Durrant Pate/Contributor

Kingdom Initiatives, which is a unique international marketplace ministry, which intentionally teaches Christian men and women how to multiply their businesses by implementing biblical principles, has formally established a Jamaican chapter. 

Kingdom Initiatives, formerly known as Kingdom Investors, is committed to equipping businesspeople to learn how to prosper in a marketplace that is purely profit-driven and ‘utterly corrupt’. The Kingston chapter was launched at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last week in which the business community gave its full support to the organisation.

Speaking at the launch Jamaican chapter leader, Michael Freckleton encouraged the local business community to incorporate God’s principles in carrying out their businesses noting that the principles taught by Kingdom Initiatives is to ensure that Jamaica prosper the ‘Kingdom way’. He further encouraged entrepreneurs to turn over their business to God and watch the business grow and prosper.

Freckleton citing the biblical example of the boy, who handed over his five loaves of bread and two fish to Jesus to feed a multitude, which represents the miracle of Jesus feeding a large crowd with a small amount of food. According to him, “God things will always prevail,” referring to entrepreneurs adopting Christian principles in their businesses.

‘Feltab’ getting Kingston Initiatives to Jamaica

Fellowship Tabernacle was instrumental in bringing Kingston Initiatives to Jamaica in bringing the initiatives founder, Zimbabwe-born, Australian billionaire, Dave Hodgson, to its Men’s Conference two years ago. During his presentation Hodgson brought the Kingdom Initiatives idea to Jamaica.

Reverend Merrick ‘Al’ Miller, head of Fellowship Tabernacle, who also spoke at the launch referred to God Almighty as a businessman, whose business was to create the world, which was successfully done. “Kingdom Initiatives is about helping people in business to run their business God’s way,” Reverend Miller said.

In concluding he contended that God’s will is for businesses to be operated his way knowing that his way is that all may prosper. Guest speaker at the launch, VM Group President and CEO, Courtney Campbell focused on the treatment of staff in the workplace pushing back at the evolving culture in Jamaica of selfishness, injustice, etc.

He made a clarion call for employers to treat their staff more justly and fairly, arguing that all persons are important in the workplace making reference that “Jesus never imposed artificial barriers between himself and his disciples.” According to him, “these days management don’t eat in the same place as staff.”

Campbell called for a new culture in management in Jamaica urging managers to perfect Christ in their business practices. As Jamaica draws closer to celebrating Independence, the VM Group President and CEO declared, “the rich promise of Independence has escaped us…no broad access to quality education,” citing the different treatment exhibited between the rich and poor in the delivery of social services.

He made the point that garbage in his community is taken up three times for the week, where garbage is many depressed communities take weeks, if not months to be taken away.