Cockburn Gardens Primary School gets Bibles

Cockburn Gardens Primary School gets Bibles


Kingston, Jamaica, 2001
Students of the Cockburn Gardens Primary and Junior High School in Kingston, Jamaica were recipients of Bibles from Word Time Ministries of Jamaica during a special 7th Anniversary Bible Presentation Ceremony held at the school in Kingston recently.

The Bible presentation under the theme "Learning The Word For Success" was staged in collaboration with the Love Singers, one of the nation's leading gospel group also celebrating 20 years of service to Jamaica.

Bibles Presented
Representatives from all twenty four grades of the Institution received Bibles on behalf of their respective classes, while a number of selected students were given personal copies. Additionally 100 students received scripture text calendars, and 420 students recieved of devotional guides. The Bible Presentation Ceremony forms part of an on-going campaign by Word Time Ministries of Jamaica in its efforts to promote spiritual values and attitudes among the nation's youth through the reading, studying and application of the Bible.

Principal of the school Ms. B. Yvonnie Davis in her reaction to the presentation stated that it was a welcomed and worthy idea that an organisation of young people are using the Bible as the basis for the promotion of values in the society. "It is elating and inspiring that as young people you are making such a positive contribution to society. Students are always appreciative of gifts. But these Bibles are a blessing from above and will help change the lives of the students," she said.

Ms. Davis also stated that the school has daily devotions and many students attend without a Bible. "We definitely need the Bibles for the daily devotions and for religious education in order to mould the lives of the students. She added that the Bible is also used as a regular reading material and it is therefore fitting that the Word Time Ministries presents Bible to students in schools across Jamaica. She also said "Bible reading is an integral part of the school life, although not practice on a large scale, due to the lack of Bibles. These Bibles will make a great start as every class will have it's own copy," she emphasised.

RESTORATION
President of Word Time Ministries of Jamaica Michael Schurton in his address stated that the nation was at a point of crises and that the nation is in urgent need of restoration, which can be achieved with the living word of God. He said that restoration of the nation will begin when its people turn to the Bible and study and practice the directions, values and commands that are found in its pages. Mr. Schurton said, "I strongly believe that every child needs to have a personal copy of the Bible to learn of its teachings and therefore become a confident, productive and useful citizen.

FAMILY
He also noted that in the present failing family structure the Bible is absent from the homes and the absence contributes to the deterioration of family life and hence national development is affected. Mr. Schurton who is also the Marketing Manager for Love FM, made a passionate plea for Bible reading to become the centre of the family activities.

"It's high time that the Bile be placed upon the family table again, and the reading and studying of the Bible become the centre of activities for the home" Schurton said.

Guest speaker at the Bible Presentation Ceremony was Evangelist Michael McIntosh, who is also a member of the Love Singers. Michael McIntosh in his address to students said that the students are important individuals who must learn what the right things are and endeavour to do the right things to reap success. He noted that many in our society today, including musicians, sports persons and others claim to have the right messages for our young people, but these messages are affecting them in a negative way. He implored the students to get the right messages about their lives, how to live and how to be successful from the best source, the Bible.

Over one thousand students of the school lifted their voices in singing the songs by the Love Singers, on the nation's leading award winning gospel group, also celebrating 20 years of performance and recording on the Jamaica gospel scene. The extraordinary Nicole Robinson, 2001 JCDC gospel song winner also gave a superb performance capturing the hearts of the students with her song "Extraordinary God". Also participating in the song ministry Annoleah Reid.

Carlene McFarlane, Youth President of the Ministry rendered a beautiful poem titled, "Time To Arise", written by Matisse Lindo. The students came alive as the Shakina Glory dance group from Kintyre did the piece "Free".

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ministry Rev. Yvonne Dixon, in bringing greetings on behalf of the Ministry urged the students to give their lives to Jesus and let him direct their actions, decision and choices. She also offered commendation to the Ministry of the celebrating of its 7th anniversary. Rev. Dixon who is also Pastor of the Oneness Apostolic Church, located in Sydenham, St. Catherine also participated in the ceremony by presenting Bibles to students.

Word Time Ministries is a non-profit youth organisation which was founded primarily for the distribution of Bibles and other Christian Literature among students in Primary, All Age and Junior High Schools as well as Civic Leaders. To-date the Ministry has distributed Bibles and religious tracts costing over one million dollars to students in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the United States as part of the organisation's effort to provide spiritual guidance to students.

The Bible presentation ceremony which is one of the highlights of the Ministry's 7th Anniversary attracted corporate sponsorship from the Bible Society of the West Indies, Love FM, and Sam Wisdom Music Stores.