The EBC Brotherhood

In the wider community, the brotherhood communicates Jesus to men, young men and boys, to establish a personal relationship with God through Christ. By doing this, it is fulfilling the mission of Jesus in the wider community.

THE EXCHANGE Baptist Church Brotherhood (EBCB) is a part of the Jamaica Baptist Church Brotherhood, and also a member of the Ocho Rios Circuit of Baptist Churches Brotherhood.

For more than 30 years, the brotherhood has been functioning at the Exchange Baptist Church with its purpose centred around three points, namely: to its own body, the wider community, and the church community.

In the wider community, the brotherhood communicates Jesus to men, young men and boys, to establish a personal relationship with God through Christ. By doing this, it is fulfilling the mission of Jesus in the wider community.

The EBCB is very active in the invitation of professionals to speak on current issues specifically and generally affecting men in the wider community, as well as the church community.

Three distinguish professionals are highlighted. They are:

1. Mrs Denise Shaw McKain, who gave a presentation titled ‘Conflict In the Home’.The presentation was structured in DOs and DON’Ts as follows.

• Do ask if something is wrong, express concern.

• Don’t wait for him or her to come to you, judge or blame.

SIGNS THAT YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

Your inner thoughts and feelings:

• DO YOU feel afraid of your partner much of the time, etc?

• DOES YOUR PARTNER have a bad and unpredictable temper, hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you etc?

2. Professor William Aiken of the University of the West Indies spoke on the theme‘Prostate Cancer Need Not Kill, Can Be Prevented, Can Be Cured’. He was another high-powered presenter who educated the men on the causes of prostate cancer. For example, healthy eating, including specific information on meats to avoid in order to prevent or slow the development of prostate cancer. The men were also encouraged to be consistent in doing their PSA.

3. Professor Thelma Alafia Samuels shared a presentation with the Ocho Rios Circuit of Brotherhood on ‘High Blood Pressure – The Silent Killer’. This was not only very informative and relevant, but it was also very timely. The professor spoke about risk factors that we do have control over. These are: poor diet, stress,and the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and salt.

The aforementioned presenters were very inspirational, enlightening, and informative. Many persons (church and community) learnt from those presentations, which impacted the communities tremendously.

The brotherhood also partners with other churches in the circuit at our annual man talk breakfast, where approximately 100 men and boys participate.

The EBCB gives ongoing financial support to its members, schoolchildren in the wider community, as well as the church community.

The brotherhood believes it has made a tremendous impact on the communities and will continue with the mission of God in these areas.

DEA WINSTON SCOTT