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Meeting Location(s) Church News Feast Information Information on Jamaica Request Information |
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Facts you should know
about CGI, Jamaica
The Church of God, International began in Jamaica in January 1982. The church was officially incorporated in September of that year. Contact with the Home Office in Tyler, Texas was initiated from as early as 1980, just two years after former president Ted Armstrong had his "new Beginning" in 1978.
The Church meets in the capital, Kingston, and we have an average attendance of 100 and 115 in regular fellowship. Aside from regular Sabbath services which commence at 1:00 p.m. every Sabbath except the last Sabbath of the month when we meet for two services beginning at 11:00am. The church holds a Bible study/fellowship meeting every monday and holds an evangelistic meeting every first Sunday of the month.
Regular advertisements appear in the press announcing special campaigns and pamplets are distributed by brethren on various controversal biblical topics. The Armor of God broadcast can be heard on the most listened to station in the island, Radio Jamaica (RJR) at 4:45 a.m. on thursday mornings, and the television programme on Nostalgia is seen every Sunday morning (via Cable) at 6:30 or 7:30, depending on wether the US is on daylight saving time (DST).
This year has been extraordinary in terms of membership growth. Sixteen (16) members have been added for the period January to June and another baptism is planned for the feast.
The church is pastored by Mr. Ian Boyne, a 25-year veteran in the Church of God. He is assisted by three ordained deacons, Messrs Paul O'Connor, Donald Grant and Clive Clarke as well as Deaconness, Mrs. Myrtle Barton.
The objective of the CGI Jamaica is to join our international brethen in proclaiming the gospel of the coming kingdom of God as a witness and to feed the flock in fulfilment of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28.
| Local Pastor | Ian Boyne | 1-876-925-2260 |
| Deacons | Clive Clarke | 1-876-988-6456 |
| Donald Grant | ||
| Paul O'Connor | 1-876-924-5197 | |
| Deaconess | Myrtle Barton | 1-876-925-5518 |
Church Schedule
Church of God,International, Jamaica meets on the Sabbath at 1:00PM for regular service.
Church begins at 11:00 AM on last Sabbath of each month.
There is also a bible study held
every monday evening starting 7:00 p.m. at the same location
Meeting Location(s)
(Aerial View of Kingston)
Church services are held on the Sabbath (saturday) at:
PCJ Auditorium
Trafalgar Road
New Kingston
Local
Church News 
137 ATTEND JAMAICAN CGI CAMPAIGN
BY IAN BOYNE
CGI Jamaica hosted some 137 persons, including 22 first-time visitors who turned up on Sabbath February 21 to hear the first of a two-part sermon on the topic "Should You Keep the Sabbath", as part of the church's first major public evangelistic effort for the year. On the second leg of the campaign, when fewer people attracted there were actually 23 visitors in attendance. On Sabbath, March 7, the subject of the Holydays will be discussed in the sermon. The visitors, many of whom were Sabbatarians, were also invited.
The Jamaican Church continues its dynamic growth with yet another member being added to the church in February after seven were added during the recent (January) Ben Chapman visit. Since the campaign, three persons have decided to attend services regularly with good prospects for continued attendance from at least four others. Indeed, since the February 21 campaign two persons have attended our Monday night Bible studies which will be concentrating for the next few months on the matter of the law and justification by faith, going through thoroughly and scholarly, the books of Galatians, Romans, Ephesians and Colossians; books traditionally thought to be troubling to the Church of God.
Our Monday night Bible study attendance has been growing, with many expressing high praise for the quality of the interactive studies. Interestingly, apart from the new people being attracted, a few Worldwide Church of God members are contacting us with the intention of maintaining the truths they accepted at baptism. At least two have committed to regular Sabbath attendance. The Jamaican CGI is the largest Church of God group in the entire English, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean. Average Sabbath attendance is now over 120.
As part of the publicity for the recent campaigns, which featured large newspaper ads in leading publications here, also one of our most well-known members a former Senator and political candidate went on a celebrity radio talk show to tell of his conversion and acceptance of CGI theology. The interview lasted two hours and quite a bit was said about the teachings of the church. This member has freed himself from 9-5 employment and will be a traveling emissary for the church to build the work in the outlying areas. His first responsibility will be to reach a Worldwide Church of God group in the resort town where the church keeps the Feast. Afterwards, he will have small meetings with people on the mailing list in the rural areas.
The Jamaican CGI is not complacent about growth but is forging ahead. We continue to be loyal to the leadership being provided by Tyler and the Ministerial Council. We hope all our brethren will simply concentrate on our core business which is growing in righteous character and doing the Work. All else is peripheral and some plain wrong. Let's finish the Work God has given His church.
Church Update 03/01/98
White Papers
by Local Pastor03/01/98
Biblical
Authority and the Church
Previous Church News
23 PERSONS WERE BAPTISED IN 1997
8 NEW MEMBERS ADDED SINCE JANUARY 1998 (5 BAPTISED, 3 FROM THE FORMER WCG)
OUR AVERAGE ATTENDANCE TO SABBATH SERVICES IS 120
7 MEMBERS ADDED ON BEN CHAPMAN'S JAMAICAN VISIT02/05/98
BY IAN BOYNE
A record 136 persons turned up to hear Ministerial Council Chairman Benjamin Chapman speak at CGI services in Kingston, Jamaica, on Sabbath January 31 and by the time he left the island the following day, seven new members were added to the church. In a trip which is being described with glowing superlatives, Ben Chapman and his wife, Lois, stole the hearts of the Jamaican brethren who have been saying unanimously that "they are just like one of us", not just spiritually, but emotionally and culturally. The Chapman's arrived in the tourist capital of the island, Monteqo Bay, on Tuesday February 29, where they vacationed for three days before flying to Kingston where they were met by church official Brian Scott who took them to the Kingston Wyndham Hotel. I (who pastor the Kingston Church) had an animated discussion with the delightful couple at the hotel before we moved on to an even more delightful dinner at one of Kingston's favourite restaurants.
But the big day was the Sabbath, Two services were held, one beginning at 11:00 Am and ending at 1:45 PM and the other beginning at 3:30 PM and ending at 5:50 PM., We had the highest Kingston attendance outside of a campaign Sabbath when advertisements in the national Press are taken out. This was a church visit and no attempt was made to reach the general public through the media. Mr Chapman gave an inspiring sermon on "Your Calling", making an impassioned plea for brethren to use their talents in the work of God. "God knew you had something to contribute to the work and your calling includes using that talent or those talents" Mr Chapman told the brethren who had been eagerly anticipating his hyped-up visit.
Mr. Chapman, one of the highest ranking ministers in the Church of God in this era, was baptized 40 years ago and has been a. minister for 35 years. He was pastor of the Pasadena AM church, perhaps the most Prestigious Pastorate in the Worldwide Church of God. Mr. Chapman spoke about how he himself was called and some of the responsibilities he had in the work. A special programme of songs, poetry and choral Presentations made the day inspiring. Mrs. Chapman was ecstatic about the vibrancy and energy of the congregational singing, bursting out before the conclusion of the song. "This is absolutely fabulous." She told several brethren that she would venture a Gerald-Waterhouse-type prophecy that the Jamaican brethren would be in charge of worship services in the millennium. She cried when a teenager read a specially prepared poem for them. She cried also during the singing of the last hymn "God be with you till we meet again.
Commenting on the fact that there was no politics or the raising of anything negative by any of the brethren, she later said she was struck by the love and the dedication of the brethren. Mr. Chapman commented on the 91 year old man who takes public transportation to church every Sabbath.
The afternoon Bible study was on the book of Revelation and Mr. Chapman had the brethren absolutely enthralled with charts and much Bible background. Mr. Chapman gave the keys to understanding prophecy all the while emphasizing that" we must not set dates. The brethren highly commended him for the clarity of the presentation. "It is the best presentation on Prophecy I had ever heard" one elderly brother said to Mr. Chapman-- in the presence of his pastor!
But Sunday morning, when almost the entire church turned up for the baptism of five new babes in Christ, was high in spiritual energy. It was the most moving baptismal ceremony I had ever experienced and I have experienced a number. "You people are being used by God, you are doing a great job" he shouted In is charismatic voice from the pool, before dipping the babe in the watery grave.
The day before two former members of the Worldwide Church of God who had been attending the CGI for some time were formally received into membership by Mr. Chapman. Between March last year and now, 30 members have been added.
Not one word was uttered on the trip from the pulpit or to the brethren about current controversies in the church in the United States and Both Mr. Chapman and I publicly spoke well of the work of the Armstrongs. Calls have been flooding my home all weekend about the impact they have made and the most frequent question brethren had after the first service was "when are a you Coming back?"
So when, Ben?
Feast News and Information
(Aerial View of Ocho Rios - Jamaican Feast site)
The Jamaican feast site is located in Ocho Rios on the north Coast of Jamaica.