stories do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Light, the Gregory Park SDA Church or the

Seventh-day Adventist Church

S eventh-day Adventist Pastor Antonio Monteiro was released

from prison on January 13 in Lomé, Togo, ending a nearly

two-year ordeal that kept him and four others detained on

charges of conspiracy to commit murder in a case that cap-

tured the attention of the Adventist World Church. .

Monteiro was released after being acquitted in a court ver-

dict the day before. Still in prison is Adventist Church member Bruno

Amah, who was convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison.

He is considering his legal options, including appealing the decision.

Monteiro was greeted outside of prison by his legal team

and officials from the denomination’s Sahel Union Mission, where

Monteiro had worked since 2009 as the Family Ministries Director.

Monteiro is a native of the island nation of Cape Verde, and it’s ex-

pected that he will return there soon. .

Adventist Church President Ted N.C. Wilson spoke to Mon-

teiro by phone. Wilson said Monteiro thanked the world church for its

support. Millions of Seventh-day Adventists worldwide had held

prayer vigils, launched social media campaigns, sponsored letter-

writing initiatives to government officials and diplomats, held press

conferences and led a signature drive for a petition calling for the

release of Monteiro and others involved in the case. .

Church officials expressed “mixed feelings” over yester-

day’s court ruling, which acquitted some and convicted others.

“The acquittal of Pastor Monteiro is good news and we are

happy for him and his family. We are surprised and very sad about

the condemnation of Amah,” John Graz, Public Affairs and Religious

Liberty Director for the Adventist World Church, said. .

The arrests and detentions unfolded following a string of

homicides in September of 2011. Five men, including Monteiro and

Amah, were detained in March of 2012 and held without a trial and

solely on the accusation of one man who was described as a

“pathological liar” in a court-ordered psychiatric exam. That man,

Kpatcha Simliya, who was also detained, was also convicted in the

court ruling and sentenced to life in prison. .

Depending on different newspaper and police accounts,

more than a dozen bodies of women between the ages of 12 and 36

had been found in the northern Lomé suburb of Agoué in 2011. The

bodies had stab wounds and some sexual organs had been re-

moved. Blood and organs are often used in ceremonies of Voodoo,

which is widely practiced in Togo. .

When no arrests were made, the public demanded justice

for the killings, church leaders said.

Simliya was later shown on television surrounded by police

guards, telling the story of the series of murders he said that he or-

ganized and naming accomplices who collected blood and organs.

But much of the story proved unlikely, including the number of vic-

tims and the methods used, according to Simliya’s medical examiner

“Any informed and reasonable man would have doubts

regarding his incredible outpouring or the feasibility of his crimes or

supposed crimes,” a September 9, 2012, court-ordered psychiatric

exam stated, which was viewed by ANN. .

Simliya would later recant his accusation, saying he was

beaten by police and forced to give names of people he supposedly

knew were co-conspirators in a blood trafficking network, according

to the psychiatric exam. .

Still, his testimony—the only evidence in the case—was

enough to bring convictions in yesterday’s ruling. .

Church officials for the denomination’s West-Central African

Division, based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, said Monteiro will receive

appropriate care back in his home in Cape Verde.

Pastor Antonio Monteiro back home with his family

Source: Adventist News Network - http://news.adventist.org/

Jamaica Union

President, Pastor

Everett Brown

The Light

Source: Jamaica Observer

T HE Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica has urged leg-

islators not to pass the Flexible Work Arrangement Bill in

Parliament until its members and other Sabbath-keeping

congregations across the country are guaranteed the 24-

hour Sabbath.

Head of the organisation Pastor Everett Brown told the

congregation gathered for the installation of newly elected leaders

in the church's northern region (St Ann and Trelawny) in February

that the church needed strong, courageous leaders to oppose “any

attempt to curtail our religious freedom which the Constitution guar-

antees, by the passing of legislation on the new flexible work ar-

rangements”.

“Let me make the position of the church clear:

God, who mandated the Seventh-day Sabbath as His holy day of

worship, did not make it a 12-hour day, but a 24-four hour one —

from sunset Friday evening to sunset Saturday evening," he said.

That position is among a list of concerns outlined in a let-

ter which the Umbrella Group of Churches — of which the Adventist

body is part — sent to the Minister of Labour.

“We hope to have a conversation,” secretary of the group

Rev Gary Harriott told the Jamaica Observer. “The church, through a

group called the Concerned Church Leaders, has been following this

matter for a number of years and while we recognise that there are

values to be gained from a flexible work agreement in Jamaica, we

are concerned about the impact it will have on the life of the

church.”

“While we have flexible work arrangements [to some ex-

tent] now, it only affects a small group of people. Our concern is that

when it becomes wide-scale, what will it mean for the larger body of

the church, and what will it mean culturally for us?" he asked in

reference to the current definition of “the weekend”.

Discussions about flexible work arrangements have been

on the table for nearly 20 years and legislation is expected to be

passed by the end of March this year as a requirement of the latest

IMF agreement. Government issued a ministry paper on the subject

with the promise that public education and consultations would be

carried out before any regulations are enacted.

But that has not happened to date and, according to Rev

Harriott, “What we don't want is for the Bill to be rushed through

Parliament, like many we have seen last year, without any proper

debate and public education and which causes an economic back-

lash.”

“We are concerned about the protection of a person's right

to worship as enshrined in the Constitution. Based on the ministry

paper that we read, the work schedule will be determined by nego-

tiation between the worker and the employer and we are concerned

about that because they do not have equal power. It should not be

left open to negotiation but should be protected under law where

power rests with the employer,” Harriott said.

A recently released encyclopedia on the Seventh-day Advent-

ist Church’s co-founder Ellen G. White gives an overview of

her stance on numerous topics and offers an opportunity to

dispel misconceptions on the life and literary influence of

the denomination’s most known figure, publishers said.

“The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia,” published by Review

and Herald Publishing Association, includes articles on White, biog-

raphies and her writings on an array of topics—from salvation, psy-

chology and politics to legalism, diet and makeup.

“The Ellen White Encyclopedia is undoubtedly the most

important reference work produced by the Seventh-day Adventist

Church in a half century,” said Adventist Church historian George

Knight. .

The encyclopedia consists of 1,300 articles with descrip-

tions of places White lived and the people in her life, rarely seen

photographs and her position on hundreds of subjects she wrote

about during her ministry. .

Editors Denis Fortin, former dean of the Seventh-day Ad-

ventist Theological Seminary, and Jerry Moon, chair of the Church

History Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Semi-

nary worked with 180 contributing authors over the course of 14

years to compile the encyclopedia. It was arranged so “both new

and long-time readers [of White’s writings] will find reliable informa-

tion, often presented from fresh new perspectives,” Fortin and

Moon said. .

White, who died in 1915 at age 87, is credited with shap-

ing the mission and vision of the Adventist Church, especially

through her writings. During her ministry she wrote approximately

100,000 pages, and more than 100 books have been published

from her writings. She is also the most translated American author,

according to The Ellen G. White Estate. Her most translated book,

“Steps to Christ,” a how-to guide on being a Christian, has been

translated into more than 165 languages. .

Controversy around White’s writings often stems from her

work that has been taken out of context or wrongfully used to sup-

port controversial subjects. The encyclopedia was envisioned to be

the standard reference work for anyone who has questions about

White’s positions. .

Jim Nix, director of The Ellen G. White Estate, said he

was pleased when he received early manuscripts of the ency-

clopedia. “I am excited about the wealth of information re-

garding Ellen White and her ministry that is contained in this

book,” Nix said. “I am impressed with the depth and scope of

what is contained in it.”

No Sabbath, no flexi-week! Church groups say

Gov’t must hold

consultations be-

fore passing Bill

New Ellen White Encyclopedia highlights lifetime of ministry

Church historian

calls it ‘most

important refer-

ence work in half

a century’

Source: Adventist News Network, http://news.adventist.org/

Issue #17

Tue-Wed 1-30 - Launch of Singles Club l Fri-Sun 4-6 - Women’s Ministries Retreat l *Sab-Sab 5-26 - Education Evangelism; Sab 5 -

Day of Prayer and Fasting (Literature Evangelist) l Personal Ministries Day l Missionary Magazines; Youth Mission Rally - Spanish Town

l All Night Prayer Meeting at Braeton Church for Big City/Town Outreach l Sab-Sun 5-6 - Communication Symposium Weekend l Sun 6

- Elders, Youth, Women and Children’s Ministries Directors and Sabbath School Superintendents’ Certification Seminar, Manchester, (CJC)

l Mon 7 - Pastors & Bible Workers’ Meeting - CJC Boardroom l Wed 9 - Executive Committee Meeting l Thur 10 - 1st Quarter

Churches’ Statistical Report due at CJC Office l Fri 11 - Pastors Day of Prayer l Sab 12 - Adventist Mission Emphasis (offering) l Sab 12

- Vision One Million Baptism Celebration l Literature Evangelism Impact Day l Youth Spiritual Commitment Celebration (Northern

Hemisphere) l Religious Liberty Rally – Spanish Town l **All Night Prayer Meeting at Old Harbour Church for the Big City l Sun-Sun

13-May 11 - Mission to the Big City/Town Outreach - Portmore l Wed 16 - “Wellness Wednesday” l Thur 17 - Fruit, Vegetable and

Grain Day l Thur 17-21 - JAMU Youth Jamboree (Federation Camps (Camp Verley) l Sab 19 - Youth Rally – Mission to the Big City -

Old Harbour (PM) l Publishing Day (All Churches) l Education Summit – NCU l Sun-Sun 20-May 18 - Mission to the Big City/Town

Outreach - Old Harbour l Mon 21 - Intern/Supervisor’s Meeting l Sab 26 - Christian Education Day l Spiritual Revival Emphasis l New

Believers Convention – Manchester (Christiana) l Spiritual Emphasis – Educational Institutions l International Evangelism l Christian

Education Day – NCU Connect l Sun 27 - Summer Camp Officers’ Training

Child Evangelism Launch l Thur-Sab 1-31 - Drug Awareness Month l Child’s Month l Thur 1 - *Pastor’s Community Outreach

(Manchester) l Sab 3 - Community Services Evangelism l Day of Prayer for the Children l *Day of the SDA Books (IADPA) l *Disaster

& Famine Relief Emphasis l Vision One Million Rally - (Ewarton Church) l Religious Liberty Rally – Portmore l Tue 6 - Pastors’ Stew-

ardship Workshop - Conference Office l Sab 10 - *Tell the World: Big Cities l Children’s Convention l Religious Liberty Rally – Old

Harbour l Sun 11 - Mother’s Day l Tue-Sab 13-17 - Colporteur Training (Camp Verley) l Wed 14 - Executive Committee Meeting l

Thur 15 - Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Day l Sab 17 - *Sabbath of Hope l Youth Day – NCU Connect l Elders, Youth, Women and Chil-

dren’s Ministries Directors and Sabbath School Superintendents’ Certification Seminar, St. Catherine, (CJC) l **All Night Prayer Meeting

at May Pen Church for Big City/Town Outreach l Sab 24 - Schools of Prayer in IAD Territory l Vision One Million Rally – Toll Gate

Church l Elders’ Appreciation Day l Sun 25 - Weight Management Seminar l Summer Camp Officers’ Training l Sun June 25 - Jun

22 - Mission to the Big City/Town Outreach - May Pen l Mon-Thur 26-29 - CPR & First Aid Training –Office & School Staff l Wed-

Sab 28-31 - Colporteur Congress (Mexico) l Sab 31 - Northern Caribbean University Projects Day

Launch of Women and Family Life Evangelism l Sun 1 - Pastor’s Community Outreach (Clarendon) l Sun-Mon 1-30 - Jamaica Inland

Missionary Movement - Volunteerism l Thur-Thur 5-19 - Camp Verley Youth Project – Camp Verley l Sab 7 - Bible Correspondence

School Emphasis l *Women’s Ministries Emphasis l Personal Ministries Sabbath l Lay Workers’ Rally – Tent City Church l Youth

Mission Rally - May Pen l Sun 8 - Stewardship Workshop - Clarendon (May Pen Church) l Camp Officers’ Training – CJC Office l

Wed 11 - Executive Committee Meeting l Sab 14 - Adventist Lay Persons Service & Industries (ASI) Day l Day of Prayer for Men l

Religious Liberty Rally – May Pen l Sun 15 - Father’s Day l Health Fair Day l Stewardship Workshop – St. Catherine (Family of God

Church) l Elders, Youth, Women and Children’s Ministries Directors and Sabbath School Superintendents’ Certification Seminar, Claren-

don l Thur 19 - Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Day l Sab 21 - Conference-wide Men’s Convention - May Pen Church l Adventurer Day l

Vision One Million Decision Day l Wed 25 - Prayer Conventions – Manchester (Pastoral Districts) l Sab 28 - #Vision One Million Bap-

tismal Day l 13th Sabbath Offering (Southern Asia Division) l Sab 28 - District Bible Boom Finals/Youth Baptismal Sabbath - All Districts

April

May

June

*Programme provided by the General Conference or by the Inter-American Division

**One week before each “Mission To The Big City/Town Outreach” all night prayer meeting

on the Saturday night at the main church

+Worldwide Offering. Special offerings are included in the systematic plan of the Division

# Organized Baptisms are conducted and recognition of those baptized during the quarter