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It’s About Affirming the Pastor
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Pastor Leonard
Johnson |
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Under the able leadership of
Pastor Patrick Allen, the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists is to be commended for the recent Ministerial Retreat held August
11-14 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Over 500 pastors, administrators, and their
spouses were brought together in a beautiful setting at the Holiday Inn to
be refreshed, revived, and renewed.
- Why a retreat?
- The leadership of our Union sought to
cater to the spiritual well being, physical health, and the family life
of pastors and their spouses. It goes without saying that the pastor is
human, too; and as such he is subject to sickness, burnout, and failure
in marriage and career. Constantly the pastor is “dishing out” to the
needs of parishioners and others, and he forgets, or fails to pause for
refueling and renewal. At times the pastor may even neglect family and
personal concerns- all in an effort to cater to the needs of everybody
else. This lack of balance may explain some of the issues faced by
pastoral families throughout our union. For example, in some instances,
this imbalance has led to separation and even divorce. Also, it has
caused some pastors’ children (PKs)
to become indifferent toward pastoral ministry and the church. Thus, by
addressing vital areas of need of the pastor and his spouse, the goal of
the retreat was definitely achieved.
- Relevant and practical
counsel
- The keynote address by Pastor Israel Leito,
president of The Inter American Division, on the opening night, included
a powerful analogy of a bus driver who after driving all day now has to
go home after parking his bus. He either takes another bus, a taxi, or
walks home; but the pastor, in many instances, does not “park the bus”
before going home. Instead, he goes home, and, if not careful, takes
the problems of the day home.
Many will not forget the
powerful and expository presentations by the main devotional speaker during
the retreat, Pastor Emil Peeler. In a refreshing and provocative manner, he
unpacked the truths from the Word of God. Like fresh manna from the oven of
Heaven, the devotional thoughts fell from the lips of Pastor Peeler and were
received gladly and digested easily.
Presenter after presenter
provided relevant and practical materials that challenged the pastors to
reexamine their relationship to God and family. Truly pastors and their
spouses were refreshed, revived and renewed!
Again I wish to express
thanks to the leadership and relevant departments of West Indies Union for
organizing and conducting this retreat. The local field leaders and pastoral
couples must also be commended for their participation that contributed to
the success of the week. While thousands of dollars were spent to conduct
the retreat, every cent of it was well spent!
- Where do we go from
here?
- We must continue to invest in our workers
to ensure that their needs are addressed.
For starters, I encourage
elders and officers to affirm their pastors and families. They need your
encouragement. Later this year, November 15, our conference will observe
the Day of the Pastor. This will allow you to have a special day to show
appreciation to your pastor and his family. Also, I solicit your prayers
for our conference administrators and their spouses. Few persons may
realize the enormous burdens they carry in leadership as they shoulder the
day to day responsibility of directing and guiding the affairs of the
conference. When it is possible, speak an encouraging word and do a kind
deed for these often neglected servants of God. In due course, you will reap
what you sow. Have a blessed Lord’s Day! - Pastor Leonard
A. Johnson
Pastor
Johnson Speaks At NCU Graduation [SEE
PHOTOS]
On Sabbath, August 9, 2008,
Dr. Leonard Johnson, president of Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists was the speaker at the Baccalaureate Service at Northern
Caribbean University. Pastor Johnson gave a dynamic message on the theme:
“Defining Our Purpose, Creating a Difference.” The Consecration speaker was
Pastor Peter Kerr, president of the Turks and Caicos Islands Mission, and
the Commencement speakers were Ambassador The Honourable Dr. Richard Bernal,
Alternate Executive Director, Inter-American Development Bank, and The
Honourable Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion, Province of
Ontario, Canada. Two pastoral interns, Terry Tanis and Ashton McFall, were
among the Bahamian students who graduated from NCU this summer. - Editor
Joint
Health Weekend August 22-24
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Dr. Eli Honore,
Inter-American Division Health Ministries Director. |
Dr. Allan
Handysides, General Conference Health Ministries Director,
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In Attendance will be the
General Conference Health Ministries Director, Dr. Allan Handysides, Dr.
Peter N. Landless, Director of International Commission for the Prevention
of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (ICPA) and Dr. Eli Honore Inter-American
Division Health Ministries Director.
Health Weekend
Activities:
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Adventist Health
Professionals Installations, Friday, August 22, 2008, 7:30 p.m. at
the Centreville, Church
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Youth Alive Symposium
& Launching of ICPA, Sabbath, August 23, 2008 at the Hillview
Church
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Seminar "Evidence
Based Practices Versus Alternative Medicine," Sunday, August 24,
2008, 9:00 a.m. at Grant's Town Church. All are invited. -Dr.
Idamae Hanna
Abuse Prevention Sabbath
Sabbath, August 23, 2008, will be Abuse Prevention Sabbath in the
Adventist Church around the world. The theme for the Sabbath morning
service is "Abuse of Power." The day is sponsored by Family Life Ministries
and Women's Ministries. All churches are encouraged to participate. .
-Family Ministries, Barrington Brennen
The Hour of Gospel Music
at the Mary Ingraham Home continues weekly on Sabbaths from 6:30 to 7:30
p.m. Today, the Ebenezer Church is expected. Next Sabbath, the
Francophone Church is scheduled.
Early Morning Prayer
Meeting at New Englerston - 6 a.m. Sunday, August, 24, 2008. All are
invited to join in strengthening the ministry of prayer. - Roger & Allison
Rolle
Praise Concert in Aid of
our Students The pastor, elders and members of the Adelaide and Breath
of Life churches invite everyone to be at Breath of Life Church tomorrow,
August 24, at 7:30 p.m. A 'love offering' will be lifted.
Cat Island Adventist
Advancement Society will meet at Hillview on Sunday, August 24 at 10
a.m. – Norman Seymouor
Hillview Men and Boy Trade
Exchange Commencement Service [See
Photos] Congratulations to the Hillview Trade Exchange
class of 2008. Special thanks to speaker James Sands, who to a large extent
founded the Trade Exchange Program. Thanks to Pastors Paul Scavella and
Peter Joseph, the instructors and speakers of the program. We look forward
to making the Men and Boys Trade Exchange Program bigger and better, taking
it conference-wide. – Keith Rollins Hillview Adventist Men Leader
School of Evangelism Class
of 2008 will hold a Graduation meeting at Living
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Pastor Peter
Joseph, Personal Ministries Director |
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Faith Church Sunday,
August 24, 2008 at 5 p.m. All lecturers and graduates are kindly asked to
make a special effort to attend.
- All future events take place at the
Maranatha Church
- 1) Graduation Practice - Thursday
September 4, 2008 at 7:30 p.m
- 2) Graduation Service – Sabbath September
6, 2008
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- Prayer meeting at 8:30 a.m.
- Sabbath School at 9 a.m.
- Divine Service at 11 a.m.
All Community Service and
Adventist Men Leaders monthly meeting will be held this Monday, August
25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Conference office. Further planning for the
Hurricane Season will take place. - Community Services Director
ABC Announcement The
ABC will be closed on Sunday, August 31, 2008 – due to the Conference
workers’ meeting. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. - Management
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Wayburn Dean |
Gospel Concert See
Wayburn Dean former member of Acapella (from the USA) Racquel Faircloth &
Theophilus Brown (from Jamaica) and your favorite local artists Live!
Saturday, August 30 at the Church of God Convention Center Joe Farrington
Road. Email humministires@yahoo.com
for more information.
Educators Hold Annual
Prayer Breakfast The Seventh-day Adventist Educators Association will
hold their annual Prayer Breakfast and a Mathematics Workshop conducted by
Mrs. Greta Kemp, Sunday, September 7, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., at the
Living Faith Adventist Church, Old Trail Road. All Adventist educators are
invited.
Women’s Ministries
Conference /Workshop 2008 will be held October 10 and 11, at the Wyndham
Hotel. Plan now to participate and experience the fellowship. Please
contact your local leader for the necessary information.-Miriam Knowles, WM
Director, BC
Youth Announcements
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Adventurer Talent
Explosion Saturday, August 23, 2008, 8 p.m. at the Good News Church,
Flamingo Gardens. Come out and support the Youth of our church as they
show off their talent. Food and Drinks will be on sale. Proceeds
are in aid of Adventurer Banquet.
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West Indies Union/
Inter- American Division Bible Bowl: Each local church A.Y. leader
is requested to submit the name of a youth representative (ages16-30) to
the Conference Youth department office by Monday, September 1, 2008.
The Bahamas Conference run-offs will be held on Friday, September 12,
2008. The winner will represent the Bahamas Conference at the West
Indies Union level in October, at NCU in Jamaica. The book of study is
Isaiah (New King James Version) and not the NIV.
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Courage to Stand
Pathfinder Camporee Osh Kosh Persons planning to attend the
International Pathfinder Camporee in Osh Kosh during August 9th – 16th ,
2009 are reminded that a registration fee is due by October 31st, 2008.
Please contact the Bahamas Conference youth department for further
information.
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World Pathfinder Day
and Annual Pathfinder Parade/ Rally - will be held on Sabbath,
September 20, 2008 in all Adventist churches. The annual Pathfinder
parade and rally will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2008.
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Softball Jamboree
Continues Tomorrow The Maranatha, Berea, Hillview, New Providence,
Philadelphia and Good News churches are asked to send their softball
teams to the Jamboree tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Blue Hills Playing
Fields.
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Pathfinder Supplies All
Pathfinder and Adventurer Directors are asked to place orders for
supplies with Winsome Flowers by Friday August 30, 2008. A deposit of
65% is required for orders to be processed. - Pastor Andrew E. Burrows,
Youth Director
Workers Meeting
All workers of the Bahamas
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists are reminded that Workers’ Meeting will be
held on Sunday, August 31, at 8 a.m. at the Breath of Life Church
- Sun Sets
Today, Aug 23, 2008,
at 7:38 p.m.
- Sun Sets
next Sabbath, Aug 30, 2008,
at 7:32 p.m.
