It Is Not Often that we can look back and see that a moment or event in time has changed our lives. Memories often fade, but a select few live with us forever. Moments of personal salience breathe on within us with a perfect clarity and detail earned by their depths of personal importance. Round Hill, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, the year 2000 – this was one of those timeless moments of personal notability.
Jamaica Truth Corps
I had journeyed to Jamaica to preach and teach and spread the gospel. But as my brother aptly pointed out, the reality was God had allowed us this opportunity to grow and be taught, and we learned and gained so much more than we could ever give. My almost six-month stay was a priceless voyage of spiritual and personal discovery and growth — one I look back on with great thanks to God.
For the first month, I was blessed to be on a Jamaican truth corps team with Sis. Leah Muniz, April Phillips, Sharon Abel and Bre. Caleb Lloyd, Jeremy Newth, and Tim Badger. After our initial training, we spent three days saturating the small Round Hill community with invites to our “crusade.” Let me just say that the HUGE and enthusiastic response we got was rather a shock to my young-western perspective. It became quickly evident that Jamaica was a spiritual nation of people seeking God in a world where they haven’t the luxury to deceive their psyche into thinking that they can “do it themselves.”
A packed hall
Among the most vivid memories was the first evening in Round Hill and my first ever public gospel proclamation. Caleb and I had prepared a joint presentation, seminar style, under the topic of “Belief and Baptism.” To see a hall designed for 40 bursting at the seams with more than 60 people was inspiring and a little frightening. They were so thirsty and interested to hear the word that they even stood outside peering in the windows. This spectacle was rather a shock to the system! My prayers for strength, courage, and the right words to say were almost panted under my breath as the pit in my stomach deepened to note the time and realize it was time to begin. I think it was the heartfelt singing and praise (which I’m sure was enthusiastic enough to be heard by the shafts of brilliant sunlight setting beautifully over the horizon miles away) that lifted my spirit and answered my prayers of courage to proclaim the gospel in a simple and convincing manner.
Most of the evening followed with a blur of words and perspiration trickling down our backs in the intense humidity and stifling heat of the overcrowded room. Caleb engaged the crowd with his typical introductory antics of offering everyone “shiny red sports cars” and betting them “little baby elephants.” Together we covered the aspects of belief and baptism and managed some interesting discussion in the follow-up. For the first-time speaker in me it was sheer terror, but for the “Soldier of Christ” in me it was utter delight at the magnitude of interest unparalleled in any of my interactions to that point.
Other memories
I’ve been back to Jamaica since — to continue preaching and helping and to further build on the close and loving relationships we can so powerfully forge within the fellowship of Christ. When I return to Round Hill, those first memories come rushing back — and all those other places and circumstances which hold timeless and life-changing memories.
I remember the gentle and ever present smile on Sister Edna’s face whenever scripture was opened or talked about, the bright twinkle in both the Hall sisters’ eyes when they gather in the front of Port Antonio meeting hall and share the joy of their faith. I remember the shock of experiencing almost everybody gratefully and with honest curiosity accepting every leaflet and spiritual offering and the conviction and devotion of mostly blind dear Brother Eggy. I remember the rugged touch of his warm handshake, offering more life experience than could a thousand words, the calming sound of his deep voice fluently pouring out so many Psalms with clarity and detail, though he never could read. I remember the deafening declaration silently announced by the color of my skin, the depth of despair felt at the unjust depravity of wealth, the indescribable joy of true fellowship within the living body of Christ.
God offered me an experience to remember, a spiritual reference point to which to return, and a life-changing realization that our faith transcends money, transcends sex, transcends culture and race, transcends personality, indeed transcends every divider in this world to a unity of spirit we can only find by experience in our Lord.
I remember the experience, and it makes me ever more anxiously await the day of perfect unity.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One