MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA — The West Jamaica Conference has launched Operation Family First, a strategic evangelism initiative designed to move beyond traditional Tent and Church Campaigns and focus on personal, family-centered witnessing. Originally launched in September 2025, the program is set to intensify throughout the first quarter of 2026.
Pastor Donovan Williams, Vice President of the West Jamaica Conference, expressed that, “The initiative operates under the theological foundation of Joshua 2:13, echoing Rahab’s plea to spare the lives of her father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Leadership has emphasized that this is not a program for a select few but a mandate for every level of the organization. Involvement is required from administrators, directors, pastors, conference workers, elders, every department and church member.”
He continued sharing that, “The primary goal is for each participant, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to lead at least one non-Adventist family member to Christ in baptism each quarter. Shifting away from large-scale public meetings."
Operation Family First prioritizes four key pillars to reach the community:
- 1. Prayer: Constant intercession for the lost
- 2. Bible Study: Direct engagement with the Word of God
- 3. Social Intervention: Meeting the practical needs of the community
- 4. The Use of Technology: Leveraging digital tools to share the gospel
Drawing heavily from the biblical narrative of Jonah, the conference emphasizes that God’s mission is urgent because souls are at stake. The initiative reminds members that while they may try to avoid the call, they cannot escape the responsibility of the mission.
"The work of Godin this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9)
The conference highlights that delayed obedience often affects others, just as Jonah’s flight endangered those on his ship. Operation Family First serves as a call to immediate action, fueled by the same compassion Christ felt for those who were like "sheep without a shepherd.”