Devon DickON THURSDAY, January 2, 2003, The Gleaner front page had a large picture from a New Year's Eve Ball at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel followed by a story on page A3. On page A3, there was a much smaller story about Watch Night services with no picture. This coverage is indicative of a bias against Watch Night services.
The truth is that Watch Night services, along with Christmas Sunday, New Year's Sunday and Easter Sunday services, tend to have the best attendances in the Christian Calendar year. So, if on the average, 100 persons attended the services in 7,000 churches then approximately 700,000 persons would have attended Watch Night services. Yet in that issue of the newspaper, there were 11 pictures of New Year's Eve Balls compared to one, of a Watch Night Service - the smallest of all the pictures covering New Year Eve's activities. Among the 11 were two pictures each from Terra Nova & Sunset Beach, one each from Kenny Benjamin's residence, Caribbean Showplace and the Hilton Hotel etc. This would give the impression that 11 times more persons attended the balls than church or that the activities of the balls were more exciting or more relevant or more news worthy than the occurrences in the church.
The truth is that the various Watch Night services would have had a variety of activities including singing, clapping, dancing, drama, baptism, musical selection, choir and solo pieces, testimony, kissing, hugging, eating, drinking, prayers and sermons.
But why should there be this bias against well-attended free church services compared to New Year's Ball that cost up to $5,000? It is apparent that the media have a liking for expensive affairs. It is a glorification of materialism and a failure to discern the importance of the spiritual. It is also a disregard for the activities of the majority at the expense of the minority.
The Gleaner was not the only arm of the traditional media that showed bias against Watch Night services. TVJ, which covered only a Ball, is also culpable for this bias. Why, with available technology did they not have a simulcast, one from a Watch Night Service and one from a Ball?
It could be argued that LOVE TV, which had a live broadcast from Church on the Rock, was biased in that it did not cover a New Year's Eve Ball. However, LOVE TV does not have the facility to be having broadcasts from two different locations at the same time and since it caters to a niche audience it had to go for a church.
Based on the eschewed reporting in the traditional media, the media-dependent public was denied the benefits of Watch Night services. At Watch Night Services persons shared what God had done for them during the year and gave thanks for their experiences and blessings. After being inspired through singing, dancing and clapping, they reflected on life and their purpose in life. They were also challenged from the Word of God to make resolutions that were specific, achievable, challenging and measurable. Thousands examined their lives and where they were dissatisfied, feeling that they could do more or be more, they made a deeper level of commitment to follow Christ, willing to make a difference in their lives and the country.
In making an unconditional resolve to be completely loyal to God, they were cognisant that it would include hardships, rejection and facing the powers of evil. At the end, tens of thousands sought God's help and guidance as they face the opportunities and challenges of the New Year: And they left the place of worship, rejoicing.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
