By Nigel Coke
After months of preparation, the administrators, staff and the membership of the Adventist Church in West Indies Union welcome the huge traveling multi-language Bible being used in the Adventist Global initiative dubbed “Follow the Bible.”
The Bible, which started its two-year journey from Manila, the Philippines on October 11, 2009, will arrive on Friday December 11, 2009 at the Sir Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica at approximately 11:35 am.
Several church services and civic ceremonies are planned to celebrate the passage of the Bible through the Union, December 11 – 13, 2009.
On Friday December 11 the Bible will travel in a motorcade to Sam Shape Square in Montego Bay, in western Jamaica for a civic ceremony starting at 3:00 pm. under the theme “The Bible – Our Torch of Truth.” President of the West Jamaica Conference will deliver the main charge.
The Bible will next move to central Jamaica to the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) for church service under the theme “The Bible – The Book of Hope” starting at 9:00 am, on Saturday December 12. A dramatic presentation titled “People of Hope” will be the main highlight of the service. This will feature the characterization of the 12 tribes of Israel and the Apostles, which will be portrayed by Field and Institution leaders of West Indies Union Conference (WIU). The sermon will be presented by Pastor Glen Samuels, Secretary of WIU. Later in the afternoon at 3:00 pm, a civic ceremony will be held at the Mandeville Park, Manchester with Bible distribution and other outreach activities.
Eastern Jamaica will host the climax of the Bible’s stay in Jamaica with motorcades and processions leading to the National Arena at 2:00 pm., Sunday December 13. The afternoon activities will include presentation of Bibles and greeting by civic leaders. A dramatic presentation depicting early church era, the reformation and the Christian awakening. A charge and final admonition will be presented by Pastor Adrian Cotterell, president of East Jamaica Conference and Pastor Derek Bignall, president of WIU.
The Bible will leave Jamaica on December 14 for Venezuela. Countries visited so far by the traveling Bible include: The Philippines, The Netherlands, Denmark, India, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Romania, Russia, Norway, and the Middle Eastern nations.
The service at NCU and civic ceremony at the National Arena will be webcast live on the Union’s web site at www.wiunion.org.