Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FOR
CHRIST
Forwarding Agent;
M/M David DeFor
Montego Bay
Jamaica, West Indies
Our newsletters this year have been few and far between; We have not forgotten nor have we nothing to write about. Various cir
cumstances have kept us from getting out a newsletter before now. Be assured, you are remembered.
To say we have been busy puts it mildly. We have both hoped for a chance for a short vacation, but it seems out of the question.
Neither time nor funds are available at the moment.
The Montego Bay Church of Christ is making itself felt in the commun
want to sit and discuss the Bible in a way which they are not given the
opportunity to do within their own groups.
We had our second annual Daily Vacation Bible School, July 27-31, with an average attendance of 74. The attendance climbed steadily from M6liday to Wednesday, reaching 92 that day. Then, the last two
days we had very heavy rains which cut the attendance. The children enjoyed DVBS so very much and akeady want to know when we will
have another one. We still need more teachers as we only had four this year, and with that many children, they did not spend their time
In the evenings of the same week, we had evangelistic services.
loafing!
These were not as well attended as we had hoped, but those who did come were rewarded by some very good preaching. Oiu- teachers for DVBS were Mr. & Mrs. Doug Reed and Mr. & Mrs. Steve Shold from
cere thanks to them for their efforts; they came at their own expense to
be with and help us. And thanks, also, to the Church of Christ at Blanchard, Pennsylvania and especially to its minister, George Haden for supplying the funds that we might have new DVBS material and
Boise, Idaho; the fellows did the preaching in the evenings. Our sin
handicraft for our children this year. Our only regret is that they could not be here to see how much it was appreciated and enjoyed.
The week immediately following DVBS was our first week of camp. It was junior week; we had 21 campers attending from Montego Bay. To give you an idea of how much it was enjoyed, we had several rather unhappy campers who tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade us to take them back the second week for senior camp. Camp was not only en joyed to the fullest; it also made its impact. Three of om junior camp
ers were immersed into Christ as a result of their teaching and fellow ship, and we would have had others if their parents had consented. We are working especially hard on some of those parents now in an effort to open their eyes.
August 9-16 was our second and senior week of camp. There were three campers from the Montego Bay area. During this week we placed special emphasis on our yoimg people's futures, in terms of part-time or full-time Christian service. While most of the campers were too yoimg to make definite plans in this direction, many are giving serious thoughts to the ideas. We hope that these efforts, with the help of the Lord, will result in a more widely educated ministry in the next few
years.
The Ministers' Fellowship of the Jamaican Churches of Christ is now working on plans for a family retreat at Christmastime. As you will recall, we had a men's retreat right after Christmas of last year. It was so thoroughly enjoyed that it was felt that the opportimity should
be given to the ladies to attend also.
We are also working on the plans for camp, seminar and conven
tion for the summer of 1971. Along with all of these plans and prepar ations, our ultimate goal is for a self-supporting work. Bro. L. Bogle
has just returned home from Ozark Bible College, and Bro. Vincent
Graham, also from Ozark, will be home in October of this year. Having our young men return from Bible College helps in two definite ways; it not only helps to bring education (which we so badly need) into our ministry here; it also encoiurages our young people here to consider the
Christian ministry for their own lives.
Another project of the Minister's Fellowship is the possible re open ing of the Jamaica Bible College. Although this is still definitely in the laUdng stage, we are all praying for the Lord's guidance. This will
most likely not come about this year, but when it does would mean driv ing into Kingston two nights a week to help out.
As mentioned previously, I frequently have opportimities to speak to various groups here in Montego Bay. One which I am particularly
Solutions." Not only will this help give these men ideas about the specific subject, but it will also give me a chance to bring their atten
tion to the Church of Christ. Along the same line, I have been made
chairman of the Boys and Girls Committee for the Kiwanis Club. I feel this is a real opportimity, not only to help the young people of the commtmity, but to help my fellow committee members see the result of
Christian influence.
For a long time we have been praying that the Lord would open the door for me to go back into the full-time ministry. I love my work
as probation officer very much and enjoy the chances I have to work
with wayward young people, but the church here needs a full-time minister to do the work properly. There have been times when I was needed more in a spiritual capacity by people in and out of the church than I was needed as a probation officer, but since I was on govern ment time, I could not offer the spiritual guidance that was needed. In stead, I was out somewhere doing my probation work. My study time is limited and, therefore, my sermons suffer. In an established work where there are capable men in the congregation, some of the respon sibility can be delegated to them. However, in a new work, there is no one besides me to take any responsibility. In that case something suf fers, my ministry, my work or my family.
It is for this reason, and also because we would like to be self-sup
porting, that we have begim our plans for a Christian bookstore in Montego Bay. This has long been a dream of mine for the above reasons,
and because there is no adequate source of reading material of any
kind in the western section of the island.
Qie bookstore.
be "Ideal Bookshop Ltd." We had hoped to borrow $8,000 here for this
venture but the banks do not have as much faith in us as we have in
ourselves, and we certainly do not have that much collateral. If you are interested in investing in two Christian young people you can lend us the money, individually or in groups. This is the Lord's work and there is no doubt in my mind that the bookstore will be a paying con cern. People far and wide will hear and know of Christ. If you want more information please write to me. Our ministry here has been and is a faith ministry and, as such, we accept the Lord's will even though, at times, it seems difficult. Our
church van has become almost more of a liability than an asset in the
past few months, due partly to its age and pa^y to the condition of
roads here. While we were on our way to camp with our young people, a p?.ston broke and damaged the entire engine and gearbox. Repairs
one, but we didn't hove the downpayment and we would not be able to borrow the money, then keep up both loan payments and instalments. We had no choice but to repair the van. While returning from the
ing an appeal now for funds to pay back the money we had to borrow to fix the van and possibly buy a new one. We feel it is essential to
the church; without it over 60 children would have no way to go to
church. With our present income of little more than $200 per month, we can barely make ends meet for day to day living without problems
like the above.
If any of you
able.
of books on Jamaica.
Yours in Christ,
Lloyd Morris
g ij
Deocr Friends,
Greetings from sunny, warm Jamaica. It has been just that most
all summer, although we have had more rain than is usual for this
time of year. Now that September has come, it should begin to cool off. The nights are already beginning to feel cooler. Our tempera tures, at present, vary from about 75 at night to 85 during the day.
As Lloyd stated in his letter, we have been BUSY!! With both of us working fulltime, plus carrying all responsibility for the church (work and financial), plus trying to make up not being with the children all day, it has kept us really on the go. Today has been an especially exciting day at our house. Mary
Beth started school today. She usually has to be awakened in the mornings, but today she was up with the birds. I don t quite know if the school was so exciting or if it was the fact that she got to carry her lunch in a lunch bucket. Today was only 8.30-11 30, but from now on it will be 8:30-1:30. At first, 3% seemed very young to begin school, but since this is the way things are done here and after seeing that this
Both girls are eagerly awaiting mid-October and the arrival oi their new little brother (hopefully). I don't know who is more thrilled with the idea, but I think Kay will especially enjoy the new baby as she doesn't get to go to school and very keenly feels she is left out.
After working for nearly one year, I had to quit my job on doctor's
orders. At the end of June, I developed a blood clot in mv leg and
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Intermediate Campers
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For a very long timo I have toj^ed irith tho idoa of dedicating ono of wj'- noxrslottors to tho Social nocds of Montcgo Bay.
Tho Church across the World is moving towards a noiT dimension not moving airay from tho iloTT Testament but tto arc noir adding a noir phaso to our lives "of truly boing
our brothers hooper." ilany of you havo Tirittcn aslcing questions about our noods
horo, so I do hope this letter trill be informativo and helpful to ono and all.
There are fifty thousand people (50^000) living in Itontego Bay and its suburbs# Fifty per cent of those people are of tho labouring class oaming tlireo to sovon pounds - $17,40) weoicly. This percentage is of the poorer people uho havo
the larger families.
Duo to financial limitations to copo Tiith tlio trend in re creation 'ind ignoranco of
tho trorthTrliilo consoquons of family planning as well as misinterpretation of
rate for 1969 is a half percent louor compared uith tho same period in 19*^8.
tain quotations from the B^.ble (dealing iTith child bearing) families have untJittingly groTrxi unduly larger over a period. The Jamaica Far.ii.ly Planning iissociation is prcsontljr engaged in an Island iTide program oducating, guiding and helping people to plan their families. Statistics shoir that tho program is effective as tho birth
Our govornracnt finds it difficult to build schools fast enough to accommodate
soliciting tho help of the Churches in providing kindprgartons schools for childron of four to s}z years as an aid to alleviating tho situation, and at the same time
provi.dniig sound background uork for tho children's primary education#
children of all ages particularly the youngsters of four years. They are ther^oro
IJhen the childron havo reached age four, undor tho existing hone conditions, paroii'os are happy to send them to school. Thus when there is no placo for accoiimiodatiLonj, frustration takes root, in tho homes on tho pc-rt of parents and childron bogin o
got indisciplined and rude. This is because they are not rocoiving tho proper
trainjiaig and guidanco Tihich TJill channel their minds and onorgy is troi*thTThile aroas.
The folloiTing aro excorpts from '".rticlos sent to me of our advocators for ^ondorgarton or Basic School Sducations-
the FrogTwiQ for likarly Childhood Education, has said that no ono can quost?.on xnc impor-t?.ncc of Basic School education, for if young cMldron; x-^oro not trained, -Dnoii
Ministry of Education has inforr.icd us that they cannot provide education lor ajL
l.-.iphasizing tho importance of having Troll trained teachers and proper schools I2l% Grant saids .\'7o havo over 187,000 childi-en in tho ago ij- - 6" and tno
thoso bo.sic school age cliildron, and is appealing to tho private sector o op
in this respect.
Jamaica, this zie aro trying to upgrade, and now there aro over 2,700 childron en rolled in Govomraont - rocognizod Basic Schools. This figure roprosonts a ou
of tho childron of basic school ago in Jamaica,"
/1 the present, people with ruarginal education oporato most basic schools in
"Fw tho majority of childron irho attend basic schools their first few poars of esristonce have been a most painful and frightening oxperionce. The inadequacy
and rocroational facilities, havo already stiffled tho'ir montal growth. tno time tlioy roach thoir toons they aro broken, unliapi^y, undiciplaned and bitter. Ono heed hardly elaborate on tho outconio of tho lack of lovo, training and dis cipline in thoso young 3.ivos. The thousands of thoso childron noxr undor tho caio of the Juvenile Authority in Approved Schools and Snfety Honos aro evidence enough of the lack of this parly care. Tho fact that St. Jaraos rates as one of the Parished rith tho highest number of Juvenile don.iiiquonfcs is ronnon onough why^
ar.iount of love and guidanco, the lad: of proper home settings, playing fi^ds,
of thoir young motliors and fathers, their neglect in provj-ding oven tho mnimun
ovory effort should be put into this now ProgrGiiiiiio prcsontod to us. In so do^g, wo would be helping to a gront to 7-^u.ild uj) uowo frocuritjr and self conf?.denco in our youngr.toi*r:.
-2-
Thc 1.1J10S alon,'^ irhich basic schools mst presently bo mm loavo much to bo
desired.
For the minds of our young people to have a chancc to groir the ri^ht
xray - the odds against thom aro caiorinoUs; tthon 3''ou considei? thoir homes surround
ings - only the riost up to da.to programme catering for thoir particular needs can give thorn the chancc. The toAchcrs must bo made fully axraro of their influence over
these children, and xrith thoir grasp of the full moaning of this programme some thing can be achieved in this field. Children uho are eijqposod to carolcss and TTTong tea.chingp hoirovor xrell meant^ could onljr react by closing thoir minds to
learning for their entire school life."
I am conccrned about those cliildren and receiving thoir socu!].ar education but moro
se Tiitliin a Christian context. Here basic schools arc needed in llontogo Bay and I am appealing to qualified teachers Trho aro interested in irorlcing in the mission field. Here is an avenue of necessity open for the tror]: of missionaries not nec essarily preachers but hoaviljr geared toTjards the toacliing of those children.
2.
Thcro TTill be the opportunity to set up onos oun program irithin the school TTorking from tho Government's prescribed curriculum.
spiritual and socular needs of adults and children.
Tlio Paradise ' cros Citizens Association elected me as tho Chairman of tho Develop
ment Goriiittec. I uc.s instructed to iM.to to Prestige Homos' Dovolopmont asliing for a lot on T'hich to Qrnct-a^-cor!T.n.].TTity^eentor.Tbi.r. center tTill. hn used for basic
school5 Home lilconomics Center etc.
If 'Tc have trained Christian teachers leading this schools tho impact for Christ iiill be great in this developing area, Tho opportimitios for real Christian Ser
vice is -hi ilontogo Pay,
Apart froiu cli3.1dron xrho have received scholarships to attend High Schools those are
those irho have the ability to attend but cannot because of several reasons s-
2,
..ncapac'.tj'' to cope tiith tho financial demands duo to tho sizo of tho -family. Tilere are man^/ children and tho income is loiij therefore there is not enough to concentrate on higher than an Elementarj'' Education.
3.
not qualify for the tjrpe of scholarship earning him all oj^ensos pA.id then liis parents arc Trilling to dony hira a High School Education.
Tie already Imou their parents are not in tho position to assume those resiDonsibilities:-
^Jhon such children aro discovered there are several demands iihich are to bo met and
1.
2, Honey to furnish the noco5sar3'' books. 3* Other fees - library, gojues, etc. Honey for lunch approximately 12/6 per ttooIc, ($1.50) 5 Bus fares aiDproximatlgr L.^ per month or Eoai-ding Fees.
($10.00)
-3-
Ihc govornmont ic at present tror^ring on tho profyrani through irliich every cliild tjIIIJ. in course of tiiue got c. free Secondary 3ducJition but this is not yet fully insti tuted until enough Junior Secondary Schools have boen built in the Areas, /vt tho
saiic tine tho children mentioned above must bo sent to school or else tho changes
Hero arc a fct: cases J i-rould li'x. to present for your consideration.
1. Stanford Hau^hton and T-ovcl''m Ilauffhton
He is the second child# liis mother is soiul-literate irhilc his father is illiterate^ Uothc;r and children alike: suffer punislTiiient at tho brutal liands of tho husband and
father to tlic c:rtont of irhichj mother iras forced to take up residence clsci-hore
and a vr.o-' to finding cmpD.oymont so finding employiient so she could got money to
support herself and tho mal-nourished children back homo.
ilr. Ilaughton is not industrious and so has noithor stable or irorthTThile soursos of
is 3 years old) defeating his aim life as "^toU as theirs. The mo13ier has startea
a second family olsouhoro,
jjicotiG. :'c is noTT left irith tho children (Including girls tho smallest of t-rlxi.ch^
Stanford and Lovolyn are vory brilliant children at school; thoy have tho abilj.ty
and TJill do troll if their eases are taken in hand HOW, I3r, Ilaughton is not iia the least perturbed about those brilliant cli^.ldron and their education,
Through "Uio Paradise '^cros' Citizens i^.ssociation I loavo managed to furnish Stan= ford "Tlth clotJioSj bus faros, toilet articles and other nocossities. He is nerr attoncVuag one of tho Private iligli Schools in llontego Hay uhore his foes and book
c3q)cnses have boon paid for only a torm, - Ha"t/?.ng made a start in this aroa ^s IIjTc then ho is to bo sustained throughout, so ire are soliciting help from all possible forces to keep Stanford at school bccause ho has tho ability to do ircll couplcd
Hothin:^ has boen dono yet about Lovol^/n a firl of 12 years. I havo boon tr^dng
to I'iic.'x arrangonents for hor to bo removed from her impoverished home cxrcui.istancos into an aroa TThore she can live a cleanor and moro ordorod life as a girl.
should havo been in by January of 19^9*
Valorie Thotiias l6 years i^2^-.80 V-t term
She too bD.s o.bility but thoro is actually no source of procus^ing tho fimds .Lor her scliooling. If sho is to go to High School there is not much time because she
.
/i.s a cliild Valerie T''as sent to livo irith hor grandmother, /-t the death of hor
father sent her to live iiith h'.s daughter. Problems developed xiitli hoi^ se:aially as a result of irlxich sho tras being tossed around from familj'' to family in d?,ifcr"
grandiuothor, having no ono in tho homo to take care of tho child hor stop-grand
ent parts of tho Island, This still did not solve or correct her unquonchablo
zeal for men.
Finally hor fam:ily got disgustod, ignored and tliroir hor out. Having no p3.aco to go she took to st^/ing irith unauthorised friends some of them boing mon, Soiuet:ijaes
she Tfould "pay visits to tho Qiurch of Christ Sorvicos, r.ftor I had boon Tforking
TTith her for several months she o.sked mo to solicit tho forgiveness of her sucograndfathorj Trho bluntly refused.
Through the genorosity of a member of tho community, "} tras able to pay ono term s
months and costs 1A2 ($29.00) per term tuition and L6 ($3-5) for tolet afcticlcs.
tuition at PctorsvfLlle Rouse Craft Training Centre, This course lasts for nine
The fciXLi3.y is not i7i3.1ing to assume those responsibilities so tto are appcalnj,ig
bo placed in a job. It is thoreforo in hor best interest tliat sho should remain
in th'.s school to tho end.
for hrl.p for hor over over tho neiKxt tiro terms, IJhon sho leaves school she
Froi?i tirno to tirio tto lio.vo rcccivcd Sunday School litoraturo from iiiaix^r of our frined,s t hnot: tha.t it socms expensive mailing such heavy packag^' uould socin Tri.scr to send tho monoy ucod for nailing thcso,boxes# Hotrovcr, the litera ture sent to us cannot bo bou^^ht in Jamaica and hundreds of people in Ilonte;; Day arc reading Tihat is sent to us. If you should cone to Hontcgo Bay and visit the Post Office, you :jill find a box Trith foui" compartnonts and the literature is placed in those compartments for the public#
/1 least ferice pci* ircok I refill this box and tlu'ough this medium the citizens of Ilonterjo 3^y are laio^ring the Church of Christ. In tliis box Tre also placc our Trodcly church ijulletins T-rliich arc. iridely read and in due coiu:*sc fru'ts Trill be seen.
Tc arc as::in;;; all our friends to continue sending all the literaturo you can end TTO arc particular].y appealing for Christian ilagaaines and literaturo for children botiTccn the ages of 3 - 6 j^ars.
VJithout your support and prayers vc uould never have made ''it"- in Ilonto^^o So many of you have iirittcn letters of encouragements so many have taken a porson^A
interest in us as a family that I cannot help but tMn]- of you often. I '"no:: that tho Lord is blessing our efforts and you offortsp and if ire remain faitlifo), to our
trust of a croim of life ire shall receive.
in burring gifts for friendSj missionaries and other loved ones. To us as Cliristians
tTO give of our tincg our finances and oursolves cvory day of tho year^ but at this
**Oncc again tho Cliristmas holidays arc here and ever3r one appears to be busy
special t^jao tto give something extra to help tho needy. Vic must nover forgot that Christ^.c is a time of giving and sharing. First of all tto givo of ourselves to
the serv^co of Clirist and everything else irill fall into place.
Let us strive to love everyone lonsclfislilyj let us rededicato our livos to tho
tilings of Clirist j to our friends ovoryrrhcre.
''Jc T:r:.sh ^''ou all that is good, ito ^rish you a ver^/ happy Christmas and a prosperous 1970 li^-y C".!! your dreams become realities and aluaj^'S remcnibor that the Horris*
Family .In Ilontcgo Ilayg Jajiaica is in need of your prayers.
In Christian I^ove^
Lloyd Ilorris
** Thr'.s nc^.Tsletter iras xjrittcn before Chi*istriias but duo to tho fact that I^rs. Dcror has rccrntly had a ba.byjis out lato.
i-e<HJOsted
Harold McFarland