Thousands of Methodist Christians and representatives from other denominations were yester-day urged to make their beliefs relevant to the challenging times facing Jamaica at present.

Addressing an overflowing con-gregation of thousands gathered under three tents on the grounds of the St. James Methodist Church, Sevens Road, May Pen, Clarendon President of the Jamaica District of Methodist Churches, the Rev. Dr. Byron Chambers, said the challenges facing Jamaica and Christian community were never more sharply presented than they are now.

He was speaking at the 191st annual meeting of the Jamaica District and 11th annual conference of Methodist Churches.

Using the theme for the church year, 'We All Have This Ministry For Such A Time As This', based on the challenge of Mordecai to Queen Esther as recorded in the Old Testament book of Esther, he said God has always used the Church and its people in every generation to take the side of what is right.

The times in Jamaica, he said, will require the Church to take risks in "rescuing the perishing" and challenging the blood-thirsty.

Social ills

Among the social ills he identified were political and domestic violence, savage murders, the harmful effects of fatherlessness, brokeness in home and family life, corruption and the wanton ignoring of the road code.

The country's moral values, he said, were at a dreadfully low state despite the presence of more than 600 Christian denominations.

According the minister, the purpose and mission of the church remained one of being an agent of transformation, of offering a place of refuge, comfort and hope to people.

"The Church must be God's life- changing station in the midst of great challenges, " he said.

Rev. Chambers noted that when Methodism first came to the Caribbean 218 years ago, one of the early preachers, Thomas Coke, was shouted down by dissenters when he tried to preach in the open air. "Today the Church is hardly shouted down, just often ignored," he said.

Rev. Chambers urged the congregation to take the message of the Gospel to where people are, recognising that there will be risks involved and new challenges in a more materialistic age.

"We must get involved and we cannot ignore our moral obligations," he said.

He noted that many people did not want to pay taxes but wanted better wages and equally others wanted better roads without living up to their civic responsibilities.

Christianity that is relevant to the times will require total commitment and love that is expressed in action and not words only, he said.