WESTERN BUREAU:
The Family Church on the Rock, in Montego Bay, will be staging its inaugural three-day evangelical service, titled 'Great Joy in the City,' this Easter weekend (March 30 to April 1). It is hoped that this event will help to transform the hearts of the residents of St James, the nation's undisputed murder capital.
"The fact is that the city of Montego Bay, and the wider St James, has been the subject of much crime and violence, and this is something that has been going on for quite some time," said Dr Richard Keane, the pastor at The Family Church on the Rock.
"Earlier this year, I ministered out a passage in Acts Chapter 8, which spoke about the fact that when Christ was preached by Phillip and he was finished, there was great joy in the city. The Lord began to say to me that there can be great joy in this city as well, and so we as a church began to plan this project that will have special evangelical services," said Keane. "We strongly believe that if the people of this city heed the message of the Lord, there can be great joy in this city ... all things are possible through Christ."
The Good Friday session will consist of a 9 a.m. and a 5:30 p.m. service that will feature a number of musical items intended to support renowned Pastor Tessa James, who will be ministering. Saturday will include a similar format, except that Reverend Rhoan Matheson of the Fresh Bread Ministries will deliver the message during the evening service. Matheson is slated to return on Sunday to bring the curtain down on the three days of worship.