Twelve parishes benefit from Temple of Restoration goodwill

Western Bureau:

It is a massive show of goodwill. The Temple of Restoration Ministries, based in Brooklyn, New York, has been delivering care packages to the nation’s most needy across 12 parishes over the past eight weeks, which they hope is helping to cushion the hardships created by COVID-19.

The bold initiative, which is being spearheaded by Manchester-based attorney-at-law Shernett Robinson, is targeting shut-ins and other vulnerable groups, who are being given food items and other basic necessities.

The Temple of Restoration Ministries, which was founded by its presiding bishop, Angelo Barbosa, is no stranger to Jamaica as it has a strong Jamaican contingent among its membership. The organisation, which is passionate about reaching the less privileged, is renowned across the globe for its numerous outreach programmes.

“The Temple of Restoration has been serving the beautiful people of Jamaica since 2013,” Barbosa told The Gleaner. “Jamaica was one of the many countries we helped because we know the challenges being faced due to COVID-19.”

“What we do for ourselves will die with us, but what we do for others will outlive us. The Church is the light in this world, and it is at a time like this that we must let our lights shine,” added Barbosa.

Some 550 packages were distributed to the needy in the parishes of Kingston, St Andrew, Manchester, St Catherine, and St Thomas through the United Churches, with support from the Webster Memorial Church in Kingston.

Eagles Wings Ministry, which is based in Montego Bay, was tasked with guiding the distribution of 450 care packages in western Jamaica as well as St Ann and St Mary.

“We are grateful for this partnership with the Temple of Restoration team,” Karlene Tingling, head of the outreach team at Eagles Wings Ministry, told The Gleaner. “Our strategy was to use churches in communities as distribution points because their knowledge of the people they serve would help us to ensure that those in dire need are the ones who benefit. We are pleased that that strategy worked.”

The Temple of Restoration Ministries has locations in the United States, South Africa, and Lesotho.