Mark Dawes, Religion Editor
Rev. Herro Blair Jr with wife Avriel, son Matthew-Ethan, and daughter Matthea Jovita. - Contributed
Transformation. That is what the Rev Herro Blair Jr is about as he steers Jamaica Youth for Christ into the future. He took office last January after a distinguished career in ministry in the Cayman Islands. There, he quickly became a national figure - even an icon as he distinguished himself in youth ministry.
For Blair, "Transformation is a change in a mind and mindset. It is an embrace of hope and the pursuit of discipline." He believes that such a mindset can infect the whole population and cause the society to become more gentle and righteous. Accordingly, he promised to knock on the doors of corporate Jamaica and churches to promote an agenda for national transformation through investment in the country's youth.
A graduate of Meadowbrook High School in St Andrew, Blair served in the Cayman Islands as youth pastor, pastor, sports anchor for a television station, prison chaplain and leader of youth-related organisations. He also ran unsuccessfully as an independent in the last general election held in the Cayman Islands.
Accomplishments
His résumé of accomplishments and honours from that British territory is long.
Among the institutions he co-founded was the Cayman Islands Christian Youth Workers Association. This umbrella organisation, which targeted youth, brought various organisations and ministries working with youth together and aligned them to a common vision. Out of this organisation was birthed an entity called Big House - a cultural forum where young people could express themselves and hear the Bible taught in creative ways. Blair chaired the Big House ministry for three years, which had an average attendance of 1,000 young persons each month. Cayman Islands has a population of 30,000.
Blair was always passionate about ministering to young people on the fringes of society. This passion drove him and his wife to take into their home, occasionally, young people who were on drugs, or errant juveniles whom the court released to their care.
At one point he moved his family out of their house and took up residence in a foster home, so that he and his wife could give parental supervision to nine of that country's youngsters. He tells stories of the struggles encountered in trying to tame the children who were running around with his two offspring and who were abusive to his wife at times. He looks back with pride as many of these youngsters have embraced the Christian faith and have had their lives turned around. Most of these former foster children are making a positive contribution, to Caymanian society, he said.
Listening to the lord
Rev Herro Blair Jr in a joyful mood. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
By the end of 2007, it became clear to Blair that the Lord wanted him back in Jamaica. Accordingly, he returned after 15 years in the Cayman Islands, with no idea how he was going to earn a living.
He explained: "It just got to the point where I heard the Lord say it is time to go back and be a part of transforming Jamaica. So my responsibility as far as being in Jamaica is to be part of the process of transforming Jamaica. Youth For Christ just happened. I was coming back to Jamaica before I even thought of Jamaica Youth For Christ. I was coming back to probably to start a movement called Transform Jamaica. Somehow the door opened and I had talks with Jamaica Youth For Christ (JYFC) and I realised that a lot of what they had and a lot of what I wanted to do meshed. I wanted to see Jamaica restored with discipline; character for young people. JYFC has character clubs in schools. I wanted to be able to get to the minds of young people through radio, television and print and JYFC already has a name that can enable me to get to some of those places ... I aim to get back to young people and transform minds. To allow young people to see that this is a wonderful country. I am asking young people to believe in Jamaica if they love Jamaica and to work together to make this the most wonderful country on the face of the Earth."
As the new national director of JYFC, Blair succeeds Dr Donovan Thomas, who had served in that role since 1993.
He comes to his new post with a strong background in media. A graduate of Oral Roberts University, he holds a bachelor's degree in communication. He is a writer, producer and director.
Media exposure
His media exposure includes producing 'Something More', the weekly television programme of his father, Bishop Herro Blair, and the Deliverance Evangelistic Association. This he did between 1983 and 1992. Also, between 1990 and 1992, he did editing at the now defunct television station, the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. His credits include editing the youth discussion television programme 'Rappin', and the community profile programme 'Hill and Gully Ride'.
Herro Blair Jr is the eldest of four sons born to Bishop Herro Blair and his wife, Rev Alma Blair.
In his earlier years, he was not himself particularly active in the work of Jamaica Youth For Christ. But he acknowledges that the organisation has shaped thousands of lives of Jamaicans living here and overseas. One of his top priorities is to tap into this 'alumni' to get them to give back to the organisation. He wants them to support the organisation with their time, talent and finances. He is keen on getting the 'alumni' involved in mentoring relationships with the present generation of YFCers.
But perhaps his biggest objective is forging partnerships with other parachurch organisations, churches the state and private sector. Some of this began on the watch of his predecessor, whom he lauds for his sterling service to the organisation. He wants to build on that legacy.
Youth work
"Youth For Christ has been a big entity in the spiritual life of Jamaica over the years. A lot of people I meet have been involved in the past. My goal, of course, is now to get YFC back at the forefront of youth work in Jamaica where people believe in what we are about. We all know of Tyler Perry's dramas. I want to have YFC dramas at that level, both going into school and having dramas ready for the media. I want to have short dramas and long dramas - that can talk to our people without really preaching to them," Blair told The Gleaner.
For the new YFC national director, developing leaders and promoting cross-cultural evangelism is high on his agenda.
"I believe in developing leaders. I believe in mentorship. Most of my work has been one-on-one or one-and-small groups. And that's where the greatest success has been," Blair said.
He disclosed that five YFCers will be going to South Africa in September for two weeks of intensive leadership training. Thereafter, they will undergo two years of training and mentoring through Youth For Christ International. In addition, they will also be trained in leadership and theology through Youth For Christ University which is online.
In terms of cross-cultural evangelism, JYFC is forging a relationship with various missions organisations such as Youth With a Mission (YWAM) to collaborate on sending youngsters overseas to spread the Christian gospel.
There are plans, he said, for JYFC to send teams to on short-term missions trips to Cayman, Haiti, and St Vincent.
He said, too, that the JYFC is in talks with an Ireland-based group to send a team (which would include a choir) there, as well as to various Dutch-speaking territories.
Ongoing ministries
Blair speaks highly of ongoing ministries of his organisation. He reported that at least 350 persons have become born-again Christians since the start of the year. These persons have been referred to churches for follow-up. He asked "Who is benefiting from what we are doing? It is the church! I want to see if I can get every church in Jamaica to give us $1,000 a month. That can help to support some of our volunteers."
Jamaica Youth for Christ, like many faith-based organisations, depend heavily on the freewill gifts that come from the Christian community and donations that come from lending agencies. Financing the work of JYFC has always been a challenge. But Blair has a ready-made response to that challenge. He preaches faith in God to supply the resources needed by the organisation. So his strategy will be faith-raising for fund-raising.
In Cayman, he received more in a month than what he will be getting in a year at JYFC. But it was the call of God and not money that was his motivation to return to Jamaica.
In the Cayman Islands, he was known by his pet name, 'Steve'. It was a strategy to escape being under the shadow of his enormously influential and popular father. In fact, Herro Blair Jr was born in the Cayman Islands during the time when his parents were serving as missionaries there. He made his mark in the Cayman Islands to the extent that when his father did visit that country, he was referred to as "Steve's father".
Choosing the right name
But now that the younger Blair is back in Jamaica, he has opted to be known by his proper name, Herro Blair Jr.
"When I came back to Jamaica, I was prepared to go with 'Steve'. I prayed about it and the Lord said to me, 'the banks will take your cheques in Cayman as Steve because they know you. But no one will be able to cash a cheque for you as Steve in Jamaica'. And I have gotten cheques in the name Steve since I have been here and that has been the case. So, I have gone by my real name and it has been an asset. I think I have to respect the fact that Bishop Blair has done good service in this country and in his community and that is respected when I show up somewhere. So though I have not been here for 15 years, people, including government officials readily, welcome me because they recognise that I am Herro Blair Jr. I appreciate what has been laid down for me by my father."
His love for politics has not died, though he has no ambition at this time to become involved in representational politics in Jamaica. But he is keen to help young people understand the political clout that resides in their hands. To this end, he is leading a lobby by young people to petition radio stations to permeate the airwaves with righteous music.
Herro Blair Jr is married to Avriel, a homemaker, worship leader and a minister of the gospel. They have two children - Matthew-Ethan, 10, and Matthea Jovita,8.
EDITOR's NOTE:
Rev Herro Blair Jr will be officially inducted into the office as national director of Jamaica Youth For Christ in a service to be held at Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre, 104 Waltham Park Road, tomorrow beginning at 5 p.m.
Send feedback to mark.dawes@gleanerjm.com.
