A John Gray Memorial Church Young Adults Action Movement meeting usually draws up to ten people for Bible study, discussion and fellowship. Meetings tend to focus on socializing, usually around supper and a discussion on a topic like love or elections or even the big one: ‘Why are we here?’ (Answer: ‘Not just because we promised the Minister we would come.’) or board games. Once or twice, it has meant forming a small, diverse but surprisingly effective singing group. Other events are more adventurous; a Saturday morning found member Mark Ebanks and his father, Capt. Chuckie, of Black Princess Charters, taking the group out on their boat to swim with the stingrays and snorkel the beautiful Coral Gardens. Everyone had a chance to play tourist and some to conquer, or at least have one victorious battle against, their fear of the rays.

(See also the separate story on the Mastic Trail hike.)

The group also tries to participate fully in initiatives of the church. For the last two Decembers, the meetings were full of surprises in terms of the hidden artistic and cookery skills of members as they made up bags of cookies (and some cakes!) as gifts for some of the children and youth including the residents (as well as the staff) of Bonaventure Boys’ Home and Francis Bodden Girls’ Home.

In April 2005, when Synod was in session in Jamaica, the group led the evening service in exploring the Synod theme through questions like: ‘How has the church changed?’ and ‘How would we like the church to change?’  That month they also engaged in a strictly apolitical discussion on Christianity and democracy, with particular emphasis on the upcoming National Election. The group also presented $411 to the Church’s Benevolent Fund for the use of members and adherents recovering from Ivan. This money was raised through the sale of Terri Merren’s book ‘Hurricane Ivan - Survival Stories,’ which they bought wholesale. In September these Young Adults organized and provided food for a picnic for the whole JGMC family. And they have been communicating with other young adults from the Congregation who are abroad at universities, etc.