Combining technology and religion
THE WESTERN St Mary Seventh-day Adventist Youth Federation is a youth-focused, religious organisation comprising around 1,200 members aged 35 years old and under from 25 churches in and around the townships of Guys Hill, Oracabessa, and Port Maria.
Although vice-president Omar Marston and secretary Carla Jackson-Brown believe that the federation’s members represent the future, they claim that church leaders are often reluctant to embrace the new technology and ideas that will engage and attract young members.
Generally, in all traditional religions, there appears to be a sizable schism between young people and the elder generation, but Jackson-Brown believes church leaders could do more to bridge the gap.
PURPOSE IN LIFE
She told Family and Religion: “Instead of looking at youths as people who are prone to sin and err, they should try to see them as God’s chosen beings from the aspect that each person is created for a special purpose.
“Leaders of today tend to think of young people as ‘vipers’ who are going to sin anyway, so they leave them, but I believe each person has a special gift or talent, and once they are given a chance, they can succeed. As leaders, we ought to be there for everyone.”
Marston agrees: “We have done, and are doing, a lot, but there is more the leadership of the Church, including me, can do. We can improve what we have and use dynamic young leaders to implement new ideas. Every day, we should be finding new ways and platforms to engage young people and keep them grounded in the Church.”
Jackson-Brown insists that the church must broaden its appeal by adopting a more tech-friendly approach to the- ology. She said: “When we have camp, the church leaders usually organise everything, but earlier this year, some of us were selected to plan a programme for the youths.
“It was very successful because we were able to use technology in a way that was refreshing and more enriching in terms of a spiritual experience. Technology can be used to strengthen people because we used WhatsApp to have regular chats and uplift each other throughout the week.”
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Same-sex marriage is another issue affecting traditional religions. Last week, the citizens of Ireland, a Christian country where more than 70 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic, voted to give homosexuals the right to marry.
While the topic stirred up a huge amount of international religious debate, Marston insists a discussion, or ballot on the issue, at his church in Oracabessa, would have returned a wholly unanimous result.
He explained: “The world is changing and more people are taking on alternative lifestyles, but the scripture says, and I guarantee, there will always be a remnant – some people who stand up for what’s right.
“Come what may, and despite what happens, there will always be a group of people who stand up and say, ‘A marriage should be between one man and one woman’.
“But instead of saying ‘Let’s kill them all,’ I would say, ‘These people are sinning. We need to pray for and encourage them out of that lifestyle. I can safely say that is what our church practises.
“Our church will not marry two people of the same sex, but we will not condemn them because the Lord hates the sin, not the sinner. When they get to know Christ, their behaviour and lifestyle will change, and the Lord will forgive them.” HILLSIDE, Manchester HEY SAY there is at least one feeling that everyone can attest to and that is pain, though it comes in many degrees. When its deliverance is experienced, everything changes for the better.
Shudian Lewis grew up in the Church but ‘faltered along the way’ and gradually left church completely. It took eye-opening situations and the voice of the Lord to help her back on to the path of the straight and narrow. She recounts her journey. “In 2002, my first major experience was when I was diagnosed with lupus. I remember having some rashes on my skin and I visited the dermatologist. I did a blood test and I got some treatment. She told me to come back if it didn’t clear up, but it did, so I didn’t go back. A year later, I got pregnant with my daughter, and when I delivered her, I realised some sore like rashes [were] on her skin, I eventually brought her to the same dermatologist I went to. When she pulled my file, the results of the blood test I didn’t receive showed I had lupus, and that is what caused my daughter’s skin to be like that.”
With much fright and cause for concern Lewis decided to seek more information about the condition.
INCURABLE ILLNESS
“My doctor told me about the rashes and the fact that it was incurable, but when I researched, I saw that the condition could cause harm to my organs and bring about severe pains. I was happy that with treatment, my daughter’s skin cleared up, but my own condition tested my faith over the years – from joint pains to sores all over my face, nosebleeds and even hair loss.”
Lewis believes the challenges came because it was a sign she needed to return to the fold.
“A couple years passed and I realised that I was pregnant. I was told I shouldn’t have another child. So I went to a specialist who told me he would work with me during my pregnancy. Everything was OK up to the delivery.”
She continued, “I went into the hospital, and while in the labour room, I heard the doctors saying they had to get the baby out of me within 24 hours. Twenty-four hours passed, and that didn’t happen. I was weak. I received numerous injections and medication and was told to remain in one position. I was so weak, I had a nurse in the bed with me encouraging me to push because