The Youth Department of the Jamaica Baptist Union, like any other organization designated for and dedicated to the development of young people, has had a rich and colourful history. It is a history which represents the life, work and ministry of the Union, established in 1849.

Reportedly having its genesis in the 1940’s, under the leadership of Rev. Walter Foster, the structured ministry to youth and the ministry of youth has been the remit of various specially set up Committees, Commissions and Departments, before eventually coming to be known by its current name:Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department.

The process began in 1983, by the then Youth Affairs Committee, under the ambit of the Christian Education Department. The initial transition was marked by an official launch at the Union’s Bicentennial Celebrations in November of that year and gave rise to a revolutionary National Youth Movement, whose main aim was to improve on efforts for strengthening relationships among Baptist youth of the island.

Subsequent to this, there was a merging of operations as the Youth Affairs Committee and President and Secretary of each Parish Youth Association formed the National Executive.

Then in 1994, the ministry to youth evolved even further as a full time Assistant General Secretary was appointed with special responsibility for Youth and Training. Later that same year plans were fast tracked for the development of a proposal by the Youth Affairs Committee for the establishment of a Youth Department.

By 1995, the proposal was presented to the JBU Executive for ratification and later that same year at the annual Youth Conference in November, the delegates accepted the proposal, leading to the first election of Officers. From humble and small beginnings as Young People’s Department to an established organization with various arms of specialized ministry, the Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department has indeed come a long way.

Today, it represents the almost 12,000 youth constituency of the Union’s population, scattered across the length and breadth of the island: children, youth, young adults and youth workers, whose very purpose for being is embodied in the Department’s motto: Reach – Renew – Rejoice.

Structure of Youth Department

Chairman
Immediate Past Chairman
Chairman Elect

Vice Chairmen
Youth Fellowships
Student Affairs
Uniform Groups
Young Adults

Secretary
Asst. Secretary
Treasurer
Commissions

• Camps
• Cultural
• Discipleship
• Sports

Area Council Reps.

• Zone 1 (Portland & St. Thomas)
• Zone 2 (Kingston/St. Andrew & St. Catherine)
• Zone 3 (Clarendon & Manchester/St.Elizabeth)
• Zone 4 (St. Mary, St. Ann & Trelawny)
• Zone 5 (St. James, Westmoreland & Hanover)

Members at Large

View the current executive body for 2009-2011

PARISH YOUTH ASSOCIATION

Each parish has a parish youth association that reports to the:

A. National Youth Fellowships Committee, responsible for overseeing the Baptist Youth Fellowships and Parish Associations of the island, through parish presidents and area council representatives. This also includes planning various meetings and events.

B. National Young Adults Committee, responsible for overseeing the various Baptist Young Adult Groups of the island as well as planning meetings and other events for Young Adults.

C. National Student Affairs Committee, responsible for overseeing Baptist Tertiary Students and planning suitable meetings and/or events for them.

D. National Uniform Groups Committee, responsible for overseeing the different Uniformed Groups in our island’s Baptist Churches and plan suitable events and/or meetings for them.

Commissions

A. Camps Commission, responsible for the planning and constant review of Summer camps for Junior, Intermediate, Youth and Young Adult.

B. Cultural Commission, responsible for the planning and implementation of Cultural activities especially Area Eliminations and the National Youth Rally.

C. Discipleship Commission, responsible for evangelism and prayer programmes including the planning and implementation of the annual Baptist World Youth Day of Prayer.

D. Sports Commission, responsible for the Sports and Healthy Lifestyle Ministry of the Youth Department and the planning and implementation of annual sports competitions.

Ecumenical and Frateneral Relations

The Jamaica Baptist Union is represented on, and a member of several regional and international bodies namely;

• Caribbean Baptist Fellowship (CBF), Baptist Unions and Conventions in the Caribbean. By extension there exists the Caribbean Baptist Youth Department.
• Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), Churches within the Caribbean
• Baptist World Alliance (BWA), Baptist Churches across the world
• World Council of Churches (WCC), Churches across the world

From time to time these bodies provide opportunities for us to attend and participate in their various activities. We (JBUYD) relate directly to the CBF Youth and BWA Youth. However our affiliation to CCC and WCC is mainly through JBU General Secretary and President.