A Publication of the Gregory Park SDA Church Communication Department

September 2014 Issue #19

Elders White and Ebanks ordained in District Service

O rdination is a significant event in the life of the Adventist Church. It signifies that men and women are being called to

leadership in God’s Church and officiate in its services. On Sabbath, September 27, 2014 four men were asked to take up this important call to serve – Elders Clive Ebanks and Fernando White of the Gregory Park SDA Church and Elders Colbin Hut-chinson and Phillip Whittingham of the Waterford SDA Church. Elder Clive Anthony Ebanks be-came a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on November 2, 1996, the first step in his Christian ministry of service to the Church. Elder Ebanks has served as Leader, Deacon, Head Deacon, Personal Ministries Leader, Adventist Youth Sponsor, Technical Team Leader, member of the Male chorale and any other department in need of his support. . He cites ‘I serve a risen Savior” as his favourite hymn and the passage found in St. John 14: 1-3 as his favourite scripture.

Fernando O’Neil White is a dedi-cated servant of God and friend to his brethren. Born in Balaclava, St. Elizabeth, a past student of Munroe College, he dedi-cated his life to the Lord through baptism in April 2008. Since then he has served the Church as Elder in training, Adventist Youth Elder, Sabbath School Superinten-dent, Youth Choir Coordinator, Men’s Min-istry Committee member, Male Chorale member and Worship Committee member. Elder White lives his life according to his favourite text found in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Indeed it is reflected in his work ethic, his personality and his drive. A firm believer in God, positive and dedicated, he has a strong sense of self efficacy. Fer-nando White brings a smile, warmth, reas-surance and energy to the congregation at Gregory Park. Pastor Kevin Danvers, Ministerial Secretary of the Central Jamaica Conference, delivered a very potent message under the theme “The Time has Come.” Reading from Acts 2:41 onward, Pastor Danvers

reminded the men that an apostle is one that is sent while a disciple is one that follows. However to become an apostle one must be a disciple first to ensure that a proper foun-dation was established. The disciples, he reminded, were not perfect or even schooled men, but they experienced conversion dur-ing the 3 ½ years they spent following Jesus. “Let us commit ourselves to this mission, the mission of saving souls. God’s people must take God’s business seriously,” Pastor Danvers charged. After the message from Pastor Danvers, the Elders recited the Litany of Dedication and were each presented with a certificate of ordination. Immediately after, they received special prayer – surrounded by the ordained Elders of both churches. Later they were joined on the podium by their spouses who offered a warm embrace and welcomed into the fraternity by the ordained elders of the District.

◄ From left to right - Elder Fernando White,

supported by his wife, Sis Jackulyn White

and Elder Clive Ebanks with his wife Jacque-

line Ebanks

On Sabbath, September 27,

2014 four men were asked to

take up this important call to

serve – Elders Clive Ebanks

and Fernando White of the

Gregory Park SDA Church

and Elders Colbin Hutchinson

and Phillip Whittingham of

the Waterford SDA Church

Inside this issue...Page 2

Issue #19

Where are they Now

We check in on Sis Ava Barrett, a former member of the Gregory Park

SDA Church

The Pastor’s Desk

Pastor Campbell reflects on his four years at the

Gregory Park SDA Church

Farewell to Pastor

Campbell

Testimony

Sis Hortense Brown shares her testimony of

the theft and recovery of her handbag

Publications of the

Quarter

Issuu / Adventist Resources

Church News

Calendar of Events

Youth Retreat

We reflect on this year’s 3-day Youth Retreat at the Ja-maica Crest Resort in Port-

land

‘What Adventists Believe’ is an exposition of the 28

Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA Church

Health as a Lifestyle

We explore the issue of Prostate Cancer and also

provide tips on how to lose weight without dieting

The Light

Pastor Kevin Danvers Pastor Danvers offers the Prayer of Consecration as the ordained Elders of the Dis-

trict lay hands on the newly ordained Elders.

ELDERS’ ORDINATION

Where are they

NOW? ‘Keep your eyes on Jesus and not on fashions, styles and what others

accept as norm. There is no norm outside of the word of God that will

strengthen us in these licentious times. The way we dress and wor-

ship tells who our Master is’.

These are stirring words of admonition from Sis. Ava Barrett, a mem-

ber of the Gregory Park Seventh Day Adventist Church from 1977 to

1989. It has been 37 years now since she became a Seventh Day

Adventist Christian through the influence of Phillip Francis and her

own mother-in-law, Sylvia Barrett. She also vividly remembers the

challenge extended to her by Bro. Wright and the teachings she re-

ceived in Bible Classes conducted by Bro. Charles Brown and Bro.

Cooper. The powerful Christian witness of all these brethren com-

bined, ignited a spark in Sis. Ava Barrett. Her love for God continues

to burn bright wherever she goes. She currently resides in Florida and

worships at the Lehigh Acres Seventh Day Adventist church.

She has many fond memories of Gregory Park Seventh Day

Adventist church. These include the singing of hymns, some of which

she sings from memory because of how often they were sung and the

exceptional Bible Classes which she states ‘…provided a foundation

on which I stand up to now’.

Sis. Barrett was a very active church member. She served

as Sabbath School Superintendent, Sabbath School teacher, Advent-

ist Youth leader, member of the Church Choir, Vacation Bible School

teacher and interim Adventist Youth leader (on loan) to the newly

established Waterford SDA. Perhaps her stellar area of service was

being the first female elder ever at Gregory Park SDA. Her wonderful

years at Gregory Park SDA are vivid, pleasant memories which she

treasures in her heart, never forgetting the humble beginnings and

sincere devotion to God.

When she took

up tenure at Northern

Caribbean University

(NCU) as Director of

Library Services, she

attended the Georges

Valley SDA church. The

migration of the family to

the USA made the dis-

tance from the Gregory

Park SDA even greater.

For Sis. Barrett, worship

overseas has its differ-

ences. The wearing of

lots of jewellery, makeup

and pants in church are

among the things that

create an atmosphere

suggesting less respect

for the sanctuary there

than here. However, she

continues to serve the

Lord fervently and her

husband serves as Elder

in their church.

Her recent visit to Greg-

ory Park SDA was very nostalgic. She was ‘very impressed with the

young people who were leading out with the singing’. Sis. Ava’s wish

is that ‘they remain faithful to death!’

While away from us, Sis. Ava has added new dimensions to

her life. She completed another Masters Degree, this time in Public

Administration and is currently completing her dissertation for a Doc-

torate in Organizational Leadership. She is also grandmother of 5

with another grandchild on the way.

She looks forward to seeing us all in heaven and appeals to

the membership do ‘not lose focus and your first love!’.

Sis Ava Barrett and her husband Clifton

The Light

T his issue of the Light will indeed be a

very special one for me. As a family

we have seen and experienced the

workings of our God throughout the

life of the Church. We can all agree that our

God is indeed good and worthy of all the

praise and adoration that we can give to

Him.

Time and time again the various depart-

ments have risen to the task of enriching the

spiritual and social life of our members. As

such, congratulations must be given to the

Sabbath School Department for a most won-

derful, delightful trip to Turtle River Falls and

Gardens. We had fun as a family! The Youth

Department is not to be left out as they had

another inspiring, fun filled spiritual Retreat

for the youths of the church at the Jamaica

Crest Resort in Portland. I know the youth

took the opportunity to recommit themselves

to the Lord and His service. My most grateful

appreciation to all our Department Leaders

and their team for ensuring that the Church

did not lack its spiritual nourishment and

social enrichment, especially during the spe-

cial days when the programs seemed to

have an extra ‘unction of the Holy Spirit’.

Yes, we were all blessed throughout the last

quarter. I pray that the love of God will con-

tinue to motivate you in your service to Him.

In the midst of all this, we had the pleasure

of having another ordination service in which

Elders White and Ebanks were officially in-

ducted to the Board of Elders. This is a high

calling and comes with a huge responsibility

to care for the flock of Jesus. As we extend

congratulations let us pray for and encour-

age them to continue to be exemplary, moral

leaders holding the standards of Christ high

with love and without partiality. I pray that

they will allow God to continue to lead in

their lives.

We are still in the ministry of making disci-

ples and therefore I encourage all to attend

the series of meetings to be held by Pastor

Dwaine Scott, who is no stranger to us. As

usual Pastor Scott will be delivering some

powerful, soul searching, heart rending mes-

sages to change our lives forever and add

new citizens to the Kingdom of our God. Let

us come out in our numbers not just to sup-

port Pastor Scott but to hear the messages

that the Lord has for us. I dare you to come

and be changed!

I did start by saying this issue of the Light will

be very special as it marks the last time I will

speak to our members through this medium.

Yes, it is time to say good-bye to my family as

the Lord sees it fit to take me to another

section of His vineyard to continue His work.

It has been four wonderful, interesting, fun

filled and spiritual years for my wife and I. I

could not have made it without the love,

support and hospitality of the members. You

open your hearts and allowed my wife and

me to enter and become a part of your fami-

lies. For this we are grateful and truly en-

joyed the experience. My prayer is that you

will continue to pray, study, minister and

have fun together as a family and allow the

love of God to dominate all that you do in His

behalf.

I cannot close without a special ‘thank you’

to the Board of Elders, Church Board and all

our Officers for their overwhelming support

in my ministry to the Church. Yes we had our

challenges as all families do but in spite of

these, the love of Christ and for each other

unites us in our mission. I pray that you will

continue to allow the Holy Spirit to lead out

in the business of the Church. I extend my

deepest and most profound gratitude to

Elder Cavan Davis for his stalwart support

during my tenure and who has become my

friend. Thank you Elder and Sis. Davis and

may God continue to bless you and your

family.

Bro. Wilson and his family and the members

of the Communication Department, thank

you for your patience and gentle reminder

for each article. You and your team have

shown exceptional patience and given valu-

able guidance throughout the process. You

have kept the Light of communication burn-

ing for the Gregory Park family regardless of

the challenges over the years. Well done and

continue to be the Lord’s vehicle of ‘Light’

for information and evangelism in the

Church and wider community.

As I bid farewell, you will welcome Pastor

Onell Montaque and his family. I pray that

you will extend the same if not a higher

measure of love, hospitality, support and

friendship to them as well. As they minister

to you – build a hedge of constant prayers

and love around them.

As my wife and I take our leave – in the

words of Paul, “Finally brethren, farewell. Be

perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind,

live in peace; and the God of love and peace

shall be with you.” Let us pledge to meet the

Lord together where there will be no more

good-byes. Continue to keep us in your

prayers and love.

God bless you all.

BLONDEL Campbell Pastor, Gregory Park Circuit of Churches

This issue of the Light

will be very special - as

it marks the last time I

will speak to our mem-

bers through this me-

dium. Yes, it is time to

say good-bye to my

family as the Lord

sees it fit to take me to

another section of His

vineyard to continue

His work.

Issue #19

Elder Cavan Davis does the special prayer for all the

children who will be heading back to school in September.

(August 29, 2014)

Justin Reid prepares to be baptized by Pastor Blondel

Campbell as one of two candidates who decided to give

their lives to Christ (August 22, 2014)

God still answers

Prayers

Testimony:

I have often heard it said: “no test; no tes-

timony” and “God will not give you more

that you can bear”. My experience re-

cently has helped to reinforce my belief in

these axioms. There are several lessons

that I have drawn from this experience

which I am sure have served not only to

broaden my worldview but also to

strengthen my faith in God.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

was a typical day as far as I am concerned,

that is until my testing moment. We were

at my brother’s house when, upon decid-

ing to leave, we discovered that the pas-

senger window on the driver’s side of our

car was broken out and my handbag sto-

len. I raised an alarm and a police car pa-

trolling in the area came to investigate.

The handbag which was a recent gift from

my brother overseas, the officer informed,

was of significant value and as such, I

gave up all hope of recovering the hand-

bag. This was despite the fact that I des-

perately needed the contents which in-

cluded: some local cash which I needed

for transactions that weekend – minus my

tithe - , foreign currency, passports, credit

and debit cards, health cards, and other

items.

Sunday morning dawned with a

feeling of despair over the loss as well as a

sense of gratitude to God for sparing me

and my family, which could have been a

more horrible scenario. I decided I was

going to adopt the latter feeling. I went to

a prayer retreat and I presented the situa-

tion to the brethren there. Many persons

prayed on my behalf but I was impressed

with one particular prayer because of a

phrased that was used. The sister prayed:

“cramp and paralyze dem Jesus”. I felt

that that was the essence of what needed

to be done to these persons.

Consequently, I adopted the

phrase. Whenever mention was made of

the situation I was sure to inform that

they are not going to benefit from my loss

because “dem cramp and paralyze”. This

became my mantra and oddly enough it

gave me a sense of peace. Little did I

know how “cramped and paralyzed” they

were.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2014,

I received a call from Mr. Irvin Johnson,

a JUTC bus driver, who informed me that

he had found my handbag. He requested

that I meet him to return the bag. I imme-

diately contacted my husband who accom-

panied me to the location - which I had no

idea existed in Portmore - way up in the

hills behind Bayside. This is where the

bag was found. Mr. Johnson stated that he

insisted on seeing me because he expected

a corpse to accompany the bag in such a

remote area, but my God was not ready

for me yet. Everything was in place in the

bag- except the cash of course.

I have been rejoicing. I have been

thankful. I have learnt several lessons

from this incident. What are some of the

lessons I have learnt? I have learnt that:

1. God still answers prayers-Paul in the

book of Philippians admonishes us to pre-

sent our requests with thanksgiving to God

and he will not only give us peace but

provide the answers.

2. God is an on time God – just as I was

becoming frustrated with the red tape as-

sociated with replacing these documents

the bag was found

3. Nothing is impossible with God- He

blinded the eyes of the thieves to the value

of the bag so that it could be recovered.

He held up the rain so that the contents of

the bag could not be damaged. He sent

Mr. Johnson to this remote place to re-

cover my bag - “My God is awesome!

3. There are still honest people left in this

world.

4. Mr. Irvin Johnson has restored my faith

in the human spirit. What he has done for

me cannot be repaid. More importantly,

my experience has strengthened my faith

in God.

Hortense Brown

The Light

F or most persons, August 1 is a public holiday - Eman-

cipation Day, but for the Gregory Park Adventist Youth

Department, it marked the beginning of a grand

weekend as they packed their bags and headed out

to the Jamaica Crest resort in Portland for their Annual Re-

treat, under the theme: “Rebuilding the Centre – Christ the

Core.”

Despite getting off to a late start through no fault of

their own, the retreaters remained in high spirits as they used

the extra time for extended devotion and fellowship in antici-

pation of a great weekend. Nearly two hours later, after serv-

ings of saltfish fritters and fruits, they were all comfortably

seated aboard JUTC‘s premium service carrier, and were on

their way.

Among the group of 52 were eleven first time retreat-

ers, two of whom were non-Adventists. Two hours later they

arrived, having hardly noticed the long and winding journey

en route the Junction, as they watched movies, amid tides of

conversation and laughter. The journey also included an im-

promptu rest stop in St. Mary,

The activities for the weekend began with welcome

exercises geared at getting to know each other better. During

this session they were introduced to three exciting group ac-

tivities. The first was a picture taking competition where indi-

viduals were challenged to capture the ‘Best of Retreat’ in

pictures based on different categories. Second was Parade of

the Prophets, where each room was given a bible character

for room members to collectively capture the design of the

attire worn by the bible character and select one person to

model the garb. The audience would then have to guess the

bible character based on the attire. This activity was a pre-

cursor to the Sabbath afternoon Session “Why Should I Care

What I wear?” - a break out session hosted by Pastor Ro-

mone Phoenix and wife Sis. Odean Phoenix. The third group

activity was called “Drop Everything and Read.” Room mem-

bers were to collectively read the entire Book of Daniel and

prepare three questions for the other rooms to answer. This

inspired a very exciting Bible Class on Sabbath afternoon

where everyone delved a little deeper into the book of Daniel

with Bro. Omar Bernard as Host.

They welcomed the Sabbath with a vesper service

done by Pastor Phoenix focused on the theme for the week-

end, "Rebuilding the Centre: Christ the Core". This garnered

the participation of many, as they spoke and discussed shed-

ding their baggage in order to start the rebuilding process

with Christ.

The Sabbath morning was welcomed with devotions

and the sound of Peacocks and Peahens calling. A bout of

diarrhea the night before and into the morning, believed to be

caused by tainted drinking water courtesy of the long stand-

ing drought, threw off the Sabbath morning’s schedule. While

concerning at the onset, but proved to be rather hilarious

later on in the weekend.

The Sabbath School Program done by Francine

Green looked at the purpose of walls in the construction proc-

ess as seen with the walls of Jerusalem that God instructed

Nehemiah to rebuild. Guest speaker for Divine Service was

Pastor Adrian Case, speaking under the caption “Laying the

Foundation – A heart that forgives”. Pastor Case highlighted

the fact that forgiveness is a critical starting point in the re-

building process. This was a very practical, interactive and

moving session which started the catharsis that characterizes

Youth Retreat. The musical capstone was a Duet by Pastor

Blondel Campbell and Elder Edward Chambers with guitar

accompaniment by Pastor himself - a beautiful rendition of

“Lord I want to be a Christian in my Heart”.

The Sabbath afternoon sessions ended well past

sunset with vespers done by Kerton Lampart. The day ended

with the well anticipated banquet hosted by Khalangi Gayle

and Jade McGann.

A few hours later, they arose to the shrill of a whistle,

heralding the traditional Sunday morning devotion and work-

out session conducted by LeAntonio Stephenson and Sis.

Michelle Roper-Carty respectively. It was then off to breakfast

and our final session on ‘Conduct in the Workplace’ by our AY

Elder, Angela Chambers. The weekend of activities ended

with an untraditional but nevertheless fun sports day.

Despite being behind schedule, the retreaters man-

aged to get a little bit more pool time squeezed in, ending

their retreat on a high note. The group travelled back in the

same fine style aboard the JUTC via the Junction amid show-

ers of blessing, disembarking at the Gregory Park SDA shortly

after 6:00pm.

Rebuilding the Centre – Christ the Core

2014

Issue #19

Scenes from Youth Retreat

Retreaters capture and display the attire of selected Bible characters, among whom were Hulda the prophetess, the High Priest, Jezebel, Ruth and Elisha

Retreaters enjoy a creative version of football during Sports day on Sunday

Retreaters running up the steep hill towards the crest for an exhilarating Sunday morning work out

Javaun Powell impresses fellow Retreaters as he makes a daunt-ing back flip dive into the pool during pool time

Female retreaters gather by the pool listening to a pres-entation by Sis. Phoenix on 'Why Should I care what I we wear"

◄ Kerton Lampart and

Shaye-Ann Harriott strike a pose during the Retreat Banquet

Issue #19

As Pastor Blondel and Sis Campbell prepare to take up Ministry in the Palm District, we asked a few of our officers who worked with Pastor Campbell over the past

four years:

How will you remember Pastor Blondel Campbell and his Ministry at the Gregory

Park SDA Church?

Elder Cavan Davis

First Elder

Sis Jasmine Stubbs

Head Deaconess

Elder Clive Ebanks

Sis Marjorie Stone

Church Clerk

What I will remember about Pastor Camp-

bell is his quiet and calming disposition,

the interest he displayed in visiting the

brethren and his fragrance of humility. I

cannot recall him ever raising his voice but

instead has always spoken in the spirit of

love.

When I think about Pastor Campbell I think about

someone who is compassionate and loving; focused

on ministry/evangelism; apt to teach and willing to

learn! Humble and gentle, yet firm as it relates

to principle. He gets his way almost every time with

his familiar "Brethren, let us do... yuh hear" or

"Brethren we are going to do... yuh hear?" Pastor Campbell will be remembered as the people pas-

tor. Always willing to share in what you have to offer -

kind, loving, a good listener. A true under shepherd

Serving as the first Elder of the Gregory Park Seventh-day

Adventist Church I enjoy working with Pastor Campbell and respect

him not only for his high level of Spirituality and his close connection

with the Lord, but also for his calm demeanor, friendliness, and lead-

ership style. Pastor Campbell brings the Word of God with strength

and never holds back what God places on his heart to share with his

congregation. I admire him as a virtuous pastor as he is generally at

his members’ side at family gatherings, men’s meetings, women’s

meetings, funerals, sick calls, along with church retreats. There are a

myriad of other things to mention about Pastor Campbell but the rest I

would have to write in a book. He has been a blessing to me and my

family and the Gregory Park Church family at large and we thank God

for him every day.

The Light

Pastor and Sis Campbell in Pictures Pastor Blondel Campbell and his wife were introduced to the Gregory Park Church on Sabbath November 6, 2010. We

take a trip down memory lane with a few photos of Pastor and Sis Campbell appearing in The Light over the years

Here Pastor and Sis. Campbell are introduced to the Church, taken

from Issue #4 (Dec 2010)

Pastor Campbell officiated over the Ordination Service of Elders

and Deacons, in this photo taken from the Issue #15 (Sept 2013)

Pastor Campbell shares his love for

music and playing the guitar. Here

he is playing at Youth Retreat 2011,

from the Issue #6 (June 2011)

Pastor Campbell baptized several persons over the

course of his Ministry at Gregory Park. Here is one

such image, taken from the cover of Issue #7

(September 2011)

Always ready to impart God’s word Pastor Campbell

speaks from the pulpit during a Vision One Million

Service, taken from Issue #9 (March 2012)

Pastor and Sis Campbell, with Pastor Levi

Johnson, President of Central Jamaica Confer-

ence on Sabbath December 3, 2011, taken

from Issue # 8 (Dec 2011)

Issue #18

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

DESCRIPTION

One of human beings' greatest needs and desires is to

know God and to know His will.. In order to meet this need

we include in this volume a summary of Christian doctrines

explained in a clear, concise way. With the help of this com-

pendium we who yearn to know God's will can search the

Holy Book, and as the man in the parable of Jesus who

found a hidden treasure, we too will find it (Matthew

13:44). The treasure is the knowledge of God revealed in

His Son Jesus Christ: "And this is life eternal, that they

might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,

whom Thou has sent."

Those who know the lessons THE FAITH OF JESUS

know that they have become a classic work of proven use-

fulness. Now we present THE FAITH OF JESUS revised and

updated with a complementary study after each lesson.

DESCRIPTION

We all want to be successful and would all like to know if

there is a way that can help us get there. The author shows

that there is a realistic, practical, and easy system. The mas-

terpiece of one of our greatest authors.

Best features:

• Teaches us to convert our body, time, good books, and

good habits into allies we can use to become successful

people. • Reveals where to obtain strength and the power

to reach the highest and most permanent peak!

Dimensions: 17.5 x 25 cm • Binding: hardcover • 224

pages

Living for the Triumph

by Felix Cortes

The Faith of Jesus

by Carlos E. Aeschlimann H.

The Light

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What Adventists

Believe

What Adventists Believe is an exposition of the 28 Funda-

mental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It de-

scribes the 28 Beliefs of Seventh-Day Adventists, com-

plete with references to the Bible texts. Adventists and

other Christians worldwide will benefit from an under-

standing of these 28 Beliefs.

Issue #19

Health as a Lifestyle

UNDERSTANDING

Prostate Cancer - The basics

What Is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It makes most of the semen that carries sperm. The walnut-sized gland is located beneath the bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. . Prostate cancer is a major health concern for Ameri-can men. The disease is rare before age 50, and experts be-lieve that most elderly men have traces of it. In 2014, about 233,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S., and about 29,480 will die of it. African-American men are more likely to get prostate cancer and have the high-est death rate. In other parts of the world - notably Asia, Af-rica, and Latin America - prostate cancer is rare. Prostate cancer is usually a very slow growing can-cer, often causing no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. Most men with prostate cancer die of other causes, and many never know that they have the disease. But once prostate cancer begins to grow quickly or spreads outside the prostate, it is dangerous. . Prostate cancer in its early stages (when it’s only found in the prostate gland) can be treated with very good chances for survival. Fortunately, about 85% of American men with prostate cancer are diagnosed in an early stage of the disease. . Cancer that has spread beyond the prostate (such as to the bones, lymph nodes, and lungs) is not curable, but it may be controlled for many years. Because of the many ad-vances in available treatments, most men whose prostate

cancer becomes widespread can expect to live five years or more. Some men with advanced prostate cancer live a normal life and die of another cause, such as heart disease. .

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer affects mainly older men. About 80% of cases are in men over 65, and less than 1% of cases are in men under 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to get it. . Doctors don’t know what causes prostate cancer, but diet contributes to the risk. Men who eat lots of fat from red meat are most likely to have prostate cancer. Eating meat may be risky for other reasons: Meat cooked at high tempera-tures produces cancer-causing substances that affect the prostate. The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are common than in countries where the diet consists of rice, soybean products, and vegeta-bles. . Hormones also play a role. Eating fats raises the amount of testosterone in the body, and testosterone speeds the growth of prostate cancer. . A few job hazards have been found. Welders, battery manufacturers, rubber workers, and workers frequently ex-posed to the metal cadmium seem to be more likely to get prostate cancer. . Not exercising also makes prostate cancer more likely. Drugs that may lower the risk of having prostate can-cer include aspirin,finasteride, cholesterol-lowering drugs and triglyceride-lowering drugs, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Adding certain foods in your diet may also help reduce the risk, including tomato sauce and vegetables like broccoli, cau-liflower, and cabbage.

September was celebrated in Jamaica and in other countries as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Prostate cancer is the second

most frequently diagnosed

cancer in the world and the

leading cancer affecting men

in Jamaica. If identified early in

its natural history, it is emi-

nently treatable with great po-

tential for cure. The Caribbean

has the highest age standard-

ized prostate cancer-specific

mortality rates in the world.

Talk to your doctor about prostate cancer.

Reviewed by David T. Derrer, MD on March 31, 2014 WebMD.com

The Light

Health as a Lifestyle

Ways to lose Weight without

Dieting

Time Your Meals

Set a timer for 20 minutes and reinvent yourself as a slow eater. This is one of the top habits for slimming down with-out a complicated diet plan. Savor each bite and make them last until the bell chimes. Paced meals offer great pleasure from smaller portions and trigger the body's full-ness hormones. When you wolf your food down in a hurry, your stomach doesn't have time to tell your brain it's full. That leads to overeating.

Sleep More, Weigh Less

Sleeping an extra hour a night could help a person drop 14 pounds in a year, according to a University of Michigan researcher who ran the numbers for a 2,500 calorie per day intake. His scenario shows that when sleep replaces idle activities -- and the usual mindless snacking -- you can effortlessly cut calories by 6%. Results would vary for each person, but sleep may help in another way, too. There's evidence that getting less than 7 hours of sleep revs up your appetite, making you uncommonly hungry.

Serve More, Eat More Veggies

Serve three vegetables with dinner tonight, instead of just one, and you'll eat more without really trying. Greater vari-ety tricks people into eating more food -- and eating more fruits and vegetables is a great way to lose weight. The high fiber and water content fills you up with fewer calo-ries. Cook them without added fat. And season with lemon juice and herbs rather than drowning their goodness in high-fat sauces or dressings.

When Soup's On, Weight Comes Off

Add a broth-based soup to your day and you'll fill up on fewer calories. Think minestrone, tortilla soup, or Chinese

won-ton. Soup's especially handy at the beginning of a meal because it slows your eating and curbs your appetite. Start with a low-sodium broth or canned soup, add fresh or frozen vegetables and simmer. Beware of creamy soups, which can be high in fat and calories.

Go for Whole Grains

Whole grains such as brown rice, barley, oats, buckwheat, and whole wheat also belong in your stealthy weight loss strategy. They help fill you up with fewer calories and may improve your cholesterol, too. Whole grains are now in many products including waffles, pizza crust, English muf-fins, pasta, and soft "white" whole-wheat bread.

Eat at Home

Eat home-cooked meals at least five days a week. A Consumer Reports survey found this was a top habit of "successful losers." Sound daunting? Cooking may be easier than you think. Shortcut foods can make for quick meals, such as pre-chopped lean beef for fajitas, washed lettuce, pre-cut veggies, canned beans, cooked chicken strips, or grilled deli salmon.

Catch the 'Eating Pause'

Most people have a natural "eating pause," when they drop the fork for a couple of minutes. Watch for this mo-ment and don't take another bite. Clear your plate and en-joy the conversation. This is the quiet signal that you're full, but not stuffed. Most people miss it.

Shrink Your Dishes

Choose a 10-inch lunch plate instead of a 12-inch dinner plate to automatically eat less. Cornell's Brian Wansink, PhD, found in test after test that people serve more and eat more food with larger dishes. Shrink your plate or bowl to cut out 100-200 calories a day -- and 10-20 pounds in a year. In Wansink's tests, no one felt hungry or even no-ticed when tricks of the eye shaved 200 calories off their daily intake.

Go Meatless More Often

Eating vegetarian meals more often is a slimming habit. Vegetarians tend to weigh less than meat eaters. While there are several reasons for this, legumes may play an important role. Bean burgers, lentil soup, and other tasty legume-based foods are simply packed with fiber. Most Americans get only half of this important nutrient, which fills you up with fewer calories.

Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on February 12, 2014

WebMD.com

Issue #19

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

Source: Central Jamaica Conference. Article by Damian Chambers

Photo by Hubert Swearine

On Sabbath, July 26, 2014, the newly elected Officers, Departmental Directors and Executive Committee Mem-bers of the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for the 2014 to 2018 quadrennium were in-stalled at the Spanish Town Church. The service was con-ducted under the supervision of Dr. James Daniel, Field Secretary, Inter-American Division, Pastor Everett Brown, President, Pastor Milton Gregory, Secretary and Elder Bancroft Barwise, Treasurer of the Jamaica Union Confer-ence.

Presidents of the other Jamaican fields (including Pastor Glen Samuels, president of the West Jamaica Con-ference, Pastor Karl Archer, president of the North Ja-maica Conference, Dr. Eric Nathan, president of the East Jamaica Conference and Pastor Arlington Woodburn, president of the North East Jamaica Conference) along with Danieto Murray, Vice President, Northern Caribbean University brought greetings and congratulations on behalf of their respective Conferences and Institution.

The Administrators and Directors of the Central Jamaica Conference that have been appointed to serve for the quadrennium 2014-2018 are as follows:

President - Pastor Levi Johnson

Secretary - Pastor Ronnie Henry

Treasurer - Pastor Billy Watson

Sabbath School and Personal Ministries - Pastor

Nevail Barrett

Family and Health Ministries - Pastor Roy Dennis

Stewardship - Pastor Thomas Bryan

Youth - Pastor Greg Baldeo

Women and Children Ministries - Sis Claudia

Bailey

Communications, Public Affairs and Religious

Liberty - Pastor Damian Chambers

New CJC Officers Installed

Islamic Militants Destroy Adventist

Church in Nigeria Boko Haram burns the building after church mem-

bers flee village.

Islamic militants burned down a Seventh-day Adventist church in northeastern Nigeria after its 67 members fled the area in fear for their own safety, a church leader said. Members of Boko Haram, which seeks to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state, destroyed the Magar Ad-ventist Church in the state of Borno on Sabbath, Aug. 23, said Stephen H. Bindas, president of the Northern Nigeria Union Conference, based in Abuja. Magar is a village near Maiduguri, the capital of

The Light

Source: Adventist News Network

Borno state. The local Adventist congregation is one of seven rural churches built in 2009 with funds provided by the Adventist Church’s Global Mission program, Bindas said this week. . Bindas said the whereabouts of many members are unknown. Some went as far as the city of Jos in central Nigeria and are now staying at the headquarters of the North East Nigeria Conference. . “At the moment, the insurgents have taken over their homes, foodstuffs and beddings,” Bindas said by e-mail. . Although none of the Adventist churches in the region had previously been threatened, churches belonging to many other Christian groups face the same fate, he said. He asked church members around the world to pray for Nigeria. “We ask the world church to remember northern Nigeria in prayers and to assist in whatever means to re-store hope to these fleeing members and their families,” he said.

Ted N.C. Wilson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, appealed to church members worldwide to ear-nestly read what the Bible says about women’s ordination and to pray that he and other church leaders humbly follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance on the matter. . Church members wishing to understand what the Bible teaches on women’s ordination have no reason to worry about where to start, said Artur A. Stele, who over-saw an unprecedented, two-year study on women’s ordina-tion as chair of the church-commissioned Theology of Ordi-nation Study Committee. . Stele, who echoed Wilson’s call for church mem-bers to read the Bible and pray on the issue, recom-mended reading the study’s three brief “Way Forward Statements,” which cite Bible texts and Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White to support each of the three po-

sitions on women’s ordination that emerged during the committee’s research. . The results of the study will be discussed in Octo-ber at the Annual Council, a major business meeting of church leaders. The 338-member Annual Council will then decide whether to ask the nearly 2,600 delegates of the world church to make a final call on women’s ordination in a vote at the General Conference Session next July. Wilson, speaking in an interview, urged each of the church’s 18 million members to prayerfully read the study materials, available on the website of the church’s Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research. . "Look to see how the papers and presentations were based on an understanding of a clear reading of Scripture,” Wilson said in his office at General Conference headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. . “The Spirit of Prophecy tells us that we are to take the Bible just as it reads,” he said. “And I would encourage each church member, and certainly each representative at the Annual Council and those who will be delegates to the General Conference Session, to prayerfully review those presentations and then ask the Holy Spirit to help them know God’s will.” .” The Spirit of Prophecy refers to the writings of White, who among her statements on how to read the Bible wrote inThe Great Controversy (p. 598), “The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed.” “We don’t have the luxury of having the Urim and the Thummim,” Wilson said, in a nod to the stones that the Israelite high priest used in Old Testament times to learn God’s will. “Nor do we have a living prophet with us. So we must rely upon the Holy Spirit’s leading in our own Bible study as we review the plain teachings of Scripture.” He said world church leadership was committed to “a very open, fair, and careful process” on the issue of women’s ordination. . Wilson added that the crucial question facing the church wasn’t whether women should be ordained but whether church members who disagreed with the final de-cision on ordination, whatever it might be, would be willing to set aside their differences to focus on the church’s 151-year mission: proclaiming Revelation 14 and the three an-gels’ messages that Jesus is coming soon.

Adventists Urged to Study Women’s

Ordination for Themselves President Wilson and TOSC chair Stele also ask for-

prayers for the Holy Spirit to guide the proceedings

Artur Stele, chair of the Theology of Ordination Study Committee, addressing a

meeting of the group in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 23, 2013. Photo: Ansel

Oliver / ANN

Issue #19

Wed 1 Pastors’ Community Outreach (St. Catherine)

Tue-Thur 1-31 Ingathering Emphasis Month

Sab 4* Tell the World: In the Community

Sab 4 Day of Prayer for Church Leaders and Offi

cers

Sab 4 Launch of Ingathering Campaign – Parish-

wide

Sab 4* Spirit of Prophecy

Sab 4 Day of Prayer and Fasting

Sun 5 Celebration of Move to Live (I.A.D.)

Moin 6 Pastors & Bible Workers’ Meeting – CJC

Board Room

Wed 8 Executive Committee Meeting

Fri 10 3rd Quarter Churches’ Statistical Report due

at CJC Office

Sab 11*+ Day of Kindness and Compassion

Sab 11 Adventist Teachers’ Day

Sab 11 Adventist Heritage Day

Sab-Sab 11-18 Children’s Week of Prayer – Conference-wide

Thur 16 Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Day

Sab 18 Adventist Children’s Day

Sab 25 Day of the Pastor

Sab 25 Creation Sabbath

Sab 25 Spiritual Revival Emphasis

Sab 25 Clarendon Lay Workers’ Rally & AGM

Sab-Sun 1 Day of Prayer for Membership Conservation

*Sab-Sab 1*-8 Week of Prayer

Sab-Sun 1-30 Parent’s Month

Sun 2 Pastor’s Evaluation (Church Board)

*Sab 8*+ Annual Sacrifice (offering)

*Sab 8* Trust Services Emphasis Day in the Churches

Sab 8 Lay Preacher-thon (Conference-wide)

Wed 12 Executive Committee Meeting

Sab 15 Ingathering Promotion

Thur 20 Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Day

Sab 22 Bible Emphasis

Sab 22 Manchester Lay Workers’ Rally & AGM

Sab 22 HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Sab 29 St. Catherine Lay Workers’ Rally & AGM

Sab 29 Book and Nutrition Centre Promotion – BNC

Connect

Sab 29 Andrews Memorial Hospital Offering

Mon 1 BNC Clearance Sales

Sab 6 World Stewardship Day

Sab 6 Day of Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise

Wed 10 Executive Committee Meeting

Wed-Sab 17-20 Lay Institute & Camp Meeting – Camp Verley

Thur 18 Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Day

Sab 27# Vision One Million Baptismal Day

Sab 27 13th Sabbath Offering (Inter-American Divi

sion)

October

November

December

*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

Central Jamaica Conference, Third Quarter