NEW BEULAH MORAVIAN CHURCH

NEW BEULAH MORAVIAN CHURCH AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

NEW BEULAH’S MOST BENEFICIAL PROJECT

 

A Mission in Progress Since 1986

 

Conceptualizers: Barbara S. Neil, 1986; John R. Williams, 1998

Renamed

 

THE MIKE TOWN SKILLS TRAINING CENTRE

(MTSTC)

 

“Patiently Pushing Persons to Success”

 

PURPOSE To find ways to resuscitate what is undoubtedly the mandate of Jesus Christ who will reward the church for its ministry to the hungry, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned, the stranger, and the thirsty. (Matthew 25: 31-46).

 

For nearly 30 years the mission of a skills training centre has been in progress.  Sometimes active, sometimes dormant, sometimes in Intensive Care Unit, but never dead. This God-planted seed lives on!

PHASES

Phase 1, 1986 - Sr. Barbara Neil

Focus: Manual Skills. Supported by, UNITAS of Jamaica.

Phase 2, 1998 – Br. John Williams

Focus: Education - Literacy, Numeracy, Hospitality, Science and the Humanities. The work outgrew the tolerance and physical capacities of the church hall. Moved to Beaumont Comprehensive School where three classrooms were offered but soon retrieved for their own purposes.

Operation halted: 2007.

Phase 3, 2008: Resuscitated by Br. John Williams

Focus: the Building of Classrooms at Mike Town. Plan submitted to the Manchester Parish Council

Members of the transformational leadership Education Committee: were Rev. Robert Patmore, Brethren .John R. Williams, Ezra Williams, Dwight Dunkley and Hermon Chambers; Sisters Myrtle Williams and Lucinda Peart.

Mission Relocated to Mike Town where the need is greatest. The Manchester Parish Council has given the church a twenty-five year lease of a lot of land in Mike Town, with the option to renew for a further twenty-five years.

This is the permanent home of the Centre.  Again UNITAS of Jamaica promised help

 

Phase 4, 2014: A Union of the Management and Education Committees, and the JOHN RUFUS WILLIAMS EDUCATION TRUST.

FOCUS: HORTICULTURE: First graduates presented today courtesy of a grant sourced from The Guinness Foundation, via Mr. Wayne Williams.

The Management Committee members are:

 

Rev. Robert Patmore                          Rev. Clarister Johnson                       

Mr. Anthony Watson                          Bro. Dwight Dunkley (Secretary)      

Sis. Myrtle Williams                            Bro. Stanley Skeene (Treasurer)                     Bro. Earl Pottinger (Chair)  Bro. Wayne Williams                          Bro. Byron Farquarson                       Mr. Mac Arthur Collins     Bro. Lloyd Mc Neil                            Mr. Damion Huslin                             Bro. Fred Foster                            Mr. Dennis Osbourne    Bro. Erwin Facey    Dr. Harold Morgan    Bro. Hermon Chambers                      Bro. York Mitchell 

  

2 members from the Mike Town Community

NOTE: Damion Huslin matriculated from the MTSTC to Mico University College; is now a trained teacher; taught in Phase 4.

The Education Committee members are: Rev. Robert Patmore, Brethren Hermon Chambers, Ezra Williams, Byron Farquharson, Wayne Williams, Damion Huslin, Norchan Brown; Sisters Lucinda Peart, Monica Tracey and  Myrtle Williams.

 

 

 

ORGANIZATIONAL ESSENTIALS

 

MISSION STATEMENT (Suggested Revised Draft)

To help school leavers acquire academic and vocational skills for marketability, self-reliance, and moral and spiritual development

.

VISION STATEMENT (Suggested Revised Draft)

The Mike Town Skills Training Centre will be a nationally recognized institution for vocational training to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ/IVQ), and the employability of underprivileged youth.

 

JUSTIFICATION (Suggested Revised Draft)

With the holistic training – educational, vocational, moral and spiritual – provided by the Mike Town Skills Training Centre, underprivileged youth would develop into responsible citizens, better prepared to build community cope in a highly competitive society.

 

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

 

The history of the thirty year old project is laudable and compares well with the First Century social ministry of the Early Church and to the work of the early Moravians in Europe, North America, Africa, and the West Indies.

 

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

 

Many achievements were reached through a cadre of dedicated, volunteer teachers,

• Herman Forrester,

• Myrtle Williams,

• John Williams,

• Ezra Williams,

• Dottie Smith, ‘

• Beryl Foster (of Nazareth),

• Barbara Neil,

• Monica  Tracey,

• Mr. Brown from Kingsland,

• Hermon Chambers,

• Joy Skeene,

•  Clarice Marshall,

• Norma Sinclair,

•  Brenda Barrett. 

• The remedial teacher at Beaumont High School was the only one remunerated for services rendered. 

The student population ranged from 94 to 150 and represented the communities of

• Brumalia

• Greenvale

• New Green

• George Reid

• Hatfield

• Comfort

• Broadleaf

• May Day

• Richmond

• Georges Valley

 

Some Notable Achievements

 

• 20 students were recommended to continue in Hospitality Skills training at the Black River Skills Training Centre

•  Astra Country Inn tutored students in Hospitality and Personality Development

• Very encouraging Jamaica Schools Certificate (JSC) results

• Damion Huslin - Mico University College graduate. Tutored the present awardees

•  Carl Brown - distinguished chef in a North Cost hotel

•  Florence Simpson - trained practical Nurse Owner/Operator, the Tender Heart Nursing Home, New Forest, Manchester.  Graduate of the Moravian Lay Ministers Academy, New Beulah premises.

 

New Beulah has initiated a mammoth, meaningful ministry which has been successfully adopted by other denominations.  This must motivate New Beulah to pursue this practical ministry for the all-inclusive development of Jamaica’s underprivileged youth.

 

Jamaica’s desert-like recession mandates that New Beulah continue this mission. It is the credit of the church that classes have been restated in the Gladys Bayley Hall. For what is the church but the healing arm of Jesus outstretched to His people? We have the plan. The building should be completed in the medium term because THE JOHN RUFUS WILLIAMS EDUCATION TRUST is serious in its efforts to help raise funds for the acceleration of the construction.

 

The harvest is ready! The labourers are many!

 

 

Lucinda Peart

March 15, 2015