Dozens of members of the disabilities community in Jamaica benefited from free medical check-ups, assistive devices, and presentations on mental health, psychiatry, and ophthalmology during an Assistive and Mental Health Symposium held at the Mandeville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manchester on March 5–12, 2023.
The symposium formed part of the annual Possibility Ministries Awareness week, organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica.
“The week calls attention [of] the Adventist Church community and the wider community to this often-forgotten group of persons by the society of their rights and the need to accord them similar privileges to experience joy, happiness, liberty, and contentment,” said Pastor Adrian Cotterell, Possibility Ministries coordinator of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica.
Recent statistics show that around 200,000 Jamaicans live with a disability, but the numbers are disproportionately affected by poverty and unemployment.
A beneficiary of the week’s activities was the Mustard Seed Community: Gift of Hope, which cares for 27 physically and mentally disabled residents. The organization received a visit of their institution by a team from the church and were presented with much-needed toiletries.
“The visit to our institution was an exceptional one, and we were really happy for the donation received,” said Ann Parker-Dale, administrator of the Gift of Hope, who attended the symposium, along with other representatives, and a resident of the institution. “I have [learned] so much from this symposium that I will be able to go back to make their lives a lot better.” Parker-Dale spoke to a psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, and medical doctor and promised to enhance the delivery of care to the residents.
Michael and Louise Swinton were happy to receive a new wheelchair for their 26-year-old daughter, Britanny.
“I am happy for this wheelchair,” said Louise. “My child is not comfortable in the current one because the tires are not so good.” She said the new one is solid and pretty. “She looks good in it. I love it, and I really appreciate this one. Thank you very much, and may you continue to be a blessing to others.”
The special Possibilities Ministries week began with the planting of trees in many areas across the island, visits to infirmaries and places of care for the disabled, prayer and church services, a symposium, and a grand convention on March 12 at the Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Catherine.
“Disability has no boundaries,” exclaimed Cotterell. “It has no face or race; it has no color or creed; it has no religion or denomination. Disability may affect anyone at any time, and so I appeal to our members and the wider society to show more love, patience, and kindness to members of the disabled community.”
While most people refer to ministering to persons with a disability as Disability Ministries, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has decided on the nomenclature “Possibility Ministries,” which recognizes the potential, promises, possibilities, and life-changing and transformational outcomes that can take place when persons from the disabilities community are involved in the activities of the church and society.
The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division website.