An Unusual Opportunity and Approach to Missions

In the typical mission set-up, the organization
• identifies a particular need or set of needs,
• raises funding,
• establishes a mission base,
• and provides services to meet the need(s).

Usually, significant resources are required for property and facilities. On-going resources are necessary to maintain the facilities and staff the programs. Resources are also needed to provide the supplies for the programs.

The entire missional success is dependent upon the organization. It must establish long-term funding and support.

The Jamaica Project is anything but typical.

Ian Hayles, a Member of Parliament is designated Faith-Based Initiative coordinator for Parliament. A Member of Parliament is the equivalent of an American Senator.

Ian Hayles has initiated conversations surrounding the Jamaica Project. Parliament has identified certain properties to be donated to the local communities. These properties include both the land and buildings or remnants thereof.

The communities must use this property for the development of Community Centers. The ReGenesis Project was selected to assist communities in this development. This means that the initial investment for property in the Jamaica Project is significantly reduced.

ReGenisis Enters

Enter the ReGenesis Jamaican Project. Not as a criticism of the government, as you will soon see. First, it determined on what someone might do. So it developed its

Purpose

To develop a cooperative ministry
• with the Jamaican government
• local communities, and
• local businesses
to provide community centers in the more impoverished areas of the country.

These community centers could provide
• a community gathering place
• job training and certification facilities
• facilities for after-school programs
• feeding programs
• libraries
• computer labs; and
• recreational areas
with a focus on meeting the needs of the children and youth.

What a task it would be to fulfill this purpose!

Yet, such a program was sorely needed.

A tour of the region around Negril provided a startling social condition. This region is where the project initially will focus. The tour revealed a visual witness to the disparity between the haves and the have-nots.

On one side are the exclusive resorts. There are places like Beaches and Sandals, and Grand Lido. They keep their rich clientele “protected” within the confines of a seductive environment.

On the other side are the average wage earners. They live in shacks, take motorcycle taxis and over-crowded buses to underpaying jobs. They scrounge sufficient food to support their families.

As noted, schools are over-crowded, under-funded, and technically limited. Libraries are a desperate need. Computer access is a desperate need. After-school programs and feeding centers are a desperate need. Without such support the cycle will continue once again with the new generation.