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Transformed Life Church: A haven for the youth

Published:Sunday | January 13, 2019 | 12:00 AMJason Cross/Gleaner Writer
Pastor Dwight Fletcher (centre) of Transformed Life Church and his wife, Joan, greet guest speaker Reverend Cecil Quamina, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of the Open Bible, Trinidad, at the Transformed Life Church’s seventh anniversary service, held at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College, on Sunday.
A member of the Transformed Life Church dance group performs during the church’s seventh anniversary service at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College, on Sunday.
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From a congregation of roughly 70 when it just started, Transformed Life Church (TLC) in St Andrew has grown exponentially to more than 1,000 congregants in seven years, much to the delight of Pastor Dwight Fletcher and his wife, Joan, who say the secret lies in its attractiveness to young people.

"We give God praise! To start with 70 people as your main congregation and seven years later, to have 1,000 saying they are regulars at our church," Pastor Fletcher told The Gleaner on Sunday at the institution's anniversary church service and celebrations, held at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College, St Andrew.

TLC is based at the Police Officers' Club in St Andrew and has been granting assistance to deportees as well as working with youngsters in children's homes.

POWER OF MUSIC

"It has come through the Lord's hand, and the Lord is working with and through us. We have to be relevant to the young. The Lord has given us strategies to touch them, and one of the ways to do this is through music, for it speaks to the soul. Our music is contemporary. We do that on purpose.

"Right now we are involved with deportees. This is part of our outreach. What we have done is partner with a place called Open Arms, that has a shelter for them, and also City and Guilds, so they can acquire a skill. We have a number of children homes we have adopted. We integrate ourselves with youth to impact others, forming partnerships for the advancement of our country," Pastor Fletcher said.

His wife, Joan, told The Gleaner that "helping the family is something we feel very strongly about. Let's push on".

Cecil Quamina, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of the Open Bible, Trinidad and Tobago, who delivered the sermon, lauded the church for its growing membership and urged the leaders to continue to keep God at the centre.

jason.cross@gleanerjm.com