Free Town church hosts children’s treat

The Free Town Miracle Tabernacle Church of God of Prophesy's 13-year-old charity continues to bring joy to the lives of many children in several communities in Clarendon and its surroundings, including Free Town, Longville Park, Sandy Bay, Rose Hall, Old Harbour, and many others.

Pastor Zebula Aiken said it was important to host the children's treat because sometimes children, especially those whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts, feel left out at this time of the year. "We see the need to facilitate these children and let the day be dedicated to them because it's a time of giving. We take very good care in allowing the children of this church and surrounding communities to know they are loved and that we care for them," she told Family & Religion.

The day's activities included rides, food, and drinks, gifts, games, and lots of other fun-filled kid-centred activities geared at making the day worthwhile for the children.

"In the beginning we started very small, but we have grown tremendously to the point where we are now accommodating approximately 200 children," she said of the event.

"The scripture says 'suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for such is the Kingdom of God'. As a church, we ensure we look out for the children because I believe the children are very important and they are the generation of tomorrow. As adults, we need to set the examples for them to follow, so we are gearing them in the right direction so that when we are gone, they will be able to take over."

Each year, more and more children turn up to partake in the day's merry making, and the parents also come out and spend the day and they, too, get food and refreshments.

"For next year, we are looking forward to making the treat even bigger and better so we can look after more children. We are hoping to reach the shut-in children, and, hopefully, invite more churches to participate and fellowship with us," said Aiken.

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