About two weeks ago, we posted two articles and a video interview with Saved to Serve Ministry about how the Northern Caribbean University was hosting the annual Xaymaca festival. We also provided an email address and invited our readers to reach out to NCU’s president with their concerns. As of March 16, 2023, the Xaymaca festival has been cancelled.
The Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists prepared a statement that was read “in all churches” within its territories. The statement “respectfully but candidly” asked the NCU President to “cease the production and execution of this event or future events which could potentially create confusion in the minds of our members, students, and stakeholders regarding our true beliefs and practice as a Christian organization.”
We are grateful to the lay Seventh-day Adventists, pastors, and leaders who spoke out against this and shared their concerns on this matter. We also thank the leadership team at the Jamaica Union Conference for the speed with which this issue has been resolved. Praise God!
Below is the letter that was read in all the churches.
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Where’s page 2?
I’m not defending the Xaymaca promotional video or Xaymaca festival, but I do have to ask, how I haven’t found any other videos of this festival other than the snippets that have been posted here or on Saved to Serve. If this was such an event, and in the day and age of social media, how is it there isn’t more videos of the past event or the event of this year?
Could it be, the “promotional video” was much more hype than the actual event? In the small clip posted on this site, it didn’t appear too many were in attendance. Again, not defending, just asking. In Christ we are to be understanding rather than judgmental. The posted snippets certainly cause “judgement” rather than hearing the whole storing and understanding.
My true concern is how this “negative” discussion of Xaymaca at the school will effect the minds of the students. Sometimes the church is more focused on “legalism of the church” rather than “Relationship with Christ”. I pray that the students involved were not removed from the school, as that alone will cause deep spiritual wounds that may cause them to leave the church rather than refocus on Christ. I would hate to see even one lost from Christ because of a “promotional video” and the disciplinary actions that may have occurred toward those students.
I went to Southern Adventist University over 30 years ago, and back then the biggest offence was for a student going to a movie theater, faculty would stand outside the theater and “catch” students entering then those students were expelled. This action was well known, and it is true, it did stop most, including me, from attending movie theaters, but it certainly didn’t encourage Relationship with Christ, but rather those actions put a negative feeling toward the church and the school.
Yes, we need to focus on teaching our youth and young adult to be in the world and not of the world, but not at the expense of pushing them away from the church or Christ in the process. Isn’t it better for students to exercise expression while in a Christian University where they can be counseled rather than removing them or “punishing” them and turning them out into the world?
I think there are two sides of all stories, and I don’t think the students side is being heard as loudly as the video is being played and portrayed based on the actual event that occurred.
Honestly, how is this promotional video any worse than allowing our young adults to play in intramural sports while in school/college? How do “sports” create an environment to focus on Christ? Why are some things “accepted” in the church/schools, even though Ellen White speaks against them, while other things are not accepted?
Again, my point is not to defend, but rather to focus on what is truly important, relationship with Christ and to no lose these student along the way.
Perhaps, an interview with some of the students would be good, so their side story on the event can be heard.
God Bless.
To be perfectly honest, I watched the president’s video and was not impressed. From my past experience of a mid-level manager for a major US corporation, I would have faced demotion or even fired if I had profaned the company’s reputation by my behavior or lack of leadership and oversight. How much more serious then was the action, or lack thereof, of the administration in profaning the name of the Lord by allowing this event for 2 years now?! At the very least the president should have closed with a public prayer acknowledging their sin, repentance, and asking forgiveness. You think the administration hadn’t already approved of the event without questioning what was on the agenda? Not buying it for a minute. Besides, the institution should not be trying to live up to the “high ideals and standards of the SDA church”, but to that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The Lord never designed that our college should imitate other institutions of learning. The religious element should be the controlling power. If unbelievers choose this influence, it is well; if those who are in darkness choose to come to the light, it is as God would have it. But to relax our vigilance, and let the worldly element take the lead in order to secure students, is contrary to the will of God. The strength of our college is in keeping the religious element in the ascendancy. When teachers or professors shall sacrifice religious principle to please a worldly, amusement-loving class, they should be considered unfaithful to their trust and should be discharged. {5T 14}
This is a good day for Jamaica. The devil’s party was shut down. That is actually a very good thing.
In order for reformation to take place, some people need to get fired, or at the very least, removed from positions of trust.
Praise the Lord. This is just the first step. Decided changes must take place.
This is a big win for Adventism and for truth in Jamaica.
“To believe that evil must not be condemned because this would condemn those who practice the evil, is to act in favour of falsehood…Those who feel so very peaceable in regard to the works of men who are spoiling the faith of the people of God are guided by a delusive sentiment.” Special Testimonies, Series B, Number 2, pp. 10, 11
“It is impossible to estimate too largely the work that the Lord will accomplish through His proposed vessels in carrying out His mind and purpose. The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place JUST BEFORE THE CLOSE OF PROBATION. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.
“The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods of making none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. THE POWERS OF SATANIC AGENCIES BLEND WITH THE DIN AND NOISE, TO HAVE A CARNIVAL, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working…
“But last January the Lord showed me that erroneous theories and methods would be brought into our camp meetings, and that the history of the past would be repeated. I felt greatly distressed. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO SAY AT THESE DEMONSTRATIONS DEMONS IN THE FORM OF MEN ARE PRESENT, working with all the ingenuity that Satan can employ to make the truth disgusting to sensible people; that the camp meetings which have been the means of bringing the truth of the third angel’s message before multitudes, should lose their force and influence.” Selected Messages, volume 2, pp. 36, 37 (Letter 132, 1900)
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has not been left without its witness regarding the perilous times in which we live, especially as it relates to music and worldly performances within our ranks. As an example, please consider the deeply-held, heartfelt concerns expressed by Pastor Kenneth H. Wood (editor of The Review and Herald/Adventist Review from 1966 to 1982), written over 50 years ago:
“We feel, however, that we must sound a note of warning. A trend seems to be developing in some places THAT NOT MERELY OBSCURES BUT DESTROYS THE LINE THAT SEPARATES THE SACRED FROM THE PROFANE. This trend prevails not merely in the music itself but in the way it is presented. The situation would be serious enough if only the beat of the music were considered, BUT WHEN THE PLATFORMS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHES ARE TREATED AS SECULAR STAGES, when singers sway in unison with the music like dances in a chorus line or performers in a night club, the situation becomes alarming. Were the Master to enter His house as He did anciently, it is altogether likely that He would command with authority, ‘TAKE THESE THINGS HENCE.’…
“Will the Laodicean church, through its lukewarm, self-satisfied attitude, be oblivious to the perils it faces? Will it permit worldly customs, standards, and values to alter gradually and imperceptibly its distinctive nature? WILL THE MUSIC OF THE WORLD BECOME THE MUSIC OF THE CH-URCH?
“The answer rests with those charged with leading the church in these solemn times, and with all who ‘sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof’ (Ezekiel 9:4).” Review and Herald, January 20, 1972.
How many of the leaders of the church who allow these sacrilegious incidences to occur will the Lord say in that great day —
“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!…behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:1, 2
May the Lord help us all to be awake, aware and alert to what is happening in the world and in the church in light of Bible prophecy, to plead for revival and reformation, to ever love the sinner but hate the sin in equal measure — for Jesus only saves His people “from their sins,” not in them (Matthew 1:21).
The problem here is yall ae wrong regarding secular music. Am i saying they should have a festival with that music? Not necessarily. But we do know that not all ‘secular’ music is wrong. That is why God put the Song of Solomon in the Bible. That song translated to 2023, is not a church song. It would be considered a secular song – yet its smack dab in the Bible. Most of yall wont even read all of the Song of Solomon aloud in church…ijs
There is a balance. I encourage you to read your Bible and Counsel to find it.