•   Shadeka Haye-Campbell
•  Friday, September 16, 2022

The Women's Ministries Director of Jamaica Union Conference, Dr. Lorraine Vernal emphasized the effects of abuse and the importance of advocacy during the End it Now Women's Summit held on August 28, 2022. | PHOTO BY:  Screenshot from the WJC YouTube page

Deputy Superintendent Angella McIntosh-Gayle, commended West Jamaica Conference for joining the global appeal to end the violence now. | PHOTO BY:  Screenshot from the WJC YouTube page

Evidence of the programme's support was evident as attendees sat and engaged with the presenters. | PHOTO BY:  Screenshot from the WJC YouTube page

During the programme, Andrea Patterson, Children's Officer at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, urged parents to help put an end to child abuse. | PHOTO BY:  Screenshot from the WJC YouTube page

Mrs. Carol Smythe-James, Women's Ministries Director of West Jamaica Conference (right), and Mrs. Annette Thompson, Assistant Director (left) extended their heartfelt gratitude to all those who supported the programme. | PHOTO BY:  Screenshot from the WJC YouTube page

Scores of women gathered at the Seventh-day Adventist Conference Centre in Montego Bay on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at the EnditNow Women’s Summit. The gathering was an appeal to the nation to end the violence against men, women, and children.

The event is part of a global campaign to increase understanding of and support for the cessation of violence. The end-it-now” campaign aims to mobilize Seventh-day Adventists and other neighborhood organizations to join in on the effort to address this worldwide challenge.

Viewers and attendees were equipped with valuable information from different presenters throughout the day. Women’s Ministries Director of Jamaica Union Conference, Dr. Lorraine Vernal, zeroed in on abuse and advocacy.

“Abuse in its many forms is an assault on God's character and moral laws," she said. “When power is misused and abused, God is dishonored. It is Satan's attempt to destroy the image of God in us. Our response to what's happening is to end it now”, Vernal stated.

Deputy Superintendent Angella McIntosh-Gayle, a representative from the Police High Command in St. James, also shared in the initiative and took the opportunity to commend the West Jamaica Conference for its role in social change.

"The Jamaica Constabulary Force, St. James Division affirms the continued excellent performance of this conference and the role it plays in the growth and development of all communities. The outstanding service of this Christian community must be lauded."

Children's Officer at CPFSA and Area Coordinator for Mentorship and Ambassadors, Andrea Patterson made key points on the different forms of child abuse and parenting styles.

"Parenting is a learning process and sometimes we have to unlearn some things and start afresh," said Patterson.

"In our culture, we have a tendency to tell our children that I am beating you because I love you. This should not be said as it trains the child at an early age to have a correlation with beating and love. We have to do our best not to blur the lines of discipline and abuse our children."

Mrs. Carol Smythe-James, Women’s Ministries Director of West Jamaica Conference, and Mrs. Annette Thompson, Assistant Director, and their team, invested a great deal of effort in executing a programme of this nature to help spread awareness and advocate for victims. In a joint statement, they extended their gratitude.

"We give God thanks for what he has allowed us to accomplish. We give thanks to all the people who lent their support and helped us to make this programme a success," she added.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church affirms the dignity and worth of each human being and decries every single type of abuse and family violence.