WHITE MARL, ST. CATHERINE — September 2, 2026 — With growing concern about the need for greater male involvement in the life and mission of the church, the Windsor Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church in White Marl, St. Catherine, hosted a weekend designed to inspire men to strengthen their faith, families, and communities.

 

Held August 28–30, 2026, the inaugural Men’s Weekend was organized under the theme “Strong Men, Strong Faith, Strong Families.” The initiative brought together men from the church, the surrounding community, and neighboring congregations for a weekend of worship, fellowship, prayer, mentorship, and health awareness.

 

A Call to Strong, Faithful Men

 

The weekend began on Friday evening with a Vesper service and continued throughout the weekend with activities focused on spiritual growth and holistic well-being.

 

During the  Prayer Breakfast, guest speaker, Pastor Nevail Barrett, president of the Central Jamaica Conference, challenged men to stand firmly for their convictions and embrace their responsibility as spiritual leaders in their homes, churches, and communities.

 

“Strong men, you got to have backbone and substance. Strong men of faith, you got to believe in the God that you serve, our society needs you” Barrett told the gathering.

 

Dr. Roy Dennis, Family Life Ministries Director for the Jamaica Union, also addressed the importance of men mentoring men and shared practical guidance on how men can intentionally support, encourage, and develop one another.

 

“Men need structure and organization too, hence positive male leadership help to mentor and foster spiritual growth, Dennis said.

 

Churches Collaborate in Worship

 

The weekend was further strengthened by the participation of the Men’s Departments of Newland SDA Church and Tent City SDA Church.

 

The Sabbath celebration featured a special Divine Service hosted by Newland SDA Church. Pastor Desmond Robinson, Chaplain and Director of Chaplaincy Services at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), served as the Divine Service speaker.

 

Tent City SDA Church led an engaging Adventist Youth (AY) programme later in the day, followed by a Vesper service, bringing the Sabbath activities to a close.

 

The Women’s Department of Windsor Heights also played an important role throughout the weekend, providing catering and supporting the various programme activities.

 

Building on the Momentum

 

According to Norris Powell  First Elder of Windsor Heights and one of the principal organizers, the weekend was born out of a desire to address the need for greater engagement among men in the church and community.

 

“The weekend was an intentional effort to create an environment where men could connect with one another, deepen their relationship with God, and recognize their responsibility to their families and communities,” he said.

 

Pastor Joseph Francis, district pastor, helped expand the initiative from a local church programme into a district-supported event.

 

Expressing gratitude to the individuals, departments, churches, and leaders who supported the initiative, Francis said he is looking forward to planning another Men’s Weekend next year.

 

Prayer, Health and Community Impact

 

Prayer was also central to the weekend’s emphasis on strengthening men. A special prayer session was held for the men in the church and the wider community, with prayers focused on their spiritual lives, families, and responsibilities.

 

Following the prayer session, the women of the church served breakfast to the participants.

 

The outreach component continued with free health checks for men and other members of the community. More than 15 men from the surrounding community were positively impacted by the initiative.

 

One gentleman who participated in the activities described the experience as a good one and expressed his intention to return to church more often.

 

The response, organizers said, demonstrated the potential for men-focused initiatives to create meaningful connections between the church and the wider community.