Faith Tourism at work in Jamaica

Faith Tourism at work in Jamaica
Website article link: http://www.southfloridacaribbeannews.com/story.asp?ID=3731

By Bevan Springer

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica - I have written about the impact of Diaspora-centered tourism for several years - this week in Jamaica I was honored to witness the powerful intersection of both faith and Diaspora tourism.

Imagine the kind of economic impact that the almost 300 volunteers from the youth-focused Miles Ahead organisation had on the western Caribbean island during this past week - www.milesahead.tv.

The volunteers, led by former NFL player Pastor Miles McPherson, who has family ties to the island, stayed in Jamaica for more than a week at the Rose Hall Resort.

During the day, these multicultural volunteers hit the streets, had lunch with the local communities and gave of their time and talent to a number of community projects on the island.

For months they identified the needs of the communities they were serving, they raised funds, organised their ministry efforts, built their teams, sourced materials and equipment, and prayed one for the other as they boarded flights, including national carrier Air Jamaica, to be of service to the people of Jamaica.

Medical experts brought to the island some US$5 million worth of medical equipment, supplies and health care which were administered free of charge at several clinics on the north shore.

Even I took advantage of some medical counsel from one of the doctors on hand, as some of America's top rated medical professionals attired in their medical garb met the needs of patients in the areas of dentistry, internal medicine, optometry, orthopedics, pediatrics, and women's medicine.

Hundreds lined up early each morning to see doctors and nurses to receive treatment for ailments that ranged from the common cold to sexually transmitted diseases.

The impact of this particular ministry will be felt long after the Miles Ahead team returns to their 10,000-strong Rock Church home in San Diego as they leave expensive medical equipment and pharmaceuticals in the hands of the local health authorities to carry on the good work.

But there was more, the trip was not just a medical mission. Volunteers, including former professional NBA and NFL players, including Zack Jones formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets, teamed with local sporting heroes like Paul "Tegat" Davis and Warren Barrett to hold clinics in soccer, volleyball, basketball, netball and strength building.

It was an inspiring opportunity for both the youth and the pros as they laughed and played together. The youth were inspired by the experts, and the experts inspired by the abundance of talent on the island. "The talent among the youth here is tremendous and we should encourage these young people to pursue athletic scholarships in the United States and beyond," said Jones, who counseled that "while they develop their academic skills in school they should also discipline themselves on the courts and the playing fields."

Miles Ahead traveled to Jamaica as part of the Jamaica Broilers Group's 50th anniversary celebrations and three major family-oriented festivals, under the Best Dressed 50 Fest banner, presented in Mandeville, Montego Bay and Kingston. By Sunday morning, Pastor Miles McPherson would have delivered two messages of hope as part of the events which also featured international evangelists Andrew and Luis Palau.

In partnership with the local community, the Miles Ahead team built a 400-foot long, 10-foot-high wall and fence around Farm Primary and Junior High School to provide safety and security to its 900-student campus in Farm Heights. They also renovated the girls' and boys' lavatories which brings dignity to the children.

Other activities included deaf education workshops, school assemblies and efforts aimed to restore local elementary schools. More importantly, Miles Ahead worshipped with Jamaicans at local churches and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ while on the island.

The Jamaica visit this week really demonstrates the true potential of both Diaspora and Faith tourism. "We are so excited to be in a position to make evangelistic, social and economic contributions to a culture that has influenced my upbringing and has helped shape my faith," said McPherson, whose father and grandparents are from Jamaica.

Now, just imagine the kind of impact we in the Caribbean would have if we were to proactively attract these kind of groups to visit our respective territories.

Jamaica has truly benefited socially, economically and spiritually from this visit, and it is clear that faith tourism is the kind of tourism that we shouldn't neglect. Rather, it's the kind of tourism our marketers should actually pursue.

Thank God the Caribbean will now form part of Miles Ahead's future outreach activities, and that the wider world can be inspired by their efforts which are being chronicled on line at www.milesahead.tv.

Bevan Springer, the Director of Counterpart International's Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx), is a journalist and communications advisor.