Growth & Jobs | 'Jesus talked to more businessmen than ordinary people'

In addition to preaching the gospel of healing and salvation, Reverend Dwight Fletcher, senior pastor at the Transformed Life Church (TLC), believes the Church has a role to play in aiding business people unleash their potential, in addition to improving the economic development of the country.

As such, the church recently hosted their second annual bazaar which had close to 20 artisans displaying products and gift items ranging from jewellery, food, art and literature to graphics.

"As a church, what we have decided is that we are a full gospel church, so we want to touch every aspect of the human being. We are not only preaching about salvation and healing, but we are preaching about everything. One of the areas that we sometimes don't talk about too much is just how do we speak to business people and encourage them, so this (bazaar) is a part of that," the pastor told The Gleaner.

"Jesus is interested in every area of our lives. As a matter of fact, Jesus used more business analogies and spoke more to the businessman than he did to the ordinary man in the scriptures. So as part of our mandate, that's what we are attempting to do," he continued.

Fletcher said that as a church, they were resolute in ensuring that avenues are created which will ensure that people flourish spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially.

"We realise that some people are small business owners who are barely getting started, and as such they don't have a lot of resources to venture outside. So the church needs to now come alongside them to help them get a start. So we encourage our members to support them, especially as we approach the Christmas season."

BAZAAR COMES AT RIGHT TIME

Shemicka Senior, owner of Uneek Creations, was one such person who benefited from the Transformed Life Church's bazaar, displaying handmade gifts and personalised mugs.

"I was just tired of seeing plain mugs and I know people love to see their names on things, so why not a mug? I started doing it, and my friends would encourage me to do it on a wider scale," she said.

"This (bazaar) couldn't have come at a better time, especially with the Christmas season coming up. These cups would be a good pixie gift. Any special occasion, we cater to that," she said.

Alexander Linton, founder of Ink Evolution, a hydrographic company, also had his products on display, allowing persons to see his graphic patterns.

"Business has always been something that excites me. This is something that I have always loved to do, so I am happy that I am getting the chance to express it with such a versatile product," he said.

"There are so many different applications for it that I am not limited to one industry."