Rowe
Donna-Marie Rowe, Contributor
AMERICAN televangelist, Bishop Noel Jones of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World is scheduled to be the special guest speaker at the largest gathering of Christian youth in Jamaica at National Youth Congress to be held this year at the National Arena on October 21, Heroes Day.
"We are in touch with his office and they are looking at his schedule. He has speaking engagements booked for the next three years, but we know that he will make every effort to be with us to impart a word of revival to the youth," assured Winston Rowe, chairman of the Youth Arm of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union (Apostolic), host of the National Youth Congress.
A Jamaican by birth, Bishop Jones was raised here and attended St. Jago High School in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. He acknowledged the call into Christian ministry at age 19 and now reaches persons from varied backgrounds and cultures through his "Fresh Oil" broadcast on cable television in Los Angeles, where he pastors an assembly of over 10,000, hosts a radio programme and also appears on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) with Bishop T.D. Jakes, another popular televangelist.
Bishop Jones is noted for his ministry of reconciliation, restoration and redemption and is quoted as saying, "if I could reconcile and keep peace among us," (in reference to his diverse siblings including actress, Grace Jones), "I can reconcile the Church through the power of God."
His God-given anointing to preach and teach from a psychological-theological platform, opposed to arguing philosophical-theological church issues has strengthened and encouraged the faith of people across the globe from Britain to Africa, the United States and Jamaica, having ministered at the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Convention here.
Bishop Jones's intellectual and scriptural approach, coupled with his intense oratorical style, stimulates the mind of people at all levels of life. As a result, people travel from different states to attend his teachings. Many hail his method as being practical, yet powerful, penetrating the hardest of hearts and captivating the attention of the restless. He is able to convince the confused that God can save anybody.
"We are looking forward to having Bishop Jones at our eighth annual Congress," said Courtney Golding, Congress chairman. "His ministry is timely for the youth of Jamaica today. We expect thousands of persons, not just youth, to fill the National Arena from all the parishes and all walks of life," he added.
"Their lives will be renewed," he stressed.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is articulated by Bishop Jones as the only real answer to the problems of the day. While reflecting on the idea that religion seemed to offer no real relevance to the changing climate of the times, he founded Noel Jones Ministries. The primary focus of this ministry is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through the word via media resources.
Bishop Jones is the Diocesan Bishop for the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) Incorporated in Jamaica and pastors the Greater Bethany Community Church/City of Refuge in Los Angeles.
Items on the agenda
At his instalment as pastor, the membership in Los Angeles was 3,300. "National Youth Congress 2002" promises to be a spiritual explosion. The organisers are getting together a mass choir, speakers to host mini-sessions on pension planning and other topics. New to this year's event is a children's ministry.
The last National Youth Congress was held in 2000 with speakers Bishop Leo Lewis of Alabama and Pastor Wayne Malcolm of London. The theme then was "One Aim, One Mind, One Purpose." This year's theme will focus on the principles of the Kingdom of God.
