Teachers Awarded For Years of Service

In his own unique way, Pastor H. A. Roach, former educator and current Pastor of the Maranatha Church, welcomed the teachers, their spouses, children and well-wishers.

Michael Turner, a sixth-grade student of Bahamas Academy Elementary, pleased the audience with an appropriate piano selection. The Male Teacher's Chorale from the senior school met the expectations of the supportive audience and set the tone for the speakers's presentation.

In her address to the gathering, Iris Henry, Education Director of West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, thanked the teachers for their years of dedicated service. She challenged each teacher to keep in step with current trends in education in order to remain relevant in our changing times. She also alluded to the need for teachers to be facilitators in the teaching/learning process.

Teachers should create an environment in which students can interact in constructive ways.

Mrs. Henry reminded the teachers of their commitment to God and the cause of Christian education. She further challenged them to allow the service they give to reflect the faith they believe. This means that the Christian concepts and values they hold should not be taught in insolation. Rather, there should be an integration of values and the Christian faith throughout the curriculum.

The teachers received awards according to various categories of years. Certificates were given to teachers with three to four years of service, and pins for those who served five or more years. The teachers who served twenty-five and thirty years also received a beautiful plaque. Included in this group were Ivy Humes, Hermia Brown, Ednal Collie, Rowena Smith, and Cinderella Kelly.

It was certainly a joy for the teachers to be remembered and thanked for their years of hard work, dedication and consistent service. Under the direction of Nelson Bain, with Lynn Smith at the piano, the teachers expressed their gratitude in a song of commitment.

WEST INDIES UNION SESSION

On Wednesday, October 11, at 7 p.m, more than three hundred delegates will gather at the Mandeville Seventh-Day Church for the Fourth Quinquennial Session of the West Indies Union Conference.

The delegates representing the Bahamas Conference are: K. D. Albury, L. A. Johnson, C. Melvin Lewis, L. C. Rolle, P. A. Scavella, M. A. Smith, E. D. Clarke, M. D. Toote, H. A. Roach, S. N. Mckinney, T. Basil Sturrup, Winsome Flowers, Louis Thurston, Sidney Forbes, Emily Rahming, and Hayden Hanna.

Pastor Albury, is calling upon the membership of our Conference to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon this Session as it deliberates and makes decisions that will set the spiritual agenda for this Union over the next five years. It is expected that because Elder Wellington has been called to serve at the Division and a number of Union Officers will be retiring, quite a number of new faces will comprise the leadership team at the union for the next five years.

Grand Opening of Conference Office

On the eve of leaving for Jamaica, Pastor Albury also indicated that the Administration of the Conference is pleased to announce that the Grand Opening of the new Conference office and ABC is being scheduled for January 14, 2001. It is envisage that this event will culminate the week of convention and will be an occasion that will mark a significant milestone in the history of our Conference.

As we plan for this great day, we request your prayers and your continual financial support so that our presentation will once again cause our entire nation to take notice of the work and mission of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the Bahamas.

Bible Conference

The fifth annual Bible Conference will be held November 17-19, featuring Dr. Hans LaRondell, professor emeritus of Andrews University Theological Seminary. Dr. LaRondell, one of the Church's preeminent scholars has written quite extensively on "End-time Events." We are looking forward to benefitting greatly from his ministry during this special week-end. Let us plan to attend and invite our friends and neighbours and relatives to join us in the study of God's word.

PATHFINDERS

COMMUNITY SERVICES EXHIBITION

The Pathfinders' Community Services Exhibition will be held tomorrow, October 8, 2000, at the R. M. Bailey Park. The opening ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. A full day of fun, food and vegetarian cuisine will be available. In conjunction with the Pathfinders Exhibition, six basic competitive activities will take place. All clubs are required to:

1. Execute 1^st Aid requirements: Bandaging of arm, leg sphinter, head bandage, and carry off.

2. Know general Bible verses for memory drill

3. Be creative in Fancy Drill.

The following activities will take place as follows:

1 p.m. Flag-raising -3 to 5 minutes, 3 persons.

1:30 p.m. Knot-tying - 2 persons

2 p.m. Tent-pitching - 5 persons

2:30 p.m. First Aid - 4 persons

3 p.m. Memory Drill - 2 persons

3:30 p.m. Drilling (basic execution) 3 to 5 minutes, 5 to 10 persons

4 p.m. Pathfinders Band

4:30 p.m. Drill Down

5 p.m. Fancy Drill - Any number of persons

All events will be judged on execution, timing and creativity.

NEW PROVIDENCE CHURCH HOSTS WOMEN'S RETREAT

Along with Berea, Breath of Life and New Englerston Churches, the New Providence Church began its Women's Ministry Retreat at South Ocean Resort on October 6, continuing through Oct. 8. Guest speaker is Sister Junie Parchment from Jamaica. As we fellowship and exchange testimonies, we solicit your prayers.

LAY CRUSADES UPDATE

Commendations to all lay evangelists and supporting congregations for their participation in a number of Lay Campaigns. Several baptisms have been reported: Living Faith 4; Maranatha 3; Centreville 7; Southwest Federation 18. To God be the glory! A number of Churches are in the midst of their campaigns. Let us pray for their success.

ADVENTIST CHURCH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR AN OPEN AND CREATIVE CHURCH

Addressing an international gathering of church leaders recently, Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide, identified "mission" and "unity" as the two most formidable challenges facing the Adventist Church at the beginning of 21st century. Paulsen was speaking at the opening gathering of the church's Annual Council, a five-day meeting that convenes the highest decision-making body of the Adventist Church outside a full General Conference Session, which is held every five years.

Reminding leaders that "there is no virtue in simply remaining busy," Paulsen urged members of the General Conference Executive Committee to keep the challenges of "unity" and "mission" firmly in mind during their deliberations and decision-making.

In assessing and tackling challenges facing the church today, Paulsen identified strategic planning as an essential component in building "a very intentional design which enhances unity, stimulates growth, and makes this church a better spiritual home for all."

Paulsen also emphasized the vital importance of leadership training, which he said the world church has defined as an area of urgent need. While acknowledging that a formal Leadership Training unit at the General Conference has been set up, Paulsen also challenged church leaders present to model Adventist leadership. This leadership, Paulsen said, is characterized by "spiritual values," "a clearly defined mission" and something more: a truly global perspective that is able to transcend preoccupation with provincial interests and

"turf-protection." "With such a mind-set, leadership binds together rather than scatters, looks out rather than in, shares rather than hordes," said Paulsen. "Is not that, historically, a pretty good description of how we have functioned in mission as a church?"

Referring to an Annual Council agenda item proposing the formation of a Council on Africa, Paulsen said that "the time has come for us as a world body of leaders to ask: Have we provided our best to care for the future of our church family in Africa?" Citing the unprecedented growth-some 500 percent-in church membership in Africa over the last two decades, and the 500-percent growth that is projected for the next decade, Paulsen said that there must be consideration of ways to relieve the "huge demands on infrastructures, institutions, pastorate and leadership" in the region.

Paulsen also expressed his commitment to the newly formed Council on Evangelism and Witness, which met for the first time early this month. "Let the world church family know that the General Conference is involved in and actively pursuing evangelistic thinking and planning," said Paulsen, "and that we confess this to be our first task as God's people in these last days."

Paulsen ended his talk by reminding those who do not work at the General Conference that "it is not as though we have everything pre-defined, cooked, and canned at this place. We may sound like it at times, but really we do not." Instead, Paulsen called on those present to "help those of us who do work here to create services and initiatives that fit into the life of the church as you know it from your various corners of the globe."

"I pray that I and my colleagues will be young enough in mind, ready to listen and learn," said Paulsen.

Annual Council brought together the more than 260 members of the General Conference Executive Committee, who met over five days to deal with the business of the world church. The committee is composed of church administrators, pastors and lay people representing all 12 world divisions of the Adventist Church.

BA SECONDARY

**BA Secondary is in urgent need of a substitute English teacher for grades 9 and 10 for the period November 27, 2000, to March 9, 2001. Interested persons should contact Principal Rolle at the school or call 393-3381 during business hours.

INGATHERING LAUNCH SET FOR NEXT SABBATH, 14^TH OCTOBER 2000. Collect supplies, organize your Units and plan for a successful campaign.

NORTH ANDROS CRUSADE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

The North Andros Crusade is looking for volunteers to assist with Bible work in a two weeks, reaping campaign in Lowe Sound. Contact Dr. J. Carey at 324-0470 or 361-8884/6 for details.

VOLUNTEER BIBLE-WORKERS NEEDED FOR CAT ISLAND

Volunteer Bible-workers are needed from October 22 to November 5, 2000, to assist Pastor Adderley in "The Steps To Eternal-Life Crusade For Christ in Cat-Island.

DISCOVERY DAY WALK/RUN

The New Englerston Church will sponsor a 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk on Discovery Day holiday, October 13. Trophies and breakfast will be provided. Contact J. Duncombe at 322-5110 or your A.Y. Leader for details.

BETHANY SDA CHURCH IN SEARCH OF PROPERTY

Members of the Bethany Church are looking for real estate on which to construct their church building. We are open to all information on available properties but prefer land in the western district of New Providence. As we continue to search, we are asking members of our sister churches who might have information to assist us by contacting Pastor Sturrup at 322-4139.

NEW TELEPHONE NUMBERS

The telephone numbers at our new conference headquarters are: 341-4021/2, 361-8884/6. Our fax line remains #341-4088. Mr. McKinney and Mrs. Forbes of the ABC can be reached at 341-2429. We apologize for any inconvenience caused during our transition.

DISCOVERY DAY TRIP

The Northeast Youth Federation is off again! Travel with us to the hills of Cat Island in an evangelistic effort October 13 to 15, 2000. Interested persons may contact Phyllis Woodside at the Ephesus Church for details.

B. A. EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Space is still available in K2 and K4 programmes. Applications are available at the school on Penny Bank Lane between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.