Believers urged to remain strong in the Lord

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has called on the church community to remain strong in the Lord and to continue to help society to resist the forces that could erode the fabric of the nation.

He said that the church has a significant role to play in helping to redirect the country’s young people and restore broken families.

 “We must preserve our traditional values and customs for the upliftment of the spiritual and social lives of our people. In order to impact the future, you must be bold as your forebearers were in the past. The challenges facing the country and the church cannot be tackled with timidity, cowardice or procrastination,” His Excellency stated.

He was addressing the 165th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the Salem Baptist Church held on Thursday (January 20) at the church grounds in Runaway Bay, St. Ann.

The Governor-General said that the year 2011 would be filled with spiritual, social, economic and political challenges but, with the leading of God, the church needed not to fear for the future.

His Excellency noted that the Baptist Church in Jamaica had a rich history and the Salem Church, established 11years after Emancipation, was instrumental in empowering ex-slaves through education, religious guidance and other forms of support.

“You have preserved those traditions through your community outreach programmes, family life, education and youth empowerment,” he said.

He further charged believers to recommit to honouring the witness given to them by God and “to go forward remembering that when they walk with the Lord they are never alone”.

The anniversary service was held under the theme: ‘Preserving the Past: Impacting the Future’.

CONTACT: ALDEEN CAMPBELL

JIS REGIONAL OFFICE

OCHO RIOS