Churches' healing and renewal programme to begin in Tivoli

Corey Robinson

Friday, July 30, 2010

THE Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches (JUGC) is to embark on an islandwide 'healing and renewal' programme commencing with a church service in the Tivoli Gardens community in West Kingston on Sunday.

The initiative is aimed at assisting residents of troubled communities in dealing with emotional, psychological, spiritual, and economical challenges, and is scheduled to run for two months.

According to JUGC Executive Director Reverend Lenworth Anglin, the venture is part of the church's efforts to play a more active role in the fight against crime.

Other initiatives include re-educating the society about its values and attitudes, and the implementation of sustained violence prevention and human development programmes, he said.

"As church, we stand ready to do what we can to facilitate such dialogue and arrangements to prevent Jamaica from returning to where we are trying to break from," Anglin said at a press conference at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in Kingston.

Anglin was making reference to May's stand-off between the security forces and gunmen in West Kingston, who attempted to prevent the arrest of former Tivoli Gardens 'don' Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Said Anglin: "The happenings in the country over the past months have created an opportune moment for the re-birthing of a Jamaica of which all of us can be justly proud. We must ensure that we do not squander the opportunity".

Sunday's church service will be held at the Tivoli Gardens Community Centre, and will begin at 6:00 pm.

Similar services will also be held in the nearby Whitfield Town, as well as communities in Spanish Town, St Catherine, St James, with special prayer services in all parish capitals.

Meantime, Anglin urged church officials to offer their facilities and resources to assist in rebuilding troubled communities.

"Many of our churches are blessed with church halls, school buildings, etc. We are encouraging them to make these available as homework centres, remedial programmes, and skills training for youths at risk," he said.

Conceptualised in 2006, the JUGC is a combination six church associations, comprising of approximately 94 per cent of churches islandwide.

It aims to strengthen ties between religious organisations despite differences in doctrines, and to offer services to the Jamaican society.

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COMMENTS (7)

nima allen
7/31/2010

i hope the church people don't go down a tivoli go collect the poor people money,or offering.

PL BOGLE
7/30/2010

@Brain Allen i am a great admirer of the honorable Marcus Garvey who i consider the father of Pan-Africanism. Since the police/military incursion into TG what is the Pan-Africanism movement doing for the residence of TG who had suffered physically & emotionally since the incursion?

fredrick bailey
7/30/2010

observer gives news whether people agree w/ it or not is their business. many people take offense to observer & take this website to heart when they are only doing their job by reporting. @PLBOGLE probably the reason why there are not so much postings is b.c we are adults & have a life & not sit here posting 24/7 enough said.

PL BOGLE
7/30/2010

Its really amazing to see that only two people posted comments regarding this very important move by the churches. if it was something critical of the church you'd see many more postings but when the church makes an important move like this only two postings? The JUGC is a combination of six church associations comprising of approximately 94% of churches island wise. With these programs implemented by the church will only help in our healing process. We must be more diverse when we post comments

Brain Allen
7/30/2010

Send in the brainwashing beggars to further brainwash the residences to look for theirs in Heaven and not on Earth. This is the church trying to be relevant in peoples lives, else the people will start thinking for themselves and doing for themselves and not be treated as sheeps anymore. Only Pan-Africanism can give our people a purpose of self and show us how to do for ourselves. Only Pan-Africanism can remove the confusion. No more Al Millers, no more beggars and brain washers.

Wilfred Gray
7/30/2010

Jump.revival @redemtpion ground!

Lolita Scott
7/30/2010

I think all the churches in Jamaica should have a series of revival meetings in all the troubled areas for at least three months. Have loud speakers all over the place, so that the people in the area can hear the gospel and repent of their sins.We need revivals to break out all over Jamaica like the Welsh revival, where the police will not have any work to do and would have to form a choir . To God be the glory!

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Churches' healing and renewal programme to begin in Tivoli