Jamaica Seventh Day Baptist Conference Incorporated

May 16, 2020

To: All JAMAICA SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST CHURCHES 

Dear Beloved Brethren,

‘Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (2Peter 1:2). Praises belong to God for His preserving mercies in that we have not lost anyone from our membership to this pandemic. This crisis remains the concern for all of us; hence, we maintain a diligent response by remaining consistent in practice. In light of this, I want to commend our Pastors and Leaders who have continued to provide leadership in our churches by ensuring that there is adherence to the guidelines as outlined by the Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Further to this, the Government has issued some new criteria for public gathering; hence, we cannot have ‘business as usual’, but must take the necessary steps to ensure adherence. A trial period for general gathering is allowed until May 31, 2020 which will then be reviewed. Gathering is only permitted on the condition that the following things are in place:

• • Availability of a Digital Thermometer for checking the temperature of attendees
• • Labelled and equipped Sanitization Stations
• • Wearing of Masks by all attendees
• • Maintaining of six Feet (6 ft.) Social Distance
• • Maintain a forty square feet space (40 Sq. Ft.) per member (to determine legal attendance)
• • Reducing length of services
• • Groups meeting outside building must not exceed ten with the six feet social distance.
• • Establishing a Shift System where congregation is large
• • Clean Church after each shift
• • Maintain one hour break between Shift
• • Members sixty-five years and older should stay at home

I am therefore, urging our Pastors and Leaders to encourage our Churches and Church Groups to conform to the above guidelines. Where these provisions are not all in place, it is recommended that the physical gatherings are postponed. Where possible, services may be had via one of the social media platforms in order not to be found in breach should we have a visitation from the Ministry of Health (MOH) Inspectorate to assess the compliance status of the Church. Please read the Disaster Risk Management Act, the May 11, 2020 release which address guidelines for Churches and Bars.

May we all continue to strive to be ‘Tuned In, Turned On and Triumphant through Christ” as we release the wheels of our lives into His capable hands. Let us continue to pray for each other for a mighty revival among us as we prepare to re-unite in our usual way of worship within our buildings.

Yours for His Glory,

Pas. Ronald Blissett

Conference President.

To the Jamaica Seventh Day Baptist Churches and Groups

March 20, 2020

“If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek

my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their

sins and heal their land.”(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Dear Pastor, Missionaries, Evangelists and Brethren,

Guidelines Re-Public Gathering for Services and Other Meetings In light of COVID 19

Peace be multiplied to you from God, our Father and our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. Further to my initial correspondence, you have not been unaware of the new developments in relation to the impact of the existing pandemic named COVID 19 as we have been receiving daily updates on same. However, we are called to be responsive in our drive to maintain connection with all our brethren; employing all means necessary as we encourage the duty of every member to pray and to be diligent in seeking the face of Almighty God at this time.

Our Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen has extended a call on our nation to participate in a day of prayer and solemn fast commencing 6:00 pm on Friday, March 20 to 6:00 pm March 21, 2020 or 6:00 pm Saturday evening to 6:00 pm Sunday evening, March 22, 2020 as we petition God on behalf of our nation and country. Please make the arrangement with your church and or group according to the day of choice. The fast focuses are to pray for the containment and elimination of COVID 19, the healing of those infected, enablement and protection of medical and frontline workers, security forces, the poor, needy, the vulnerable, the Government, Churches, all organization in the fight, combating and economic fallout. It is appropriate for us all to join in this national activity and receive it as an answer to prayers already prayed and an indication that God is at work among us and is about to do something refreshing on and in us.

Going forward, let us be mindful that the maximum number of persons legally permitted to meet in any one place is twenty (20) and the social distancing permitted is 3 - 4 feet apart. Consequently, it is encouraged that Pastors and Leaders will ensure that the members who travel by taxis, others who are sick and those with limiting conditions are grouped in worship cells with assigned leaders who will keep oversight using the social mediaplatforms, chat, live stream, and other creative means of contact. While it is still allowed to have small gatherings as preventative measure, it is encouraged that shifts are arranged to facilitate those who can attend services if turnout is usually large. There may be a unique situation with a church or group where it may be wise to suspend all meetings, but, it is expected that wisdom is applied and we will be guided by the Lord.

Please remember Brethren that we are not given the spirit of bondage to fear but one of love, power and a sound mind, consequently, wisdom must be applied in all we do. Therefore, it is important that we continue to observe all the protocols previously outlined by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health in relation to washing/sanitizing hygiene of hands and places and equipment frequently used, to mention a few.

May we experience true revival in this trying time as we make the necessary sacrifice to diligently seek the face of Almighty God for our nation’s healing and full obedience to Almighty God.

Your Servant in His Service,

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

Ronald Blissett

President

Jamaica Seventh Day Baptist Conference

Like a mist, 2019 had swiftly passed and yet its memory lingers on. It is still a little

startling that six months have already being spent of our first allotment for 2019 /2020 Conference year.

I am thrilled with tremendous gratitude to our Sovereign Lord God, who has so lavishly blessed us

beyond our due for which we are eternally grateful. I am embracing this invaluable privilege to bless the

Lord who is Strong and Mighty for His loving favour and to wish every member of our noble Seventh

Day Baptist family in Jamaica and in the Diasporas world-wide as well as our well-wishers a prosperous

New Year.

As we welcome 2020, let us be determined to recognize the immense capacity that God has invested in

each of us and be resolute to maximize on the opportunities we have been given to be tuned in, and

turned on through Christ’s power on the various locations we have been strategically positioned by God

as catalysts of potential in His Ministry to unveil and unearth gifts and talents which had been unknown

and, or unnoticed due to ignorance..

Excellence in stewardship is to be a hallmark of service for all of us as we more than ever appreciate

the blessings and favours we have been shown in respect to His grace, to think of the access we have

been given to start over one more time. To be able to penitently make a difference in our earnest thrust

to engage our whole being in a process of yielding our all to God in full submission so that the four ‘T’s’

of service tool; Temple, Time, Talent and Treasure can be fully employed for God’s glory.

It is a critical time for us to recognize our individuality and embrace our unique diversity as a blessing,

and be willing to cease being afraid to accept the reality that we are no regular persons here to just

occupy space but are people custom-made, fearfully and wonderfully. That we, being all originals with

specialized abilities as designed by Almighty God to impact and effect change in intentional ways by

God, and are transformed through the embracing of God’s reality as is evident in His allowance of

recovery capacity through Christ accomplishment at Calvary and subsequent restoration of the spirit

man. We are challenged to become who we are in Christ; packaged as agents made on purpose, with

a purpose and for a purpose.

It is without question that we are all assigned levels of dominion severally, according to our endowed

abilities as enabled by the Holy Spirit to unwrap our uniqueness and fragrance and flavour the assigned

space we have been given to influence and do so against our expiration dates. As the late Bahamian

motivational speaker, Author and pastor, Dr. Myles Munroe counselled, ‘that we should not go to our

graves full but should go empty, having lived and fulfilled our purpose’.

Let us consider the words of Jeremiah 9:23 &24”Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the

powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast

in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing

love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord,

have spoken!"

Brothers and Sisters may this be a year filled with knowing God better, resting in His grace, and serving

Him more faithfully. When the temptation for things such as approval, riches, and control press us, may

the joy of knowing God seize our hearts, shape our schedules, and consume our days. May we be

willing to dance and suffer, work and play, serve and give all glory to our God. May the Gospel indeed

compel us to love mercy, work for justice, and to walk humbly with our God, until the day He takes us

Home.

I challenge us to be willing to become tuned in, turned on and be made triumphant through Christ who

empowers us to face and accomplish limitless possibilities through Christ who assured us, “If ye abide

in me, and my Word abide in you, then ye shall ask whatever ye will and it shall be done unto you”. (St.

John 15:7). Unlock and unleash your God- given potential and triumphantly mature to ‘become who you

already are in Christ’.

Yours in the mission for God’s glory,

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

Pastor Ronald Blissett