Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Pastor Colliston Coburn of the Global Harvest of Hope Ministries says he is teaching youths from troubled areas to fish for life. - Photos by Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

SEVEN YEARS ago, the Reverend Colliston Coburn was living in New York City when he was moved by God to return home to Jamaica and save the lives of 10,000 men. He did, but when friends were told that the first stop on this mission would be Mountain View Avenue, the response was not flattering.

"They thought I was crazy," Reverend Coburn said laughing.

The pastor has not only kept his sanity, but maintained a faithful flock at Global Harvest of Hope Ministries, even after Hurricane Dean demolished the Mountain View Avenue church last year.

A massive tarpaulin acts as a temporary roof while reconstruction of the concrete structure takes place. The faith of the congregation is unimpaired, however, as a gathering of adults, teenagers and infants sang with fervour when The Gleaner visited last week Sunday.

A guide for wayward youth

Reverend Coburn, whose youthful appearance belies his 16 years as an ordained minister, oversees the Family Training Hour each Sunday at the hillside church. He and his staff, which includes older sister Phyllis, use these sessions to guide wayward members of the community on a positive path.

"Sometimes they come and say, 'Bwoy, pastor, mi really depressed, mi want something fi do.' That's when you realise that they don't want you to give them a fish all the time, they want to learn how to catch a fish," Reverend Coburn explained.

The Mountain View Avenue Reverend Coburn moved to six years ago was wracked by gang violence, which was as devastating as the natural disaster that flattened his church last August. The feuds have resulted in the deaths of many persons, including infants, and forced long-time residents to flee.

Through the Family Training Hour, the Coburns teach the 'basics of family values', which entails everything from setting a dining table to spreading a bed. In addition, they host 'Restore', a weekly call-in radio show on Rootz FM.

Making a difference

Reverend Coburn believes both programmes have helped them make a mark with residents of a battle-weary community.

"A lot of them never had good mentors, just the guy on the corners. Because they never had that, that's why they got caught up in so much violence," Reverend Coburn said.

The Global Harvest of Hope Ministries thrust is not limited to the church sanctum. Coburn has led peace marches through some of Mountain View's troubled areas, such as Backbush, Jacques Road and Jarrett Lane.

He said Mountain View's restive image has made it difficult for its young inhabitants. Unemployment and pregnancy are high among this group, factors Phyllis Coburn believes contribute to another concern, domestic violence.

"When the violence was really bad, we thought they were coming here to talk about the crime. But a lot of the times, it's about not being able to get a job or their babyfather beating them," said Phyllis.

Divine intervention

The Coburns' hometown of rural Lawrence Tavern in the St Andrew hills is distinctly different from urban Mountain View Avenue. Previously, Phyllis Coburn worked as a counsellor in Britain and Canada, while Reverend Coburn lived in French St Maarten and New York City.

Coburn said divine intervention led him to his present location, a former woodland where gangsters hung out. He had the hillside spot bulldozed, set up a tent and started holding services in 2002.

The Global Harvest of Hope Ministries initiative has impressed persons from outside Mountain View. Among them is Glasford Brown from the St Andrew district of Maryland, who first visited the church four years ago.

"The first time I came here, I was surprised. I know pastor had the vision, but I didn't know that he would go so far," he said. "We need more things like this, especially for young people."

Pastor Coburn views the work of Wendy Phillips.