Faith, resilience and patriotism highlighted at Montego Bay church Jamaica Day service

Western Bureau:

Patriotism reigned supreme at the Glendevon New Testament Church of God in Montego Bay on Sunday as the black, green, and gold of the Jamaican flag formed the backdrop for a special Jamaica Day service.

The sanctuary was decorated with balloons in the national colours, and members of the congregation mirrored the patriotic theme, arriving dressed in various combinations of black, green, and gold. The décor blended seamlessly with three Jamaican flags that flanked the rostrum alongside flower arrangements dominated by shades of green.

The service, held under the theme ‘A Resilient People with a Proud Heritage’, was conducted by the church’s women’s ministry. The praise team and all-female choir were particularly striking in coordinated black dresses, green headpieces, and gold corsages.

The praise segment, led by Diana Bowen and Angela Cox, injected early energy into the service with renditions of Nobody but My Lord and Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Members of the congregation nodded in unison, with many singing along.

The momentum continued throughout the service as the church’s leader, Bishop James Lewis, officiated the christening of a child alongside visiting Pastor Jephthah Reid and his wife, Yvonne Medley-Reid. The day’s activities later culminated with the baptism of two new converts.

Shellene Wheatley further lifted the atmosphere with a soulful rendition of The Lord Will Fix It for Me. The praise team then joined forces with the choir to deliver an equally compelling performance of I Know a Man Who Cares, setting the stage for the sermon delivered by Medley-Reid.

A trained teacher, Medley-Reid previously worshipped at the Glendevon New Testament Church of God before relocating to the Linstead New Testament Church of God in St Catherine, where her husband, also a former member of the Glendevon congregation, serves as pastor.

Drawing from personal experience, Medley-Reid took the congregation on an emotional journey through some of the most challenging moments of her Christian life, including the loss of her son to gun violence. She spoke about the importance of trusting God and allowing Him to work in His own way and in His own time.

“When I lost my son, I remember when that boy was shot and killed, I said to God, ‘Look how me love other people’s pickney and that come happen to me,’” recalled Medley-Reid, who admitted that the tragedy severely tested her faith.

“It was a challenging time in my life. It was a time when I did not know what to do, but in the long and short of it, a praying church prayed me through,” she said.

Today, having come to rely on her Christian values as a source of strength, Medley-Reid said she could fully identify with the day’s theme, which highlighted resilience as a virtue strengthened by faith in God.

“Today, I am a proud Christian. God has been too good to me. I can’t complain, I can’t back down. I can’t, I can’t,” she said.

Using Hebrews 11 as her scriptural foundation, she reflected on biblical figures such as Abel, Enoch, Abraham, and Noah, all of whom found favour with God because of their faithfulness.

With Jamaicans preparing to observe National Heroes Day the following day, Medley-Reid urged the congregation to remember the heroes of the Bible, who she described as worthy examples to emulate. She stressed the importance of using Scripture as a moral compass in daily life.

She also encouraged worshippers to do their part to uplift Jamaica, noting that despite the challenges facing the nation, much could be achieved through faith and a collective commitment to seeking God’s guidance and favour.