THE LOGOS

A Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Weekly Publication Volume 5, Number 1, January 1, 2000

Greetings For The New Millennium

Speculation is the order of the day. All around us people are speculating on "what will the new millennium bring." Inside and outside the church people are speculating about the end-of- time events. We are certain that the Lord is about to do great things, such as humanity has never experienced before. The workings of the Lord in the near future will dwarf the flood; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah will be nothing compared to what will happen. The parting of the Red Sea, as momentous as it was, cannot compare to what my God is about to do in the universe. The earth will be shaken to the core; stars will move from their positions to make way; people will pray to the rocks and to the mountains to no avail. However, a small group of faithful followers of the Lord, who have not been deceived, will exclaim, " This is our Lord, we have waited for Him."

What a joy it will be to be alive at the coming of our Lord. We know that the last prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled, but "We know not the hour." God's people are not setting dates, nor are we saying that this is something that will happen a few centuries from now. Speculation, in the face of the prophetic moment, is the worst we can do. We must move with certainty, we must be sure of where we stand, we must have the love of Christ in our hearts, and His grace in order to meet Him in peace.

As people are talking more and more about the new millennium, we are preaching and teaching more about the certainty of His coming. As a matter of fact, the Church has designated the year 2000 as the time to dedicate, as never before, the attention on the imminent coming of our Lord. The invitation to the Adventist family around the world is to "experience the certainty of His coming." All workers are asked to make sure the Church is aware of this reality.

As the world celebrates the Christmas season, let us join not so much in the eating and drinking, but in letting the world know that the Child Jesus is about to return as King Jesus. May this holiday season be a blessed one for you and your family, and as the year 2000 rings in, let us not join in the speculation, but let us raise our voices high and proclaim to the world that we are a year, yea, a millennium closer to the coming of the Lord.

Your Inter-American Division family wishes you a happy holiday season, and a prosperous new year. Maranatha! Israel Leito, president IAD

1999 Evangelism Results

During 1999 nearly 500 persons were baptized. This figure represents the total combined support of pastors and members. However, notable mention is given to Pastors Jeremiah Duncombe and Edward St. Fleur. They will be recognized during Convention 2000. Pastor Duncombe baptized a total of 73 persons between New Englerston and San Salvador. Pastor St. Fleur had a total of 134 baptisms. In fact, as a result of the efforts in our Haitian community, 2 new churches were established. These are the Bethel and Ebenezar S.D.A. Churches.

As for the other districts, the pastors and figures are listed:

Hillview - M. A. Smith 48

New Providence - L. Johnson/R. Moncur 29

Living Faith & Bethany - T. B. Sturrup 25

Grant's Town - E.D.Clarke/L. Williams 24

Freeport & Sunrise - P. Scavella 22

Breath of Life & Ephesus - K. Price 17

Johnson Park - B. H. Brennen 15

Abaco - A. Burrows 15

Philadelphia & Cat Island - R. I. Hanna 12

Good News -- L. Rolle 11

Berea & Crooked Island - W. Adderley 11

Maranatha & South Andros -H. Roach 07

Centreville - M. D. Toote 05

Eight Mile Rock & West End - R. Bain 05

Shiloh & GB Francophone - E. Tinker 04

Eleuthera - O. K. Boateng 05

Exuma- D. E. Major 05

In addition, I applaud those church clerks who submitted their reports on a timely basis. Executive Secretary

Homecoming Sabbath

Today in all of our churches Homecoming will be observed. A special welcome is extended to all returning members and visitors. A number of the services will be aired live. These include the New Providence Church service featuring Pastor Johnson on ZNS 1540 from 11 a.m. Also Pastor Clarke and the Grant's Town Church will carried live over Love 97 as of 11 a.m. Tomorrow, Hillview's Sabbath service will be aired over ZNS #1240 at 11 a.m. Tune in!

Festival of Praise

Beginning at 3 p.m. today, the Pathfinders and Youth Federations will march from the Town Center Mall to the Hillview Church. At 4:45 p.m., a Festival of Praise entitled "Celebrate" will commence with the Governor-General and Lady Turnquest in attendance. It is going to be an event that you cannot afford to miss.

CONVENTION 2000 --January 12-16 Don't Miss It!

Educationally Speaking --Why Adventist Education?

As we enter a new millennium, parents and guardians have an awesome responsibility to prepare themselves and their children for the coming of the Lord. This preparation includes providing the best education possible in the home and at school. Our SDA schools are geared to re-enforce the beliefs and behaviours that we expect Adventists Christians to exhibit. Therefore, parents should explore every means to have their children enrolled in our schools.

Ellen White warns against the temptation to seek worldly education.

She said:

"To many who place their children in our schools strong temptation will come because they desire them to secure what the world regards as the most essential education. To those I would say, bring your children to the simplicity of the word, and they will be safe. . . The highest education they can receive is to learn how to add to their "faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness charity" (Counsels to PTS P. 15).

If your child is not enrolled in one of our schools, please consult your pastor or speak directly with one of the principals about enrolling your child right away. The programmes are spiritually integrated, academically sound, and socially beneficial. Let us help you prepare your child for citizenship here and hereafter.

Appreciation Banquet

The Bahamas Conference sponsors an appreciation banquet in honour of Pastor R. I. Hanna for 40 years of dedicated service in Pastoral Ministry on February 5, 2000, at Nassau Marriott. Contact your local pastor for tickets

Family Fun Walk/Run

January 2, 2000, beginning at 7 a.m. at the New Englerston Church, East Street, and ending at Goodman's Bay with breakfast. Open to all young people.

NEW MILLENNIUM CELEBRATION CHOIR REHEARSAL

Choir rehearsal for ALL INTERESTED PERSONS for the up-coming Convention 2000. Practice will be held tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. at the Centreville Choir Room. Please be on time!

Concert

The Bethany Church presents a Musical Concert entitled "The Spirit of Christmas" by the Bethany Sunshine Choir 7:30 p.m., January 2 at BA Auditorium.

**Bethany Church launches website this weekend. Check us out at: www.tagnet.org/bethanysda/home

BAHAMAS ACADEMY ELEMENTARY

Registration is in progress for new students for the Easter Term at Bahamas Academy Elementary. Spaces are available in K2 - K4 at the Early Learning Centre and K5 - Grade 5 at the Elementary Division. Entrance exams will be held Thursday, January 6, 2000, at 9:00 a.m.

TEACHERS NEEDED!

Bahamas Academy Secondary is urgently in need of 2 teachers, 1 Physical Education Teacher and 1 Literature Teacher.

**All AY Council members and all Shepherdesses are requested to meet at Hillview tomorrow morning at 10.

**Looking for photos of members, churches and pathfinders from 1920 -1970. Contact Sis. Ann Albury at 327-7464

"20/24"(Watch for details)

**The Bahamas Conference Office will reopen on January 6, 2000. Sorry for any inconvenience caused!

**The Philadelphia S.D.A. Church will be dedicated January 16, 2000 at 2:00 p.m.

**Bahamas Conference Workers Meeting will be held Jan. 4 to 5, 2000, at the Hillview Church, Harrold Road. All Family Island workers should make necessary arrangements to be present. Ministers' Meeting will be held on January 6 at Hillview from 8:30 a.m.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Sisters Edith Roach and Maria Taylor on their recent promotion, to Assistant Director of Education and Acting Director of Education, respectively, at the Ministry of Education. In addition, congratulations to Ella Collie who was promoted to a Grade A Primary School Principal. Truly God is blessing and positioning His people strategically!

YOUTH

ALL Pathfinders, Adventurers, Masterguides and Federation personnel are requested to assemble at the Town Center Mall by 2:30 p.m. fully uniformed to participate in our Conference March scheduled for this afternoon.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2000

JANUARY

1 HOMECOMING SABBATH

4-5 WORKERS' MEETING

10-11 YEAR END MEETING & AUDIT

12-16 NP CONVENTION

21-23 GB CONVENTION

28-30 FI CONVENTIONS

29 ED. EMPHASIS

FEBRUARY

5 LAY EMPHASIS

8 HEALTHY TEENAGERS WORKSHOP

12-19 FAMILY EMPHASIS

26 STEWARDSHIP EMP.

MARCH

5 OPENING OF 2000

EVANGELISM EXPLOSION

25 BAPTISMAL DAY

APRIL

8 YOUTH EMPHASIS

15 LITERATURE EVANGELISM RALLY DAY

16-23 YOUTH CAMPOREE

19-22 COMMUNITY SERVICES FORUM

24-29 CHRISTIAN ED. WEEK

28-30 BAHAMIAN NCU WEEKEND

MAY

4 BAE HONOURS CONVOCATION

14 BAS HONOURS

CONVOCATION

20 STEWARDSHIP EMPHASIS

JUNE

8 BA ELEMENTARY GRADUATION

10 WOMEN'S MINISTRY

EMPHASIS

11 BAS GRADUATION

25-29 WORLD MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

29 GC SESSION (ENDS ON JULY 8)

JULY

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL PATHFINDER CAMP

15 EDUCATION EMPHASIS

Sun sets today at 5:25 p.m. Sun sets next Sabbath at 5:30 p.m.

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