Paula Wong and Bishop Neil Tiedemann

In 2008, Mind & Spirit profiled a number of individuals and ministries. The following are edited excerpts from some of the stories published during the year.

"I have to be very careful that I don't cross that line and become a lawmaker instead of a life-presenter. We, as ministers of the gospel, must first of all make sure first that the person comes to know Jesus Christ, and then we can enable them to fix what was. I am not condoning those who are hiding things that should be paid for, but the Word of God says, 'With God', not with man, 'the past is forgotten'.

- Rev Norman Lewin, pastor of Kingdom Builders Church of the Open Bible in Spanish Town on his ministry to former gunmen.

Church connects with gunmen (Part 2) - Saturday, March 29

Dawn Bennett and Dr Las Newman

"I see myself trying to build the Church and God's kingdom in very similar ways to what I tried to do as a politician, you know, help the poor, try your best to feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.

Instead of getting votes, I prefer to win couple souls, going house to house and win some souls instead of getting votes," he said.

Francis Tulloch, Roman Catholic acolyte and former Cabinet minister.

The faith of Francis Tulloch - Saturday, March 15

"The problem is that in Jamaica and in many parts of the world, including the United States, people have been sacramentalised, but not evangelised."

Most Rev Charles Dufour, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Montego Bay.

Dufour on evangelisation drive - Saturday April 19

Rev Norman Lewin and Francis Tulloch

"What we try to do is teach the Scriptures in a positive way. So, we make it a point not to be critical of other religious leaders and groups. And where we do videos, we try to let spokespersons for these other religions describe what that particular religion is all about. We just feel it is just not our position to attack other religious groups. We just speak positively about what we feel the Scriptures and Christ have to offer. We try to do so respectfully. We are trying to extend the reach of the Church. We are not trying to do the work of the Church," he said.

Mart De Haan, president of the Radio Bible Class.

RBC bosses pleased with Jamaica - Saturday November 1

"The Caribbean Church needs to be a little more understanding of bisexuality. They need to gain knowledge to know how to deal with bisexuality in the Church. The churches in the United States are pretty open in dealing with bisexuality among members.

The Church is going to have to confront the issues and create a relaxed environment for people to feel comfortable enough to open up and share in confidential settings, and be able to get answers. The Church has not known how to give answers to this type of issue and sexual brokenness in general. The Church has not known how to handle anything that has to do with homosexuality. Churches should set up counselling teams that are qualified to deal with issues related to homosexuality."

Lecei Wright, author of Man's Best Kept Secret In The Church: On the Down-low, Very Down-low.

Rising beyond down-low - Saturday, May 17

"We are looking forward to doing things that will get persons to accept Christ and then to decide that the family of African Methodism is where they can grow.

"While sitting at her desk, she said: "Lord if you will place me among people who will appreciate me for who I am, I will do whatever you want me to do." Then, she said: " I had no idea He was talking ministry."

Rev Sarah Frances Davis, Bishop of the 6th District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

AME church gets new bishop - Saturday, September 6

Kirk Davis and Lecei Wright

"I have developed a good sense of the strategic role that Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST) plays in the evangelical constituency - serving the needs of the Church. CGST has graduated over 400 students since its inception. The second reason I accepted it is that there is a good team in place and I am convinced that we can work together. I would not have accepted it if I were not convinced that there is a good team in place ... I look forward to working with the team ... I am not a theologian. I am a historian. I come into the world of theology very carefully - with a historical perspective. So, I agree that in terms of the academic menu, I might be able to make some contributions to the development of theological education."

Dr Las Newman, president of the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology

Bishop Charles Dufour and Mart De Haan

Las takes charge - Saturday, November 8

"If everybody is converting 300 and 400, why is our birthrate like that, and why is our murder rate like that? We need to be realistic. I am saying let us acknowledge where we are and say: 'How, together, can we move from where we are?' ... We need more action and a change of heart, not more Bible-teaching. If you look at the statement of faith at a lot of the churches, we have it right. We have everything on paper right. But, because we have everything on paper right we make the assumption that all is well. All is not well when you look at our society."

Paula Wong of Paula Wong Harvest Ministries.

A church transformation consultancy - Saturday, September 13

One of the things is that we live in a world that is more and more non-religious. It is becoming more secular. So one of the challenges we have as a diocese is what we call evangelisation. That is preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and God's love for people ... I have found that the Jamaican people are very religious. At the recent graduation dinner of the Catholic College of Mandeville, people were able to get up and talk about 'I did not think I would be able to make it, but God helped me, God strengthened me.' They were able to quote Scripture and break into song. And, people were able to clap and join in.

The Most Rev Neil Tiedemann, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Mandeville.

The listening bishop - Saturday October 11

"I get to realise that the Christian artistes fight against one another too. Me can tell you, man! We need to come together and work together. We need to try and get the word out there to the people them. Most of the people on the secular side show more love than the Christian."

- Kirk Davis, gospel singer.

Kirk Davis turns to Christ - Saturday, November 15

"But the evidence today especially in Jamaica is that historical, cultural and in our social upbringing, we have raised generations of weak-willed men, men with a defective ego, who have become disoriented, gender confused, feminised and often subjugated by so-called strong women.

"It must be noted that the level, extent and nature of the dysfunctionality of our males are dependent on the nature of their socio-cultural orientation, and the conscious efforts made to compensate and counteract these elements destructive to the male ego. God still pursues men and restores them from the inside out .... A restored male ego begins with refocusing the soul to become a new man in Christ with a restored relationship to his Father Creator, a faithful companion to the female of the species, and to assume God's original intention for his life as steward of God's creation environment".

Bishop of C.B. Peter Morgan, of Kingston City Church.

Redeeming the male ego - Saturday, October 4

"I have never thought of going secular at all. I believe that drama is perhaps the most effective way to spread the gospel. You can invite someone to a play and they will come. But you invite them to church, and they will sometimes think twice."

Dawn Bennett, playwright, actress, producer.

Christian theatre is alive - Saturday, May 24

The stadium prayer rally was big news. It reached the ears of Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, was in a nearby town to conduct an assault on the LRA. He invited Rev Julius Oyet of Life Line Ministries and other church leaders to visit with him. Rev Oyet and company, outlined to the president in the presence of his top-brass military leaders, the nation's history of spiritual bondage, idolatry and witchcraft and pointed out that these forces were protecting Kony and the LRA. The president asked what must then be done. Oyet told him, that there was a number consecrated to the devil, established in northern Uganda where Kony went periodically to replenish his occultic powers. These, he told the president, must be destroyed and that area consecrated to the Lord.

The president ordered that the church leaders, along with a band of prayer warriors, be escorted to the sites for them to be destroyed. This was done.

How a stronghold fell -Saturday, January 12

Barrington Laing and Rev Fitzroy J. Thomas

"We minister the word. We want to see what else we can do in terms of social outreach. But, when we look at the Jamaican landscape, we will have to find a way to do social outreach. In the past, we have had inner-city youth camps. What we did then was to bring the youths from the inner city, where they could have fun, play and be taught the Word of God. And, we pass on some positive values. We have had to curtail that because of funding. Lincoln will not support that social outreach with their funds. So, we have to generate the funds for that. Right now, the board is looking at a strategic plan to guide the way forward," Laing said.

Rev Barrington Laing, managing director Back to the Bible (Caribbean).

Back to the Bible Jamaica: 50 years of ministry - Saturday, November 29

"One of my basic philosophies is that I am to bloom wherever I am planted. Wherever I am, I do my best. I love people. I love God. I believe in excellence. I believe in getting the job done. I believe if people are sold out on a vision, they will give their fulsome support," said Pastor Thomas in an interview at the Gleaner's North Street head office in Kingston.

Interview with Rev Fitzroy Thomas, president of Jamaica Evangelistic Mission.

JEM has a new leader - Saturday, January 26

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