Church group targets inner-city communities - Conference planned as change catalyst

Scores of pastors, church leaders and community workers have planned a four-day conference in Kingston to discuss ideas and programmes on how to bring effective change in the capital's inner-city areas.

They are expected to gather at the Christian Life Fellowship at 21A Gordon Town Road from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26 to participate in the Christian Community Development Con-ference, under the theme 'Resto-ring At-Risk Communities'.

The conference is being hosted by the Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches, in partnership with Operation Save Jamaica, and will be sponsored by Brother's Keeper International, whose core group comprises Jamaicans living abroad who want to give back to their country of birth in a way that will make a difference.

Scheduled presenters

Guest presenters will be Dr John M. Perkins, founder of the Christian Community Develop-ment Association (CCDA) of the USA, and his team, including co-founder of CCDA, Wayne Gordon. Dr Perkins is an acclaimed author and teacher on issues of Christian community development, leadership and social reconciliation.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen is scheduled to address the opening session on Thursday, June 23, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. He will be followed by Dr Perkins, who will speak on the theme 'Change Can Come'. On Friday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dr Perkins will look at such issues as 'Relocation: Positioning to Effect Transformation'; 'Reconciliation: Creating an Environment for Transformation'; 'Redistribution: Sharing Resources for Develop-ment' and 'Leadership Develop-ment: Building Indigenous Leaders'. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a session on 'Beyond Charity: Changing Mindsets, while Showing Love'.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, participants will hear from the presenter on 'Listening to the community: Addressing the true needs of communities', 'Church-based initiatives: the special role of the church', 'Holistic approach: changing hearts and social action' and 'Empowerment: equipping people for their own development'. The final session is set for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, where all participants are expected to explore the issue of 'Doing it together and doing it right'.

Perkins, a sharecropper's son who grew up in Mississippi amid dire poverty, was beaten and tortured for his civil-rights activism. But through it all, he returned good for evil, love for hate, progress for prejudice and brought hope to black and white alike. He has since committed his life to calling the Church to move beyond arm's-length charity to grass-roots relationships that bring dignity, hope and transformation.

He is the author of nine books, including Let Justice Roll Down (listed as number 14 on Christian Today's 'The Top 50 Books that have shaped Evangelicals'), Restoring At-Risk Commu-nities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right, and Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development.