The JBWF was formed on December 10, 1922. Their motto is “Seek, Save, Serve.”
The aims of the Federation are:
The motto of the JBUB is “Finding Following Fraternizing”
Purpose
In 1940 the Rev. Walter Foster of Calabar High School assisted by Doris Morant of the Ministry of Education organized the “Young People’s Department”.
A restructured Youth Movement of JBU was launched in November 1983 by the Youth Affairs Committee during the final service of the Bi-centennial Celebrations at Sabina Park, Kingston This Movement was launched in an effort to strengthen the relationships between young Baptists across the island. Through this Movement, Baptist Youth will have a forum for joint action on issues they face and for evangelism.
In 1994 the Jamaica Baptist Union appointed an Assistant General Secretary with responsibility for Youth and Training. In March of the following year, a Youth Department was formed.
The Youth Department in November 2005 saw several changes and additions highlighted below:
The objectives of the Youth Department are:
Structure of the Youth Department Chairman Immediate Past Chairman Chairman Elect JBU Ex-Officio Members | Vice Chairmen Youth Fellowships Student Affairs Uniform Groups Young Adults Secretary Asst. Secretary Treasurer | Commissions Camps Cultural Discipleship Sports | Area Council Representatives Zone 1 (Portland & St. Thomas) Zone 2 (Kingston/St. Andrew & St. Catherine) Zone 3 (Clarendon & Manchester/St. Elizabeth) Zone 4 (St. Mary, St. Ann & Trelawny) Zone 5 (St. James, Westmoreland & Hanover) 3 Members at Large 2 JBU Executive Representatives |
National Committees:
Commissions
Training in Christian Education of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) congregations has been the mandate of this department. This training in Christian Education is done through eight areas of ministry:
Christian Education ought to be considered as spiritual formation. “Christian’ speaks to spirituality with certain specificity and “Education” speaks to shaping or more specifically, to persuade or condition to feel, believe, to act in a desired way. Congregation is mentioned above because this community of believers should be seen as the natural place of initiation and formation, where all aspects of congregational life coalesce into one vast latent curriculum. One learns how to pray, praise, witness, and worship, more from living in community with persons and less from a book. The effectiveness of Christian spiritual formation in the congregation is determined greatly by the quality of life together and by the depth and breadth of engagement in Christian practices.
The department’s aim is therefore to make members of our congregations who were competent in Christian practices, having experienced Christian spiritual formation through identity-forming and life-changing participation in practices constitutive of the Christian faith and life.
This 41 acre campsite/conference centre is situated is located just 1.3 miles from the clock tower in Duncans, Trelawny as you turn South towards Clarke’s Town, with a magnificent sea-view to the north and bathed by refreshing day and night time breezes.
At Nutshell you will be away from the sights and sounds of the busy life of town with its traffic and people. The sign at the entrance to Nutshell says it best, “Come Ye Apart and Rest Awhile.”
There are over 150 beds in Nutshell’s facilities. Most rooms will sleep six. There are two large dorms. We have a few rooms for only two persons. The Baptist Women’s Federation has provided an Executive Suite with private bath, kitchen, bedroom and dining and sitting room. This can be reserved by special arrangement. Contact our Administrator for information.
Each person should bring their own bed sheets, pillow, towels and other personal needs. Nutshell does not furnish these items. Many personal needs can be purchased in the Tuck Shop.
A special place for washing clothes is provided. Irons and ironing boards can be checked out in theTuck Shop. A few sports items can be checked out in the Tuck Shop.
A moderate size playing field is available; it can accommodate football, netball, basketball and volleyball.
At Nutshell we are able to accommodate your conferences, seminars, workshops etc. There are three (3) conference rooms available at Nutshell with seating capacity raging from twenty (20) to over one hundred eighty (180). Additionally, there is the Gazebo (overlooking the sea) that comfortably seats eighty (80) persons.The facility is available to the public and bookings should be made directly through the Centre.
Telephone #:876-954-2440-1
The Jamaica Baptist Union Mission Agency (JBUMA) is the Agency of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) that leads the churches of the JBU in the Mission of Jesus Christ in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the rest of the World. It functions to remind all Christians that we are in this world to contribute to that which Jesus established and the Apostles advanced. It is living God’s presence of Love, Righteousness, Holiness, Justice and Peace, in the life and circumstances of each person today.
How do we fulfill our mandate?
The ministry of the Mission Agency is done by a Council led by; a Chairman, a Director/Secretary, a Programme Coordinator (staff), a Secretary of the Council, a Treasurer of the Council and Conveners of committees. The ministry is funded by the donations of; individuals, churches, and a JBU Budgetary allocation.
The Mission Emphases are:
Mission Volunteer Programme (MVP)
The JBUMA Mission Volunteer Programme (MVP) seeks to prepare a cadre of volunteers from JBU churches who will assist churches and circuits with various aspects of the Mission of Jesus Christ. Volunteers might also be assigned as personnel for the mission to advance the programme of the JBUMA. Traditional areas include; Vacation Bible School (VBS), Evangelism, Sunday School, Youth Ministry and Disaster response.
Would you like to be a JBU Mission Volunteer? Enlist today.
JBUMA Mission Fund
The targeted amount is Twenty Million Jamaican Dollars as a Deposit. The interest of which is to be used to assist churches with; the purchase of church land, disaster response, church buildings expansion, the Mission Volunteer Programme, purchase of additional Tents, finance the mission to Haiti, Panama, Guyana, Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, , and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sports Evangelism.
JBUMA Mission Fund “Giving Plan”: In order to achieve the above target, a monthly contribution is being requested from the following:
Urban and Rural Ministries
This is a new and evolving area of the JBUMA through which we seek to sensitize our constituents of the peculiarities and distinctives of ministry in the Urban and Rural geographic locales. It is hoped that this emphasis on Urban and Rural ministry practices will greatly assist the JBU in training and preparing Pastors and people for more effective mission engagement throughout Jamaica, the Caribbean and the rest of the world.
Evangelism and Discipleship
This area of ministry entails; Evangelistic services, Schools of Evangelism, Discipleship Training, Leisure Evangelism, Sports Evangelism, etc. There will be collaboration with the MVP in identifying people for the various activities and events.
Health and Outreach
The Kingston Gardens Health and Outreach
Centre, 5 West Avenue, Kingston 4, owned and operated by the Jamaica Baptist Union Mission Agency (JBUMA), for those who live in and around the community.
Some of what we are doing there include:
The JBU and the Bethel Baptist Church, HWT, began its mission to the communities in January 2002, in response to a political upheaval that resulted in death, fire and the two communities in dispute. In 2009, we are happy to report that there is evidence of a greater commitment to Peace and Unity among these communities.
What’s the mission here? Working for Unity Justice, Peace and Love through the following areas:
Disaster Awareness and Emergency Response (DAER)
This ministry is one of awareness and response to all types of disaster.
The JBUMA is in the process of establishing a Disaster Agency that will; enlist and deploy volunteers, identify, store and distribute items of need after a disaster and offer timely suggestions in preparation for and awareness of disasters.
Partnerships
Partnerships are seen as a relationship between equals in the Lord. They are usually of a mutual nature. Such Partnerships are between churches of the JBU; JBU and non-JBU Churches and JBU and other Unions and Conventions.
The JBUMA Partnership Programme facilitates a relationship for a specific period of time. Our partners share the fundamental things that make us Christians. All we have from God are equally shared. There is no basis for domination of one partner by the other.
JBU Horizon Home
This area of ministry caters to the increasing needs and growing population of geriatrics in the society today. The Home is located at 9 Sullivan Ave., Kingston 8, and has a capacity of 18. Here, female geriatrics or senior citizens, live together and are assisted from day to day by a staff and management committee.
Training in Discipleship & Ministry Programme (TDM)
This training Institute seeks to provide opportunities for the training and development of Church Leaders. The curriculum includes subject areas that will expose participants to essential and critical areas of training for the mission of Jesus Christ today.
Jamaica Baptist Historical Society
The Jamaica Baptist Historical Society seeks to recapture Baptist history wherever and however it might be available for presentation to interested persons. The JBU Resource Centre or Library is a repository of historical documents.