Social Security benefit checks began and the first McDonalds opened in Pasadena, California. Something else big happened in our lives and Denny and I weren't even born yet!!! The Pennsylvania Turnpike opened, it was the first multi-lane highway. Man have we put in our itineration miles and money into that road!
The federal debt in 1940 was $50.7 billion, unemployment was 14.6%. The cost of a stamp was 3 cents. Gone with the Wind won the Academy Award and the A/G came to Jamaica!
1940 brought progress to this country as well. Bauxite was discovered. The People's National Party was started in 1938 so the party was in its infancy. The population of Jamaica was 1,228,000 persons. Jamaica didn't gain its independence from England until 1962 so I am sure the Anglican Church was strong.
Another huge development took place and the A/G still cranks it out today. The Jamaican sound system was born! Loud is the word! Funny that they both came to be at the same time!
When the A/G came to Jamaica it was only 26 years old in the U.S. pretty cool to think about!
This week we participated in the 71st General Conference of the A/G. In the U.S. we call it General Council. The A/G is 71 years old. There are 82 churches and 65 pastors in the island.
Because the A/G is small, the conference is held in the church that is located at the Bible College.
The conference is full of reports, elections, old business, new business, the general pattern of most business meetings. It was scheduled for 3 days and they worked so fast and efficiently that they adjourned last night and today became free. Love those kind of surprises!
One of the wonderful things about the conference being close is that the Bible College students are required to attend and to serve in all kinds of capacities. They are learning the ropes of A/G polity and also learning how to attend to people in all kinds of situations, housing, feeding, serving. They are indeed wonderful students.
I really can't wait till the day when I hear that one of our students has just been voted in as superintendent. I will be old and up in years but I know it will thrill me just the same as if I were seeing it firsthand.
At the conference they sit in the back. The pastors who are eligible to vote sit in front of an invisible line. The students sit behind the line. Maybe in the photos you can see them in their blue and white uniforms.
A big surprise took place yesterday. The Bible College Director read his report and then proceeded to resign. Whoa, that really surprised us. I wonder if the students were ataken back. Probably not. They touch shoulders with him on a regular basis. I remember in settings when pastors would be set to resign and people in the congregation would have discernment/a premonition that something was up. Maybe everybody had the feeling but us. Who knows!!!
This photo is of Director Kincaid, his wife Claire and the third person is Margaret the director that lives on site.
So here we are 71 years after the A/G was born in Jamaica. Wouldn't it be fun to talk to a founding member? I would love that kind of history lesson.
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