We just wrapped up a very busy week of ministry here in Jamaica. It was our privilege to host a team from the Gospel Baptist Church in Greensboro. This is a team we have been anxiously anticipating all year since they first came down and did a survey trip with us in January. Although not originally one of our supporting churches, our hearts have been knit with them in a true burden for Jamaica.
It all started for them several years ago (before we ever arrived here) when they did a mission venture here with a nondenominational ministry group. They started (right out of the gate!) working with the area of Canterbury......what the locals perceive as "the least, the last, and the lost". We know that is not how we or our Lord perceives them. Through work projects and ministry teams, God placed in them an unquenchable desire to make a difference in this somewhat forgotten community.
The work of the Lord in Canterbury, and all over our island, began this trip long before they ever arrived at the airport. They had lots of fundraisers, meetings, and organizational sessions. Lots of time was put into preparing their hearts before their feet were ever engaged. One of the great things they did was by giving each member a copy of the book "Reckless Faith" (a must read) and also a prayer journal to follow while here. With that kind of preparation, their hearts were well prepared for their journey.
Our arrival in Canterbury was quite warm. Since this group has had an ongoing relationship with the Canterburians, there was no sign of animosity or distrust. (The Montegonians will tell you not to enter Canterbury....that the danger and animosity is too risky) Old faces (that I personally only met in January) were there to greet us with open arms. Although the strong smell of ganja (marijuana) and Red Stripe (our local beer) were overwhelming at times, the love extended to us was unbelievable. It makes me think of Christ...who lovingly met everyone at their point of need. It is not for us to clean them up....it is up to the Holy Spirit. It is only for us to LOVE them.
Every day started with a soft touch. Painting nails, playing ball, and engaging in conversation. I had the privilege to sit and talk with "bald head" (or maybe it was "ball-head?) who never wears a shirt and is covered (and I'm not exaggerating) with scars from gunshots and stab wounds. He seems to be somewhat of a leader in this troubled area, though he swears to me that he is not in a gang. We talk about gunshots, stabbings, close encounters with death....and Christ. Like so many, he acknowledges his need but feels God really can't love him. It is quite difficult to convey a loving, caring God to a people who are so destitute and don't feel so loved by Him. It is one little seed though....planted in hard soil for sure. Only God can make the increase for him. My other precious encounter is with "Bepop" (or maybe "Bebop"?) who is a quite elderly resident that lives in complete squalor at the front of the community. While Kelly Miller goes into sweep, mop, and sanitize his humble residence, I sit on his porch and we sing together. He just keeps singing Jamaican gospel choruses, one right after the other. I have the privilege to sit and sing along...and harmonize with one of the sweetest sounds I have ever heard. He is blind so he can't see me, but in between songs he asks lots of questions about me. Who knows what his image of me is in his head. I hope it is the image of a simple girl who loves him unconditionally and I pray he sees God in me. Somewhere along the line Bepop got a good dose of the gospel and I pray His name is written down in Heaven......cuz I sure would love to sing around the throne with him someday.
Lesson time is a challenge. Pastor Luttrell starts out with gospel magic. Since Jamaicans are somewhat superstitious, they are in awe of these simple lessons in magic. The young (tough) guys all sit at a table off to the side. This 16-30 age is where we are losing ground in Jamaica. I watch them closely....and they are REALLY paying attention. The entire time Pastor and Mrs. Luttrell are teaching there are people, goats, dogs, and babies just running all over the place. God still moves! Precious little souls raise their hands for salvation....and big tough guys motion for Pastor to come over to their table. They want to know how he does his tricks! He begins to show them and now they want to try. As he hands them the objects, they open their hands to receive.....and they have to drop the ganja (marijuana) they have been holding on to so tightly. What a picture of what Christ does. He takes all those worldly things we grasp so vigorously and He fills that void with HIMSELF! After Pastor Paul has answered questions, our sweet Andrew gives his testimony of God rescuing him from the ravages of alcohol and brokenness. He then spends the next few minutes answering their questions from the Bible. They listen intently...he is after all a Jamaican and has walked where they now walk. I am once again reminded of why we are here.....to fill these young Pastors with the word and train them to reach their own people. Some of them accept Christ that day. More seed dropped into all kinds of soil.
The last effort in Canterbury was to give food and clothing....to put the gospel in shoe leather. We can say it all we want...but until they see Christ's love in action all our words are in vain. There was a virtual stampede for the goodies.....desperate people do desperate things. Though I can't say it went down the way we had planned, God knew it all along. Food was delivered, feet that were bare now have shoes, and we were all blessed to be a part of it!
My heart is full looking back on our time there. Not a day goes by that I don't think of those precious people there and thank God for Gospel Baptist Church and their love for the downtrodden. They left a part of themselves here, but most of all they left the message of Christ. So, what do you think? I think it was an awesome trade off.......the shackles of ganja for the salvation of the gospel! That's what missions is all about.
This has been the ramblings of one tired Jamerican.....SELAH!
