Elder Noel Jumpp
Donna-Marie Rowe, Contributor
This is the final of a two-part series that takes a look inside tent crusades that are a popular feature on the Christian calendar.
CHURCH LEADERS are convinced that tent crusades are one of the most successful methods of evangelism in Jamaica.
During the research for this feature, The Sunday Gleaner found a Web site which expresses the mission of a family residing overseas, to mobilise forces, to facilitate the establishment of new churches throughout Jamaica in 12 towns "that have no Christian church in them."
The Web site asserts that one of the most successful methods of evangelism in Jamaica is the tent crusade. "The crusade", it says, "assists in forming a nucleus for the new congregation."
Speaking of its own history on its Web site, the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), say, "In just a century and a half the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has grown from a handful of individuals, who carefully studied the Bible in their search for truth, to a world-wide community of over eight million members and millions of others who regard the Adventist Church their spiritual home.
Doctrinally, Seventh Day Adventists are heirs of the interfaith Millerite movement of the 1840s. Although the name "Seventh Day Adventist" was chosen in 1860, the denomination was not officially organised until May 21, 1863, when the movement included some 125 churches and 3,500 members."
"Between 1831 and 1844," the history continues, "William Miller - a Baptist preacher and former army captain in the War of 1812 - launched the 'great second advent awakening' which eventually spread throughout most of the Christian world. Based on his study of the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Miller calculated that Jesus would return to earth between 1843 and 1844. Others within the movement calculated a specific date of October 22, 1844. When Jesus did not appear, Miller's followers experienced what became to be called 'The Great Disappointment'.
Most of the thousands, who had joined the movement, left it deeply disillusioned. A few, however, went back to their Bibles to find why they had been disappointed. Soon they concluded that the October 22 date had indeed been correct. They became convinced that the Bible prophecy predicted not that Jesus would return to earth in 1844, but that He would begin at that time a special ministry in heaven for His followers. They still looked for Jesus to come soon, however, as do Seventh Day Adventists today.
From this small group who refused to give up after the "great disappointment", arose several leaders who built the foundation of what would become the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Standing out among these leaders were a young couple - James and Ellen G. White - and a retired sea captain named Joseph Bates.
This small nucleus of "Adventists" began to grow - mainly in the New England states of America, where Miller's movement had begun."
Today, the Adventists are among those denominations that have utilised tent crusades in their outreach.
ADVENTIST CRUSADE
From November 3 to 30, the Andrews Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church targeted Andrews Pen, St. Andrew, as the community to erect a tent over a four-week period. But before going into the community, the assembly organised themselves to meet the physical needs of the community.
Explaining that the methods of crusading have had to change with time, Elder Noel Jumpp, the preacher for the recently concluded SDA crusade in Andrews Pen, says that there are many persons working in the effort. "There are teams from the church that are organised into departments. There is a department for family life, health and temperance, and young people's team which is known as Adventist Youth (AY)," he said, adding that each department would spearhead the programme and would be ministering.
Having preached at a number of crusades since 1994, Elder Jumpp says that tent crusades have had a positive impact on communities. He says the church has to be able to work with members of the community and to "try to meet them where they are."
Prior to hosting the tent crusade, members of the Andrews Memorial SDA visited the community and held outreach programmes with two health clinics. The medical and dental clinics, he points out, were manned by health professionals and friends of the Andrews Memorial SDA Church. The objective, Elder Jumpp notes, is to "reach humanity for Jesus - not only in preaching the gospel but we went into the youth club to make it stronger by interfacing with the young men."
The Elder of 12 years, observes that the issues he faced in the communities are two-fold. They are physical, where people want to survive and need jobs and where crime and drugs are affecting them. "When we talk to them, we tell them they can overcome the temptations and it is not where you are that matters but where you are going," says Elder Jumpp.
While the crusade has ended, Elder Jumpp says, "The work continues." There are a number of plans in store for the Andrews Pen community and the neighbouring Grants Pen, Essex Avenue and Oaklawn Park communities. The church is planning to hold a health fair at the New Day All Age School, and contact has already been made with the principal. "We do not just go and then leave," Elder Jumpp says.
There are also plans to deal with family life issues in a more detailed way as well as to prepare persons for the job market. During the crusade, there were lectures on health, family life, and prayer.
Elder Jumpp says he continues to do tent crusades because "I have a burden for people to be aware that there is a heaven to win and a hell to shun and Jesus will give you the strength to overcome all obstacles."
Crusades have ended for this year, but more and more denominations will be busy strategising for next year, scoping out large empty lots on which to put up tents as they reach out to humanity.
E-mail Donna-Marie Rowe at dmarowe@yahoo.com.
