East Jamaica Conference

Communication Department 74 Constant Spring Road ▪ P.O. Box 181▪ Kingston 10 ▪ Jamaica W.I.

Tel:(876) 924-1061-3, Fax (876) 924-0263. E-Mail: communication@ejcsda.com

website: http://ejcsda.com

April 6, 2013 To All Pastors, Elders, Leaders and Church Members

Dear Brethren:

Sincere Christian greetings!

Please see important dates and events of the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists below.

Item # Table of Contents Page #

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District Dialogue- New Haven SDA Church Rescheduled to- April 6, 2013

Elders’ Association Meeting at Andrews Church- April 28, 2013

Notices from Adventist Youth Department

Notices from Children’s Ministries Department

Notices from Women’s Ministries Department

Notices from Health Ministries Department

Notices from Sabb. School/Personal Ministries and Community Services Dept. Schedule of Upcoming Conference Dates and events

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1) District Dialogue - New Haven SDA Church Rescheduled To - April 6- 2013

The New Haven SDA Church will be the place to be in the afternoon of April 6, 2013 as the Administrators

and Directors of the East Jamaica Conference will interact with the leadership and general membership of the

churches of District #18. District # 18 consists of the New Haven and the Riverton Meadows SDA Church.

District Dialogue offers the unique opportunity of giving the Conference Administrators direct access to the

leadership of the local church while at the same time providing an avenue for the local membership to ask

questions of the Conference leaders.

1B) Elders’ Association Meeting- Andrews SDA Church- April 28, 2013

All Elders are invited to attend the next East Jamaica Conference General Elder's Association Meeting on

April 28, 2013, at the Andrews Memorial SDA Church in the Youth Room Upstairs. The meeting will begin

at the usual time of 9:00 am.

All Ordained Elders and Elders in Training are invited to attend this very important meeting which will be

the first meeting for this new Elders' Association Administration.

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2) Notices from the Adventist Youth Department

1. LAUNCH of Youth Ministries Training Programmes 2013: The annual training programmes will

commence on April 7, 2013, starting @ 9:00am, Kencot. All AY Leaders and Club Directors MUST make use

of this opportunity to be trained in their specified area as Jamaica Union Conference has made it mandatory for

all youth leaders to be trained. If you have done the Basic Staff Training Programme within the last three

(3) years, then you are invited to attend. PLEASE NOTE. All trainees must be in uniform.

2. Drill Instructors’ Training-The Basic Staff Training Course designed specifically for Drill Instructor

Trainees will also be conducted on Sunday April 7 at Kencot starting at the same time. All prospective Drill

Instructors are invited to attend.

3. The Uniform Handbook from IAD is now available at the Conference. It’s a must have as the changes/new

format will be mandatory for Pathfinder Festival in November.

4. Prayer & Fasting: The Zone Two (2) Youth Federation invites you to be a part of its prayer & fasting under

the caption, “Empowered for God’s Mission through Prayer,” which will be held on Sunday April 14, 2013 at

Andrews SDA Church starting at 6:00am. Bring a friend and come share in the spiritual experience.

5. Sports Evangelism kicks off on May 18, 2013 with a dress parade and rally. The completion itself begins on

May 25, 2013. These events will commence at 7:30pm SHARP! Registration cost per team $5,000.00 (to be

paid at the EJC Office by May 13, 2013). Please check the youth website at ejcyouth.webs.com for flyer and

further details.

6. Summer Camp: The annual summer camp will be held from August 13-20, 2013 at Robin’s Bay. Cost is

only $6, 500 (includes a T-Shirt). Each church is being asked to send a delegate. Youth start planning to be

there. Last year was great but this year promises to be greater, more fun, fellowship and spiritual nurture.

Forms can be accessed from the EJC website.

7. Bible Boom: Keep promoting the Bible Boom and make plans to conduct your church and district play offs

scheduled for June and July respectively. For further details please see the Bible Boom flyer on the EJC

website or contact the Bible Boom Coordinator, Angela Bernard at angelb_77@yahoo.com

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8. Labour Day Projects: If you haven’t started planning your district and zonal projects you are late. Catch the

moving train and let’s go!!!

9. ASI Mission Crusade-Costa Rica 2013: The Children & Youth Ministries Departments are seeking to

identify two SDA youth between the ages of 15-19 who speak Spanish to be a part of the ASI Mission Crusade

in Cost Rica this summer. Interested persons may contact Sis. Claudette Genas or Pastor Hanson Drysdale at

the East Jamaica Conference office for further details.

(3) Notices from the Children’s Ministries Department 1. Child Preachers’ Training will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at the EJC Boardroom, from 9 a.m.– 12

noon. The presenter will be Pastor Ralston Tyrell. CMD’s kindly remind the children to take their

snacks along. Children who were absent from the orientation because of GSAT or undue circumstances

are invited.

2. Convention 2013Stadium Community Church May 4, 2013& Hampton SDA May 18, 201

3. Polo shirts are available for $700.00 for all sizes. They bear the IAD CM FIT4JESUS and the SDA

logos and come in all sizes. They are also available without logo for $360.00. Please make your order

and payment immediately. We have a limited amount. You can also take your shirts to Logo Stitch to

have them place the logo ($300.00) on it. These shirts will be our national EJC tops for our Jewels.

4. Jewels Launch will take place on Sabbath April 6, at the Constant Spring Church. You will be officially

seated from 3: 00 – 3:30 p.m. Our guest speaker will be the JAMU Children’s Ministries Director, Sis.

Lorraine Vernal. The function begins @3:30 p.m. sharp. Children who do not have the polo shirts are

asked to, wherever possible; don their pink and blue colour tops for the occasion. Suitable Sabbath skirts

and pants (for boys) are to be worn. NO JEANS

5. Aunties and Uncles, remember love is shown by spending time with your nieces and nephews. We invite

you to the Jewels launch at the Constant Spring Church. We need you there to escort your Jewels to their

seats and to support them in this initiative. See information above.

6. Counting down! ASI Missionaries to Costa Rica get ready. “The Plane goes flying to the mission field.

Flying, flying mission plane. We are taking ‘missionaries’ to the people there. Flying missionary plane.”

Our first meeting with ALL stakeholders, especially the participants and or representatives of the ten

sites as well as interested persons, will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the Conference Office @

5:30 p.m. Come meet with the Youth and Children’s Ministries team for housekeeping matters.

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7. All CMD’s are asked to teach their children the Spanish version for the song ‘When He Cometh to make

up His Jewels in readiness for the Jewels launch.

8. Children’s Convention and baptism will be held at the Stadium Community Church. The dress code is

white dresses with pink or blue accessories for the girls and black or blue pants with white, pink or blue

shirts for the boys. All CMDs are asked to indicate by the end of March the name(s) of their prospective

candidate(s) for baptism. A special package will be prepared for persons who will be baptized during

this year of the LAITY for those baptized at the convention.

9. CMD’s of St. Thomas, kindly send us the names of all children that are to be trained in the Child

Preachers’ Training, immediately. Your facilitators are ready to begin. The training will be done in St.

Thomas.

10. All CMD’s are asked to use Children’s story time, as one of the avenues to give the weekly parent tips.

This is a captive audience to disseminate the information. This tip should preferably be read by a child

and should take no longer than 30 seconds.

11. May is that special time of the year dedicated to educating our children about many things. Kids love

sweets and worms love sweets. The Children’s Ministries, Education, Communication & Health

Departments will offer a life changing seminar especially for your child on Sabbath afternoon May 25,

2013 from 3:50 - 4:50. Venue will be announced soon. CMD’s, Parents/Guardian, lets dedicate that

evening for our children. Dress code- Fit for Jesus polo shirt or pink or blue tops.

12. Children’s ministries team leaders let’s pray and plan to reap at least one soul per quarter per church,

that is four souls for 2013. May is the month of special reaping for our department. Since our mandate is

soul reaping, this is a reminder that all CMDs are expected to engage our children in their own crusades

or the crusades in their churches.

(4) Notices from the Women’s Ministries Department

1. Counting down! ASI Missionaries to Costa Rica get ready. “The Plane goes flying to the mission

field. Flying, flying mission plane. We are taking ‘missionaries’ to the people there. Flying

missionary plane.” Our first meeting with ALL stakeholders, especially the participants and or

representatives of the ten sites as well as interested persons, will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at

the Conference Office @ 5:30 p.m. Come meet with the Youth and Children’s Ministries team for

housekeeping matters.

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2. GEMS anniversary will take place at the Hagley Park SDA Church on Sabbath April 20, 2013 @

3:30 p.m. All churches are reminded that seats for their GEMS Cabinet will be reserved up to 3:20.

p.m. General seating of members will take place from 3:00 to 3:25 p.m. The guest speaker will be Dr.

Tez Brown Cotterell. All fun loving mentors are expected to be in attendance. The dress code for

mentees is black bottom and solid colour top. There is no special dress code for mentors. It is

important that all GEMS be in attendance along with their mentors. You are advised to take your

lunches to church so you can be on time for the service.

3. Retreat 2013 plans are in full gear. Our retreat will take place from October 24-27, 2013. The office is

now accepting deposits. Book early and save. Mentors your place is reserved. Fun loving adults who

are not mentors, please book early also.

Rooming Cost

Single $47,000.00

Double $25,500.00

Triple $22,000.00

Quad $20,500.00

B. The luxury coaches will leave Kingston for the Holiday Inn Spree Resort, Montego Bay on

i. Thursday morning

ii. Thursday afternoon

iii. Friday morning

iv. Friday afternoon

Book early and indicate your time of departure so that advanced arrangement can be made for a

hassle free ride.

Visit the Andrews SDA Church ‘Moms in Touch’ prayer session every fourth Wednesday in each month

on the church grounds. March 27, 2013. Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

4. Coming soon will be our ‘Mother Daughter’ Conference. Watch the site for further information and

details. Our coordinator is Sis. Cynthia Thompson.

5. Calling all students of the Soft Skills Heart Trust NTA programme to a special meeting on Sunday,

April 14, from 10-11 a.m.

6. We hope that by now all churches have completed their IMAP pre-launch. The official EJC I.M.A.P.

launch will take place in June. Our speaker will be Dr. Eric Nathan. This is your opportunity to come

learn how to build lasting relationships. You are asked to bring a visitor with you.

7. Women’s Ministries team leaders, let’s pray and plan to reap at least one soul per quarter, per church,

that is at least four souls for 2013. April is the month of special reaping for our department

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8. Moms in Touch – WMD’s Please ensure that this is an active programme under your leadership.

Kindly contact the office for support.

9. We are near the end of a very active first quarter. Kindly send your reports to the office.

Parenting Tip

1. Parents, as children, we too experience anguish and despair. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by all the

bad things happening around us. Please teach us how to pray so that we can talk to Jesus whenever we

feel afraid.

(5) Notices from the Health Ministries Department

A. The Health Ministries Advisory which was scheduled for April 7, and the Breathe Free Seminar scheduled

for April 12-14, has been postponed for a later date to be announced.

B. Please be reminded that the deadline for the 5K application forms to reach the Conference Office April 27.

Anytime after that will attract a late fee of $300. Entry forms will not be accepted after May 11, 2013.

Remember registration fee is $750 for adults and $250 for children. Children category is from age 6-12 years.

All children are in the 1.5K Run there is no walk category for children. Please make sure that the registration

forms are properly filled out, or else they will be rejected. Please plan for it, train for it and come Run/Walk

for Health. Who can beat the oakglades church is the question to be answered. Is it your church?

Please remember that our Medical Missionary Training School starts July 7 – August 11, for six weeks cost

will be announced soon. Healthy Lifestyle Retreat – June 27 – 30, cost is $7,500.

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(6) Notices From The Sab. School / Personal Ministries/ Comm. Services Department Please be reminded of the following:

Please be reminded that as at January 5, 2013, and by now all our Sabbath Schools should be on the new or

renewed programme:

6-8 members in each class

Interactive reading/learning strategy for the bible study/review

Vertical meditation for each unit member

Horizontal sharing of thoughts, etc.

Please note the following:

1. The Community Services monthly meeting & Senior Citizens bi-monthly meeting have been

rescheduled for Sunday, April 7 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. respectively in the EJC chapel.

2. The Ambassador Search for 2013 continues, why wait? Registration forms are available on line -

registration, fee $200.

3. The EJC School of Evangelism 2013 Module commences on April 21, 9 a.m -1 pm.

at the Constant Spring SDA Church.

N.B. Sabbath School superintendents and Personal Ministries leaders are reminded of the Sabbath

School end of quarter report, which is due on April 10, 2013 (the 10th of each month following the end of

the quarter, report form & explanation sheets are available on line) . All weekly evangelistic reports from

your church must be sent to the EJC office by Wednesday.

Please see the letter and corresponding registration form for the Ambassadors

Search below:

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(11) Schedule of Upcoming Conference Dates and Events

Dates -2013 Event Location

April 13-20 Stewardship Week Everywhere

April 20 District Dialogue – North Street Church

April 20 First Anniversary Celebration of Gems Hagley Park Church

April 21 Stewardship, Treasurers', Auditors' Certification Seminar EJC Boardroom

April 27 District Dialogue – Hagley Park SDA Church

Adiese A. Jonas Assistant Director,

Communication

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East Jamaica Conference

Of Seventh-day Adventists 74 Constant Spring Road ▪ P.O. Box 181▪ Kingston 10 ▪ Jamaica W.I.

Tel:(876) 924-1061-3, Fax: (876) 924-0263. E-Mail: eastcon@ejcsda.com Website: ejcsda.com

March 22, 2013

To: Pastors, Elders, Church Clerks & Senior Citizens’ Leaders

TO BE READ IN THE CHURCH

Dear Brethren:

Greetings in the name of our forever friend, Jesus!

The East Jamaica Conference recognizes that ten percent (10%) of our population are

seniors and that many of them are very resourceful, healthy and active. As a church

family we would like to recognize these foundation members and do what we can to

enhance their spiritual life, self-reliance and functional independence, as well as to utilize

their skills and training to assist in achieving the mission of the church.

Consequently, we are encouraging all our churches to establish a senior citizens’ club and

where a club already exists, to inform us at the Conference office, and to report your

activities at our bi-monthly meeting which is held every other fourth Sunday.

Kindly notify us if you are inducted in the National Council of Senior Citizens. Our

contact number is 924-1061-5.

We have expanded the Ambassadors’ Programme to include senior citizens, 55 years and

over. We will therefore be having a Mr. and Miss EJC Senior Ambassador competition.

Our grand sashing will be on September 29, 2013. The venue will be announced at a

later date. The requirements are as follow:

Applicants must:

a. study St. John, chapters 1-10

b. memorize three (3) texts to support each of the following:

- The Second Coming

- Tithing

c. be involved in Evangelistic activities.

Kindly fill out and return the attached application form on or before May 30, 2013. You

have the option of filling out and returning the form on line through the Personal

Ministries web page. We look forward to an overwhelming response from our seniors.

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Yours in the Master’s service,

Carl Cunningham, Director Kathleen Dunkley, Ass. Director

Sabbath School/ Personal Ministries & Sabbath School/ Personal Ministries

Community Services Department & Community Services Department

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REGISTRATION FORM

Mr. & Miss EJC Senior Ambassadors

Name: …………………………….......…….................….. D.O.B: …….............…………..........................

Address: ………………………………………………………………..............……........................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...........................

Male ( ) Female ( ) Age:

………………..............................….......................

Date of baptism: ............................................ E-

mail………………………..…......................................

Telephone No.: (h) ………………....…………… (c) ………………….........…………….......................

Name of Church: ……………………………………..…………………............…………….........................

Name of Sabbath School Teacher: ..………………………….……............………………...........................

Telephone No.: (h) …………………………… (c) …….............……..……………………........................

Name of Senior Citizens’ Leader: …………............………………………………............…........................

Telephone No.: (h) …………………………....… (c) …….…........…..…………………….........................

Why am I a Seventh-day Adventist? ……………………..………………………….....................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...........................

………………………………………………………………………………............…………......................... I will comply with the rules and regulations of the competition.

Applicant’s signature: ……...............................……………………….

Pastor’s signature: ……………......................................……………… Date: …………………………….

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REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 30, 2013

EAST JAMAICA CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

CRITERIA FOR SENIOR AMBASSADORS’ PROGRAMME

Applicants must:

1. study St. John, chapters 1-10

2. Memorize three (3) texts to support each of the following:

- The Second Coming

- Tithing

3. Be involved in at least one (1) witnessing activity.

4. Be a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

N. B. The registration fee is fifty dollars ($50.00) per applicant

East Jamaica Conference

Of Seventh-day Adventists

74 Constant Spring Road ▪ P.O. Box 181▪ Kingston 10 ▪ Jamaica W.I. Tel:(876) 924-1061-3, (876) 924-0263. E-Mail:

eastcon@ejcsda.com Website: ejcsda.com

March 18, 2013

To all Pastors, Health Directors &

Health Professionals

Dear Brethren:

Christian Greetings!

I use this medium to inform you of our up-coming three (3) days Breath Free (stop smoking) Training Session

which will be held at Central Jamaica Conference Office from April 12 – 14, 2013, starting at 9:00a.m. The

Training will be conducted by Inter-American Division and General Conference Health Ministries Department.

If you are interested to be trained as a Breath free Lifestyle Facilitator, learning about: Tobacco Addiction and

how to conduct a Stop Smoking programme. Then this programme is for you. Please register now by sending

in your name before the 12th of April.

At the moment the only cost to the attendees is Lunch and Supper which is $950.00 per day. Interested

persons will also have to provide their own transportation to and from venue.

For more information contact the Health Department of East Jamaica Conference at 924-1061-3.

Yours truly,

Dr. Leonard Steele, Director

HEALTH MINISTRIES DEPT.

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2013