Some 550 students from 10 tertiary institutions across the Island met in the Ballroom at King’s House on Saturday, September 21 for the annual Campus Ministries Day Youth Panel Discussion sponsored by Adventist-laypersons Industries (ASI) and the I Believe Initiative (IBI).
Under the theme “The Builder’s Mindset,” the five-member panel discussed four sub themes, “The Builder’s Floor Plan: The Blueprint,” “Our Mind the Biggest Boulder,” “I Have the Tools . .. But How Do I Use Them,” and, “How to Build When No One Else Is Building.”
Commenting on how to find the blue print, Guest Panelist, Dr Peter Walker, suggested that persons think outside the box. Dr Walker, who has developed an online gaming system, said the idea came to him one day while he watched his young son at play. This system allows children or adults to play with their friends around the world without leaving their homes. In 2008, he was awarded the Texas Business Journal Tech Innovation Award for Gaming Technology.
Dr Lisa Walker, Motivational Coach, said that obstacles were what God put in man to help him to grow. She said God has created us that we can turn any challenge into opportunity, “Use what you have and create a goal or plan around it,” she suggested.
Sydney Watson, Shortwood Fraternity President, observed that the main building tools to success were prayer, fasting, and dependence on the Word of God.
Advent Fellowship President, Xaundre Mohansingh charged the students “Never let a good dream die because failure is not final.” Prayer, love, and integrity were important building blocks, and one should never be afraid to stand alone.
Pastor Glen Samuels, President, West Jamaica Conference joined the other panelists in giving personal, real-life experience of persons who triumphed over adversities and made good through trust in God, hard work, and honesty.
In his welcome, Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen congratulated the students who had successfully completed GSAT, CSEC, CAPE and were now at University. Describing it as a “great feat’ Sir Patrick encourage the students to continue on this same trajectory, and not let anyone or anything distract them from their goal.
The Governor-General reminded them that they were not alone as the Holy Spirit was always with them every step of the way. Noting that they were at College and University to prepare for service, Sir Patrick said, “Be faithful to your mandate and calling in whatever you do. Be who you are at all times, work hard, study hard, pray hard, worship hard, and play hard and afterward enjoy your success. Don’t let anyone steal your joy.”
This is the third year that ASI and the IBI have partnered for the Campus Ministries Weekend. The main activities comprised a Youth Forum on Thursday night, September 19; Vesper Service on Friday night, September 20; Divine Service, Bible Study, Adventist Youth presentation, and Vespers on Saturday, September 21 at the Andrews Memorial SDA Church. The weekend ended with a social.
Participating institutions included the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus), the Mico University College, the University of Technology, the Shortwood Teachers’ College, Northern Caribbean University (Kingston Campus), the College of Arts, Science and Education Church Teachers’ College, Brown’s Town Community College, Knox Community College, and the Moneague Teachers’ College.
ASI is a membership-based organization of Seventh-day Adventist laypeople whose mission is “Sharing Christ in the Marketplace”. The IBI is a values-based initiative which focuses on Youth, the Family and Education.