Mr. Chairman, Officers and Members of JCCA General Board of Directors;
National Officers, Local Officers, and Members of JCCA; National Officers and Local Members of our sister Organizations; Bishops, Pastors, Officers, and Members of the various church denominations present; Officials of Government present; Distinguished Christian Friends; Ladies and Gentlemen:
Before proceeding, I will ask that we all stand and observe a moment of silence in memory of those of our members, friends and relatives who have gone home from labor to reward to be with the Lord. Thank you.
I want to welcome all of you here tonight to the first evening service of the opening of the JCCA Second International Triennial Convention; As you may know; the first conference that was held led to the Ground Breaking Ceremony of JCCA-USA Project for Liberia; which is now under construction; and We want this project to be completed before the third International Triennial Convention with your support and involvement. I bring you greetings firstly from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the officers and members of JCCA-USA. During the first Triennial conference we had five branches in the USA, now; JCCA-USA has six branches which includes; JCCA-Staten Island, New York; JCCA-Trenton, South Jersey; JCCA-Newark, North Jersey; JCCA-Providence, Rhode Island, JCCA-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and JCCA-Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
My beloved brothers and sisters, humbled and grateful to stand before you all this evening, I’m humbled by your presence and grateful for the Gospel that makes this great traditional Gospel singing group possible. I hope I'll be given the strength today to say what I know the Lord wants me to say.
As we begin this all inclusive conference, which is the law making body on all matters affecting the Joint Christian Choir Association connection, an interdenominational group. I would like to speak to you about a few of the many gifts we have received from our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what we in turn might give to Him.
Foremost, He gave us the perfect model—himself—after which we are to pattern our lives. He said, "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends". Not only that He lay down his life before us as a perfect example for earthly living, but for our sake, He was willing to give his life for us. He went through an agony both in body and spirit, of which we cannot comprehend, to bring to us the glorious blessing of the Atonement and the resurrection.
There are men who are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it. But Christ lived and died for us. By following in his footsteps and through his atonement we can gain the greatest gift in life.
Christ asked the question as to what manner of men we ought to be? He answered by saying, we ought to be even as he is. That man is the greatest and most blessed, and joyful; whose life most closely fits the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life.
The constant and most recurring question in our minds, touching every thought and deed of our lives, should be "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The answer to this question can come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost.
When JCCA-USA was in search of Leadership in 2010, the membership voted loudly and clearly for me along with my colleagues at our National Convention in Staten Island, New York. They entrusted us with what may have been our last, but best hope for a stronger JCCA.
In the book of Jeremiah, we are given a wonderful promise – a promise that says in our darkest times, he will reveal a perfect, brilliant, and uplifting light: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.” Base on this promise we drew out a bold and comprehensive plan for our organization. As for me, branch officials and the rest of JCCA-USA members, the last three years have been amazing and remarkable.
Our administration has built a foundation or legacy that one can stand up to work with. The administration has put in place a website to disseminate information and connect JCCA-USA and JCCA-Liberia to the information technology (IT) of the 21st century. You can find us on the World Wide Web http://jccaus.org We were able to celebrate our anniversary for the first time in the history of JCCA-USA in March of 2011, as per JCCA-USA's 19 years of existence and since then we have been celebrating our anniversary each year.
Because of the importance JCCA-USA attached to the project for Liberia, immediately after our installation into office we convened an emergency meeting in Newark, New Jersey to revisit the project to be changed to a Multi-purpose building instead of a school, which we believe will be cost effective, income generating and most importantly, it will provide employment opportunity for some members of JCCA-Liberia. I then instructed the project committee chairperson to kick-off work on the project, and the committee was given one month grace period to make a complete report. I also wrote a letter to JCCA-Liberia informing you about the change from school to a multi-purpose building. The committee gave it report on time, with the description of the building as follows:
A. LARGE AUDITORIUM: 500 – 700 seating capacity (w/ square stage) for large programs; w/restrooms for male and female will be included.
B. SMALL AUDITORIUM: 100 – 150 seating capacity (w/ center stage) for practices and other programs; w/restrooms for male and female
C. RECORDING STEREO/ 25 persons
D. EIGHT (8) GUESTROOMS: each room w/bathroom/sink w/2 person’s occupancy
E. TWO CONFERENCE ROOMS/25 persons per room
F. ONE LARGE LOBBY/with seating capacity
G. ONE LARGE KITCHEN
H. ONE LARGE LOBBY/with sitting capacity
I. TWO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
J. WATER FOUNTAIN (to be located in front of the building)
K. MAINTENANCE/STORAGE ROOM)
L. WATER RESERVOIR (to be constructed on the property)
M. POWERHOUSE (for standby generator) to be constructed on the property
N. PARKING LOT
The architectural plan was drawn and a design of the blue print for the Multi-purpose building was given to the contractor Mr. Eric Williams of National Engineering Company (NEC). We also open a special account for the project with $1,000.00 (one Thousand dollars) at LBDI and wired the amount of twenty five thousand US dollars (25,000.00) making it the total of 26,000.00 we have sent for the project, as I speak; construction of the building is at foundation level.
For me and every member of JCCA-USA the project is personal to us that is why we have invested a great deal of time and money. At this point in time my Brothers and Sisters, I would ask for us to look back and thank God, look forward and trust God, look around and serve God and look within and find God. I would also like to remind you members of JCCA-Liberia to look and see where we have come from and how far we have progressed. I urge you to fully get involved with the project if you have not; with your strength, your might, your heart, energy, time, money, prayers or whatever you can contribute for this project to come to reality. Because this project when completed JCCA-USA will not be the direct benefiters but you JCCA-Liberia. Therefore, don’t sit and watch us do some thing.
As we continue this weeklong conference, one highly relevant issue on the agenda that will be discussed is the second face chart of JCCA international. The chart contains various agencies/organ that make up the functioning body of our organization. We will discuss these agencies in detail as contain in the work book. The various agencies/organ that will be revealed will be responsible for the day to day activities of the triennial conference and we will make sure that committees be setup to start work immediately.
In closing I want to leave these two words on your mind.
Help and Hope Help! Four letters that mean so much; you must help yourselves so that ultimately you can help others. Each sister and brother here today, in his or her own way, will need to help. You will need to help JCCA and participate in its activities. You will need to help JCCA raise funds for its project. You will need to make sense of JCCA when senses and reasons are missing. You will need to help solve problems through common sense and dialogue. You will need to help turn indifference into motivation and helpful actions!
Hope! is an amazing thing. It can take a family by the hand and lead them out of the depths of despair. It can lift up a community out of unthinkable disaster. And it can bless us with immeasurable spiritual riches in the midst of desperate times. Hope is an escape from the past, a reassurance in the present, and a promise for the future. Not only to be able to share it with those who needed it most, but also to experience its power for ourselves. Thanks to the generosity of JCCA-USA members, however, Funds to support this project are obtained through fund raising programs such as Queen Contests, Raffle Draws and membership dues during national conventions of the association.
Our goal is not just to start the project, but to work diligently to have it completed once and for all. Through the ongoing support and involvement of you JCCA-Liberia, we are taking a stand, dedicating ourselves to examining the current landscape, understanding the perceptions, and finding resources from other charitable organization. Perhaps the greatest impact of this generation is for all us to focus our energy and resources to have the project completed, so people can see and shake their heads and say “yes” JCCA finally did it.
Thank you JCCA-USA, for helping us serve our people for more than 19 years and counting, continue the good work, thank you JCCA-Liberia for your dedication and hard work and keeping the organization going for more than 44 years.
Through God’s grace, we have been doing the Most Good, and through His promise, we look forward to a future that rich with hope.
With this in mind, I therefore urge you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to relax and enjoy the activities of the second Triennial Convention, so well planned by our able committee on the theme: “Remember the Days of Old”.
Thank you and God bless you!
Bro. Charles D. Carter
National President JCCA-USA
National Officers, Local Officers, and Members of JCCA; National Officers and Local Members of our sister Organizations; Bishops, Pastors, Officers, and Members of the various church denominations present; Officials of Government present; Distinguished Christian Friends; Ladies and Gentlemen:
Before proceeding, I will ask that we all stand and observe a moment of silence in memory of those of our members, friends and relatives who have gone home from labor to reward to be with the Lord. Thank you.
I want to welcome all of you here tonight to the first evening service of the opening of the JCCA Second International Triennial Convention; As you may know; the first conference that was held led to the Ground Breaking Ceremony of JCCA-USA Project for Liberia; which is now under construction; and We want this project to be completed before the third International Triennial Convention with your support and involvement. I bring you greetings firstly from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the officers and members of JCCA-USA. During the first Triennial conference we had five branches in the USA, now; JCCA-USA has six branches which includes; JCCA-Staten Island, New York; JCCA-Trenton, South Jersey; JCCA-Newark, North Jersey; JCCA-Providence, Rhode Island, JCCA-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and JCCA-Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
My beloved brothers and sisters, humbled and grateful to stand before you all this evening, I’m humbled by your presence and grateful for the Gospel that makes this great traditional Gospel singing group possible. I hope I'll be given the strength today to say what I know the Lord wants me to say.
As we begin this all inclusive conference, which is the law making body on all matters affecting the Joint Christian Choir Association connection, an interdenominational group. I would like to speak to you about a few of the many gifts we have received from our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what we in turn might give to Him.
Foremost, He gave us the perfect model—himself—after which we are to pattern our lives. He said, "Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends". Not only that He lay down his life before us as a perfect example for earthly living, but for our sake, He was willing to give his life for us. He went through an agony both in body and spirit, of which we cannot comprehend, to bring to us the glorious blessing of the Atonement and the resurrection.
There are men who are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it. But Christ lived and died for us. By following in his footsteps and through his atonement we can gain the greatest gift in life.
Christ asked the question as to what manner of men we ought to be? He answered by saying, we ought to be even as he is. That man is the greatest and most blessed, and joyful; whose life most closely fits the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life.
The constant and most recurring question in our minds, touching every thought and deed of our lives, should be "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? The answer to this question can come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost.
When JCCA-USA was in search of Leadership in 2010, the membership voted loudly and clearly for me along with my colleagues at our National Convention in Staten Island, New York. They entrusted us with what may have been our last, but best hope for a stronger JCCA.
In the book of Jeremiah, we are given a wonderful promise – a promise that says in our darkest times, he will reveal a perfect, brilliant, and uplifting light: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.” Base on this promise we drew out a bold and comprehensive plan for our organization. As for me, branch officials and the rest of JCCA-USA members, the last three years have been amazing and remarkable.
Our administration has built a foundation or legacy that one can stand up to work with. The administration has put in place a website to disseminate information and connect JCCA-USA and JCCA-Liberia to the information technology (IT) of the 21st century. You can find us on the World Wide Web http://jccaus.org We were able to celebrate our anniversary for the first time in the history of JCCA-USA in March of 2011, as per JCCA-USA's 19 years of existence and since then we have been celebrating our anniversary each year.
Because of the importance JCCA-USA attached to the project for Liberia, immediately after our installation into office we convened an emergency meeting in Newark, New Jersey to revisit the project to be changed to a Multi-purpose building instead of a school, which we believe will be cost effective, income generating and most importantly, it will provide employment opportunity for some members of JCCA-Liberia. I then instructed the project committee chairperson to kick-off work on the project, and the committee was given one month grace period to make a complete report. I also wrote a letter to JCCA-Liberia informing you about the change from school to a multi-purpose building. The committee gave it report on time, with the description of the building as follows:
A. LARGE AUDITORIUM: 500 – 700 seating capacity (w/ square stage) for large programs; w/restrooms for male and female will be included.
B. SMALL AUDITORIUM: 100 – 150 seating capacity (w/ center stage) for practices and other programs; w/restrooms for male and female
C. RECORDING STEREO/ 25 persons
D. EIGHT (8) GUESTROOMS: each room w/bathroom/sink w/2 person’s occupancy
E. TWO CONFERENCE ROOMS/25 persons per room
F. ONE LARGE LOBBY/with seating capacity
G. ONE LARGE KITCHEN
H. ONE LARGE LOBBY/with sitting capacity
I. TWO ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
J. WATER FOUNTAIN (to be located in front of the building)
K. MAINTENANCE/STORAGE ROOM)
L. WATER RESERVOIR (to be constructed on the property)
M. POWERHOUSE (for standby generator) to be constructed on the property
N. PARKING LOT
The architectural plan was drawn and a design of the blue print for the Multi-purpose building was given to the contractor Mr. Eric Williams of National Engineering Company (NEC). We also open a special account for the project with $1,000.00 (one Thousand dollars) at LBDI and wired the amount of twenty five thousand US dollars (25,000.00) making it the total of 26,000.00 we have sent for the project, as I speak; construction of the building is at foundation level.
For me and every member of JCCA-USA the project is personal to us that is why we have invested a great deal of time and money. At this point in time my Brothers and Sisters, I would ask for us to look back and thank God, look forward and trust God, look around and serve God and look within and find God. I would also like to remind you members of JCCA-Liberia to look and see where we have come from and how far we have progressed. I urge you to fully get involved with the project if you have not; with your strength, your might, your heart, energy, time, money, prayers or whatever you can contribute for this project to come to reality. Because this project when completed JCCA-USA will not be the direct benefiters but you JCCA-Liberia. Therefore, don’t sit and watch us do some thing.
As we continue this weeklong conference, one highly relevant issue on the agenda that will be discussed is the second face chart of JCCA international. The chart contains various agencies/organ that make up the functioning body of our organization. We will discuss these agencies in detail as contain in the work book. The various agencies/organ that will be revealed will be responsible for the day to day activities of the triennial conference and we will make sure that committees be setup to start work immediately.
In closing I want to leave these two words on your mind.
Help and Hope Help! Four letters that mean so much; you must help yourselves so that ultimately you can help others. Each sister and brother here today, in his or her own way, will need to help. You will need to help JCCA and participate in its activities. You will need to help JCCA raise funds for its project. You will need to make sense of JCCA when senses and reasons are missing. You will need to help solve problems through common sense and dialogue. You will need to help turn indifference into motivation and helpful actions!
Hope! is an amazing thing. It can take a family by the hand and lead them out of the depths of despair. It can lift up a community out of unthinkable disaster. And it can bless us with immeasurable spiritual riches in the midst of desperate times. Hope is an escape from the past, a reassurance in the present, and a promise for the future. Not only to be able to share it with those who needed it most, but also to experience its power for ourselves. Thanks to the generosity of JCCA-USA members, however, Funds to support this project are obtained through fund raising programs such as Queen Contests, Raffle Draws and membership dues during national conventions of the association.
Our goal is not just to start the project, but to work diligently to have it completed once and for all. Through the ongoing support and involvement of you JCCA-Liberia, we are taking a stand, dedicating ourselves to examining the current landscape, understanding the perceptions, and finding resources from other charitable organization. Perhaps the greatest impact of this generation is for all us to focus our energy and resources to have the project completed, so people can see and shake their heads and say “yes” JCCA finally did it.
Thank you JCCA-USA, for helping us serve our people for more than 19 years and counting, continue the good work, thank you JCCA-Liberia for your dedication and hard work and keeping the organization going for more than 44 years.
Through God’s grace, we have been doing the Most Good, and through His promise, we look forward to a future that rich with hope.
With this in mind, I therefore urge you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to relax and enjoy the activities of the second Triennial Convention, so well planned by our able committee on the theme: “Remember the Days of Old”.
Thank you and God bless you!
Bro. Charles D. Carter
National President JCCA-USA