Minister's Corner

INTRODUCTION

What are your assessments of the year 2004? What were the positives and negatives? On the international stage there were many winners and losers -- most notably, President Bush and John Kerry, respectively -- but many more found themselves in muddy middle ground. Coalition forces had success and failure in Iraq, crisis in Sudan with millions dying in Dafur and terrorists struck in Spain and Russia. Debate raged over same-sex marriage, media standards and other "moral values" issues. Yasser Arafat and Ronald Reagan died. An earthquake and tsunami that left more than 200,000 dead from Thailand to Somalia, dominated 2004's final days.

What about us here in Jamaica? What were the critical issues that shaped our experiences during the past year? What are those things, which we can celebrate?
1. The performance of our athletes at the Athens Olympics
2. The opening of Highway 2000

What were those things that saddened us?
1. Crime and violence with over 1,300 murders
2. Hurricane Ivan
3. Disunity within the political parties
4. Hugh Shearer's death
5. the number of fatalities from road accidents

2004 will be remembered in particular for the impact of Hurricane Ivan and the Asian Tsunami. These two awesome forces of nature potently reminded us of how vulnerable we all are and have dispelled the notion of human being's invincibility. As I watched the TV pictures of tractors pushing dead bodies mingled with rubbish and mud into a mass grave, I asked myself the question posed by the Psalmist: What is man? What is the basis of our confidence in journeying through life?

The impact of hurricane Ivan has weakened our economy, which had shown consistent signs of sustained growth. This in the long run will slow down the capacity to generate new jobs to lessen the high unemployment around us. Last year saw the Jamaican society continuing to bleed from the intolerable high levels of crime and violence. About1300 lives were murdered. Crime and violence continues to be the perennial social ill that impacts on every aspect of nation building. In addition our high debt servicing fuelled by our desire to live above our means is consuming the economic future of our children.

It is difficult to fathom how a nation that is experiencing so much social and economic problems, continues to function with reasonable political stability. Our relatively quick recovery after the devastating impact of hurricane Ivan confirms that we are a resilient people that will find the spiritual strength to overcome our problems.

The Hope United Church congregation exercised its ministry and mission during 2004 at international, national and local levels. With the Minister serving as Moderator of the Council for World Mission, Co-Moderator of the Mission in Unity Project of The World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Moderator of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and Vice-President of the Jamaica Council of Churches much of his time was spent away from the local congregation. The Associate Minister, Rev Margaret Downer-Messias was called upon to do more than her fair share of the work in responding to the growing needs of our diverse congregation and community.

The Synod's theme "United in Faith: Strengthening Family, Transforming Community" continued to be the focus for our congregation' ministry and mission. Our monthly corporate Bible study during our worship service continues to be central in our plans to offer in-depth teaching on some of the critical issues impacting on Family Life and Spiritual growth. The continuing role of our zones and ministry groups in nurturing membership growth fellowship and development is central to our ministry.

THANGSGIVING

We offer thanks to the Lord for the new members that he has added to this congregation:

STATISTICS

Membership at December 31, 2003 - 313
New Members received - 17
Loss: transfers, deaths - 7
Membership December 31, 2004 - 323
Average participation at Holy Communion - 170
No. Of Baptism/Blessing of Infants - 11

1. We offer thanks to the Lord for the new members that he has added to this congregation:
2. Thanks to the Elders who offer quality pastoral leadership in their Zones and the wider congregation.
3. We thank God for the hard working team of enablers that prepared materials for the Family Life and Nurture Programme.
4. Thanks to all Zone members who shared in and contributed to the all day Zone celebrations
5. We offer thanks for all who helped us to meet our budgetary expectations and for responding to the challenge of pledging financial resources for the expansion of our ministry and mission.
6. We celebrated joint Holy Week Services with Webster Memorial and King's Gate United Churches and the experience was enriching.
7. In spite of the economic challenges made worse by the impact of hurricane Ivan, we started the expansion programme in September and saw the building expanding quickly and in three months we spent about $10million. It was hoped that the first and second phase of our expansion programme would cost about $30million. However, the rising cost of materials and labour has increased the cost for the first phase to about $27million! In spite of the increase we are not deterred. We will achieve our mission objectives!
8. Our outreach and care ministry continues to address the needs of some of the most vulnerable persons within our communities
9. During 2004 we again experienced loss in membership through death. We recall with thanksgiving the contributions that they all made to the ministry and mission of the Church.

Ongoing Concerns

1. 1. Our Youth Fellowship ministry experienced major challenges with discipline and leadership. Plans are being laid to transform and energize this vital part of the church's ministry.
2. We have an intolerable level of inactive members. Some have moved overseas, others have joined other churches but have been reluctant in taking steps to have their membership transferred. Others have simply become inactive because they have not felt challenged sufficiently to become involved in our ministry and mission. They will be visited and challenged to recommit themselves. For others who have joined other churches we will be using the pastoral and constitutional processes to inform our plans to remedy the unacceptable situation.

To God be the glory for all that he has done during 2004! We expect increased challenges for 2005 but we are confident that God will supply all of our needs to do his work in ministry and mission.

Roderick R. Hewitt
Minister.