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Admonition Regarding
the National Election
The
past two weeks have been politically charged with rallies, motorcades, talk
shows, frequent radio and television ads on each station, and more rallies.
Even the little ones are caught up in the frenzy of repeating political
slogans that have become all too familiar. On the evening of Wednesday, May
2, it should end, ushering in a democratically elected government that will
govern this country for the next five years. Owing to this exercise, I
remind you that the weekly Prayer and Praise Service will be held on
Tuesday, May 1, in our churches. Let us use this occasion to pray for a
peaceful election.
However, between now and Wednesday, I urge each
member to continue exhibiting a Christ-like spirit; and as for voting, I
remind you that we are counseled to do so with "prayerful consideration"
(Selected Messages, vol. 2, p 337). In fact, in another instance it would
appear that members were discouraged from actually voting. Upon close
examination of the statement by Mrs. White, it is noted that church members
during her day were admonished against voting for political parties (or
persons) they did not know. By this she explained "We cannot labor to please
men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty and to set in
operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow men to keep
Sunday as the Sabbath" (Fundamentals of Christian Education, p.475).
We are further admonished to keep clear of
making apparent our "prejudices for or against political men or measures,"
because by so doing we stir up the minds of others, "leading each to
advocate his favorite theory." Advocating our preferences publicly has the
potential to divide the church. Members must be allowed to exercise their
God-given freedom of choice. Already our nation would appear to be polarized
or divided given the strong political appeal by all parties. No wonder that
the official statement of the World Church cautions members from becoming
"preoccupied with politics, or utilizing the pulpit or our publications to
advance political theories?"
As there are reports of minor confrontations,
we should shun settings and occasions that are likely to lead to
provocation. Respect and tolerance ought to be the order of the day. Once
the results are in, it can be expected that the Seventh-day Adventist Church
will support the government of the day as it has done historically.
Finally, "When Adventists become leaders or exert influence in their wider
society; this should be done in a manner consistent with the golden rule."
They "should therefore work to establish robust religious liberty for all
and should not use our influence with political and civil leaders to either
advance our faith or inhibit the faith of others." Adventists who are civic
leaders must endeavor to adhere to the highest standards of Christian
behavior. As modern-day Daniels, they will be led by God, and their fidelity
to Him will inspire their community." Pray much for the will of God!- Dr.
Leonard. A. Johnson, President
Dr. Joseph Barrett Conducts Training for
Literature Evangelists On Sunday, April 22,
2007,
Dr. Joseph Barrett, Publishing Director of West Indies Union Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists, and the guest speaker for the Bahamas Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists' Publishing Weekend, conducted a training seminar for
literature evangelists at the New Englerston Church, East Street, Nassau.
Twenty persons participated in the seminar and ten decided to accept the
challenge to become part-time literature evangelists. Theirs will be the
task of distributing books and other printed materials on health, education,
family life, and spiritual growth to interested persons in the community. We
believe that their effort will make a difference in the quality of life of
those who take advantage of their service.
Pastor Owusu Boateng, pastor of the New
Englerston Church, started the weekend with a power message on Friday night.
During the divine service on Sabbath, April 21, Dr. Barrett spoke on "The
Power of the Printed Page." He showed how God used various individuals over
the years to get His message out through books and other printed materials.
He encouraged his listeners to consider joining the literature ministry, for
"those who do God's work will get God's pay." And that is "out of this
world."
Thanks to our conference president, Dr. Leonard
Johnson, who greeted the gathering on Friday evening as well as at the
commitment service on Sunday night. We are pleased for his continued support
for the Publishing Ministry. We also say thanks to Pastors Peter Joseph and
Owusu Boateng for their contribution to the success of the weekend. Then a
very special word of gratitude is extended to Elder Andrew Hanna and all the
officers of the New Englerston Church for making it possible for us to hold
the meetings at their church.
IAD Bible
Bowl Results On Friday April 20th at about 8pm, the IAD Bible
Bowl contestants gathered in the Computer Lab of Bahamas Academy. We had
some issues at first with the computerised questions, but once Mr. Martin
Lalnunsanga Computer Teacher of Bahamas Academy got us started and set up
all over again, we went through the 45 questions from the Books of the Wise
Man, New International Version of the Bible without any hitches.
Winning the Competition was T'eora Murray of the Grants Town Church. Noel
Browne of Parkgate was 2nd and Rueben Rolle of Message of Hope was 3rd
Honorable mention to Regina Forbes of Berea.
T'eora will travel to Jamaica to compete June
24th, and when she wins there, she will travel to Columbia July 24th to
represent the WIU. Your prayers are needed as this 16 year old student of
Bahamas Academy along with her coach Mrs. Erika Perpall, and alternate Noel
Browne prepare for the next round.
Teora is the daughter of Peggy Ferguson-Murray
of the Message of Hope Adventist Church, and the grand daughter of Veronica
Brown of Grant’s Town Adventist Church.
Noel is an employee of Bahamas Conference in the Media Department and AY
Leader at Parkgate Church, and the son of Pastor Leon and Sis. Lydia Browne.
Special thanks to Mr. Lalnunsanga. of the Bahamas Academy Adventist School
for his assistance, ensuring set-up and that the Program run smoothly.
Adjusted Prayer Meeting Schedule
Because of Wednesday, may 2, 2007 is Election Day, the Prayer and Praise
service that is normally held on Wednesday will be shifted to Tuesday, May 1
at 7:30 p.m.
Watch Adventists Speak A new
program on ZNS-TV Channel 11 on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. This week’s topic: “The
State of the Dead”
Women’s
Ministries Workshop Ms. Junie Parchment, Women’s Ministries
Director of West Indies Union will be in Nassau for a training workshop
April 27 to 29, 2007. Vesper will be held at the Living Faith Church,
Old Trail Road on Friday evening at 7 o’clock. During the divine worship
service Sis. Parchment will speak. Sabbath afternoon at 4 o’clock, a
Leadership training workshop will be held. All are welcome to attend.
-Miriam Knowles, Women’s Ministries
Director, BC
“Don’t Miss The Boat” -Women’s
Ministries A fun afternoon is planned for all family members with the
Women’s Ministries Pre-Mothers’ Day Boat Cruise. Tickets are available from
your local WM Leader for the cruise on April 29, 2007, from 2:00 to 5:00
p.m. Dinners will be available for a small donation.-Miriam Knowles, Women’s
Ministries Director, BC
Ministry of
the Choirs The Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church presents
the Ministry of the Choirs for all youth choirs of the Bahamas Conference.
Sabbath afternoon, May 19, 2007 at 4:30. Each choir with a minimum of 10
persons will have 10 minutes to minister two songs. One of the musical items
must be from the Adventist Church Hymnal. The choir may rearrange this
rendition. All choirs will receive a certificate of participation, and a
financial incentive.Also a plaque for the top 5 finishers and a floating
trophy will be provided. A free will offering will be taken at the musical,
but each choir will give a fee of $25 to participate. Due to logistics a
response is needed by Monday, April 30th 2007.
The 2nd
Annual Conference/Workshop of The Eagle Music Ministry Network
will be held 18th to 22nd July, 2007. All Choir Directors and Choir Members,
Groups, Soloists, Instrumentalists and Technicians are encouraged to attend.
This Workshop is intended to enhance our Music Education and continue with
Training our Trainers and Musicians for Ministry. Further details are
forthcoming. Allison M. Rolle (for) EMMN Committee
8 Weeks to Wellness Graduation
In another week we will be celebrating with the graduates of the third 8
Weeks to Wellness program. The graudation exercise will be at the Living
Faith Church, Old Trail Road, on Monday, April 30th, at 7:00 p.m. Everyone
is excited to see who will receive the two years subscriptions to the gym of
their choice or the helicopter ride for two. The program was great as usual.
Graduates are asked to invite their friends to the graduation program.
Church Officers to be Recognized Members
who have served in their church for 40 or more years will be honoured during
our Midyear Convention in June, 2007. The names of these persons should be
submitted without delay to the Executive Secretary of the Conference.
Adventist Mental Health Awareness Month
May 16 to June 17, 2007, is the first Adventist
Mental
Health Awareness Month in the Bahamas Conference sponsored by the Adventist
Counseling Services. As Adventists, we are known for our emphasis on
physical health and as people of the Word. However, many Adventists and
other Christians shy away from discussing the subject of mental health. We
act as though having healthy brain functions come by default. Hence, when
someone is overly depressed, suffers from a mental illness, or has to take
psychotropic drugs, we either shun that person, or criticize that he or she
is "not praying enough" or have little faith. We often stigmatize or
ostracize the Adventist who has to be on long-term drugs for a mental
illness. The truth is, many do not know how to act around someone with a
mental illness. During the Adventist Mental Health Awareness Month, we are
going to help the Adventist community in the Bahamas understand the
relationship between mental and physical illnesses through articles and a
few seminars and other presentations. At the end of the month, we hope the
Adventist community will have a better understanding of schizoprenia,
depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses and how to have a
caring, compassionate, therapeutic attitude toward those who are mentally
ill.
- Mental Health Summit I: Sabbath
afternoon, May 26, 5:30 p.m. an exciting seminar for Adventists and
other Christians on mental illnesses and the use of psychotropic drugs.
- Mental Health Summit II: Sunday,
June 3, 7:00 p.m. This is a open forum for questions and answers on
mental illnesses. A video will be shown and professionals will be
present to answer your questions.
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 10:00 a.m. at the
New Englerston Church: Family Ministries Anti Crime Meeting for all
Family Ministries Directors, Adventist Mental Health professionals, and
Adventist Law Enforcement officers. -Pastor Barrington Brennen
Evangelism School Evangelism
School will continue on Sunday, April 29, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hillview
Church. Pastor Peter Joseph will continue to teach on Discipleship,
Spiritual Growth and Spiritual Formation. All persons who began the class
are encouraged to be present. All newly baptized members are encouraged to
attend.
BOL Celebrates 14th Anniversary
The Breath of Life Church observes its fourteenth anniversary today, April
28. All are welcome to attend and celebrate with us as we observe this
special service. Dr. M. D. Toote, Host Pastor BOL
Personal Ministries Department
All Sabbath School Superintendent, Interest Coordinators, Personal
Ministries and Community Service leaders are asked to log May 11-13 for a
special weekend Workshop. Special Presenters will be Pastor Joseph Smith and
Sister Vivienne Quarrie
Bethany Celebrates 10th Anniversary
You are cordially invited to share in the 10th anniversary celebrations at
Bethany Church. We begin on Friday, April 27th at 7:30 p.m. with songs of
praise and thanksgiving, as we reflect on God's direction and guidance.
Sabbath morning service begins at 9:15 a.m., and promises to be a high day
of Praise and Worship. The weekend concludes on Sunday, April 29th at 7:00
p.m. with a grand concert.
Combined Choir to Rehearse for Midyear
Convention Only serious ministers of music between the ages of
15-55 are asked to meet at the Living FaithChurch today 4:30 sharp. This is
to prepare a combined mass choir for midyear convention. A special
invitation is extended to All former Mass choirs members, Unity, Blessed,
Harmonious Praise and Praise Reunion Choir. -Tony Russell
Children's Ministries Upcoming Events
✽Vacation Bible School workshop (VBS work-shop) Sunday, April 29
at Hillview church from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
✽ Child Preacher's Workshop -Friday, June 1 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. and
Sunday, June 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Hillview Church.-Diane
Jones, Children’s Ministries Director, BC
Adventist Book Centre Open Tomorrow
The ABNC will be open tomorrow, Sunday, April 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Mothers’ Day Baskets with dried fruits and nuts, etc., are available through
the ABNC. To see and place order stop by the store or call 341-2429. Come
check out our new stock of canned and frozen Vegetarian meats. -C.
Blackmore, ABNC Manager
Hour of Gospel Music The Hour
of Gospel Music at the Mary Ingraham Home continues weekly on Sabbaths from
6:00-7:00 p.m. Today, April 28, the Maranatha Church is expected. Next week
Sabbath, May 5th, New Englerston Church is scheduled.
Youth Announcements
✽Pathfinders Camp - (August 7-12, 2007): All persons interested
in working with the Youth Camp Meeting team are asked to meet Tuesday, May1,
at Berea at 7pm
✽Pathfinder directors, and all other Pathfinder officers, and members of the
Pathfinder Corporation are requested to attend a very important meeting on
Monday, April 30, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillview Church.
✽Adventist Volleyball Season continues tonight, April 28, at 8:30 p.m. at
the Bahamas Academy Gym. A donation will be collected at the door. The games
got off to a great start. We seek your continued support.
✽Pathfinder Promise Youth March and Rally May 5, 2007, at 4:30 p.m. The
parade will leave from Centreville Church and end at Grant’s Town Church
parking lot where a rally will be held. All Pathfinder clubs and AYS leaders
are reminded to be at Centreville by 3:30 p.m. in Class A uniforms. We will
be marching in churches. Pathfinder, Adventurer and AYS leaders are to
encourage members that are not a part of their clubs, to wear their church
colours and walk at the rear and on the side of the parade to assist with
the distribution of Christian literature, HIV/AIDS Awareness brochures and
other resource materials.
✽All Softball coaches are asked to attend a meeting tomorrow, Sunday at 9:00
a.m. at the Living Faith Church.
✽Adventurers leaders and assistants are asked to attend an important meeting
at the Hillview Church on May 7 at 7:00 p.m. All churches are asked to be
represented at the meeting.
✽Creole Classes continue at Johnson Park each Thursday at 6:00 p.m. -Curtis
Bryan, Assosciate Youth Director, Bahamas Conference
International Cultural Social at Living
Faith The Living Faith Church Family Life department invite you
to their International Cultural social at the church on Old Trail Road May
12, 2007 following vespers. Foods from differenct countries will be
available for sale. This is an effort to complete the paving of the church
grounds. -Altamae Knowles
Upcoming
Events Marriage Standards Committee Meeting will be on Sunday,
April 29, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. in the Board Room, Conference Headquarters
ELC to Hold Cookout The Early
Learning Center will hold a cookout on May 28, 200 at the Western Esplande.
Contact parents and teacher of the ELC for details. -Hughes Perpall, PTA
Association
Sun
sets today at 7:38 p.m.
Sun sets next Sabbath at 7:42 p.m.
