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“Words of Hope” - An
Appropriate Theme
The theme selected for our recent Conference
Session and Convention 2007 is also the theme for this
year.
I believe that it has been appropriately chosen for the time in which we
live. As you reflect with me on the environment in which we live, you, too,
will appreciate the relevance of this theme.
In recent times, many unexpected events have happened in our Bahamas that
have caused thinking people to wonder what is going to take place next.
Robbers and murderers seem to have no regard for other people's property or
life. In addition, the illegal immigration problem persists, and the
authorities appear to be hard pressed to cope with the situation. However,
we must not become confused and remain ignorant as to what these things
mean; for in the midst of this uncertainty, there is hope.
Projecting beyond our present situation, the
Bible, God's guide for our lives, gives us hope. The Word of God suggests
that the disorder that we see and the trials we experience now will last for
only a short time. We are told in Psalm 30:5 that "weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning." Indeed, these are "words of hope" for
the Christian who remains faithful to his/her commitment to God.
Right now, we may be going through experiences
as dark as night, but through the eyes of faith, we can see the breaking of
the day. And we anticipate the joy in which the saints of God will share in
the morning of the second coming of Jesus. He is coming "with power and
great glory" (Matthew 24:30). Also, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16
that Jesus is coming "with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God." Then the resurrected saints and the saints who are
alive when He comes will be taken up to be with the Lord forever. Further,
Paul says that there is a crown of righteousness laid up in the future for
all who love His appearing (2Timothy 4:8). This certainly offers us hope for
the future.
How can we be sure of this hope? This hope is
certain because God, who cannot lie, promised long ago that Jesus would save
His people. And Jesus Himself promised to come back to this earth to take
His believers to be with Him. He said don't worry about what is going on in
this world. As long as we believe in Him, we can count on His coming back to
take us to live with Him in heaven (John 14:1-3).
My brothers and sisters, God the Father and God
the Son have given "words of hope" that should stabilize our walk in Christ.
Without the clear and certain promise found in the Word of God, we who trust
in God would have no grounds for hope (Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:81). So let us
maintain our hope in the coming of the Lord and live as if we really believe
His Word. Have a happy Sabbath! - John Carey, Editor
Conference Calendar of Events 2007
January
3-4 Conference Session
5 -7 Convention - Praise Reunion Concert
7 - Workers' Meeting (National Health Insurance Presentation)
8- Bahamas Academy Re-opens
12 - 14 Family Islands Conventions
15-17 Personal Ministries/SS
(Organizing Group for Effective Service)
16 PARL, Community Services /ADRA Workshop
19 - 21 Family Islands Conventions
21- School of Evangelism Opens
26-28 Family Islands Conventions
27 Religious Liberty Emphasis
28-Feb. 3 Health Summit -Orlando Fl.
February
Crusade Preparation Month
Family Emphasis Month
2- Youth Leaders Consecration Service
3- Youth Sabbath
3-9 Youth Week of Prayer
4- Pastors' Meeting (Dr. Enell Hall)
4- Youth Conclave
11 - Stewardship Seminar @ GT
11-18 Christian Home and Marriage Wk.
11-12 Singles Convention
12-16 Teachers & Staff Appreciation Wk.
14: Parenting Convention
16-18 Marriage Seminar
17 - Christian Education Promotion
17 - SDA Law Enforcement Service (p.m. - not joint)
18 Launch Weekly airing of Adventist Spotlight on ZNS TV-13
18 Protocol Training for Churches and Institutions
18 - Logos Training - Elders /members - Grant's Town Church
19 -20 Logos Training - Pastors at Conference Headquarters
23 - Women and Children's Ministries Consecration
25 - Children's Ministries Sabbath School Teachers' Workshop
26 - 8 Wks to Wellness Seminar
March - Crusade Emphasis Month
3 - Women's Day of Prayer/Evangelism Emphasis
April
1 - Launching of Children's Stewardship Classes
6-8 Literature Evangelism Convention
6-8 Cat Island District Home Coming Weekend
9- Launch PR TV Program
9- Health Fun/Run
13 IAD/WIU Bible Bowl -Conference level -at Maranatha Workshop
19 IRLA Convention - Nassau
22- Women's Ministries Training
24-28 - Secretaries Emphasis Week
27-28 Legal Services Weekend
27-29 WIU Youth Weekend at NCU
28 - Christian Education Day
29 - Vacation Bible School Training
29 Hurricane Shelter Training at Living Faith Church
May
Hurricane Preparation Month
Adventist Mental Health Month
3- Honors Convocation Elementary
4-6 Pastors and Elders' Summit
5 Pre-Mother's Day Boat Cruise
7 - Youth March
12 - Mothers' Day
16-23 Adventist Mental Health Wk. Specialized Workshops/ Seminars
17-19 Pastoral Family Retreat
19 - Health Emphasis Day
20 - Women's Ministries Leadership Training (a.m.)
20 -- Honors Convocation Secondary
20 - Health Ministries Cooking Class (p.m.)
21 - 31 WIU Mid-year Committee Meetings
27 - Sabbath School Workshop
June
2 - Bible Correspondence School Emphasis
8-10 Women's Ministries Convention
11-21 Diabetes Seminar
14 - Elementary Graduation
16 - Fathers' Day
16-18 Secondary Graduation
23 - IAD/WIU Bible Bowl (Union Level)
23 - Youth Day
23 - Culminating Service - Children's Stewardship Emphasis
24 - Women's Ministries Leadership Training
25 to July 20 - Jeff Rodgers Basket Ball Camp/Path to Life Camp (p.m.)
27-July 1-Mid-Year Convention and 3ABN Weekend
July
Vacation Bible School Month
1 - Officers' Appreciation Banquet (40 years & over)
2 - 3 Secretaries' Audit (For Church Clerks) 7 Independence Day/Religious
Liberty Emphasis
8 - Communication Workshop
10-14 Council on Evangelism
14 - Literature Evangelism Rally
15 Engagement Seminar
22- Abuse Prevention Seminar
24 - 28 Youth Leadership and Prayer Convention
August
Youth Month
6 - Health Expo
7-14 - Pathfinder Camp (Long Island)
13 Smoking Prevention Seminar
10 - 12 Northern Caribbean University Graduation
19 - Sept. 1 Youth Crusade
19 - 26 Family Ministries Cruise
15-18 ASI Convention (Mexico)
30- Workers' Meeting (Thursday)
September
Ingathering Alert
1 Abuse Prevention Sabbath
2 Back to School Parenting Seminar
3 - Re-opening of School
8 - Children's Speech Competition
8 - Super Sabbath (Grant's Town)
8 - Family Togetherness Day; and Grand Social (p.m.)
15 - Pathfinder Day
16 - Pathfinder Parade
19 - 23 Health Ministries Workshop
22 - Stewardship Day
29 - Sabbath School/ Personal Ministries/Community Services Convention
30 - Women's Ministries Seminar
October
District Crusades Month
Sept 30 - Oct. 28
3-7 Community Services Mega Wk.
7 - Pathfinder/Health/ Community Services Exhibition Weekend
12 - 15 Teachers' Retreat (Montego Bay, Jamaica)
27 Ingathering Launching
29 Lay Pulpit Exchange
November
1 - Health Extravaganza
3 - Spirit of Prophecy Day
3 - 10 Week of Prayer
9 - 11 Women's Ministries Retreat
11- 17 Intimacy Week
14 - Intimacy Seminar
17 - Local Festival of the Laity
19 - 28 WIU Year-end Committee Meetings
24 -25 Children's Weekend
26 Homosexual Recovery Seminar
December
1 - Stewardship Day
1 - Pathfinder Band Concert
4- Bahamas Academy ELC Christmas Program
6 - Bahamas Academy Elementary Christmas Program
7 - 9 Haitian Convention
8 - Youth Day
9 - Bahamas Academy Secondary Christmas Program
9- Pathfinder Fair
15 Day of the Pastor/IRLA Rally
16 Engagement Seminar
20 - Youth Ministries Banquet
3 - Men's Christmas Concert
11 - Pathfinder Workshop
17 - Stewardship Emphasis
22 - Christmas Sabbath
31 - New Year's Eve Service and Communion -Administration, Bahamas
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Public
Affairs and Religious Liberty
supports
religious liberty internationally as one of the fundamental principles of
the Seventh-day Adventist Church and as a God-given right. PARL represents
the world headquarters of the Church on government issues, has an office at
the United Nations, and hosts many diplomatic meetings to reinforce
relations between the Church and different countries.
It is my pleasure to invite all of our churches
to be aware of the fact that Sabbath the 27th is Religious Liberty Emphasis.
Let me additionally invite all interested persons to attend a special
meeting on Tuesday 7p.m. at the Living Faith Church.
A special survey sheet will be provided through the department for the
purpose of identifying persons with various issues regarding Religious
Liberty. -Paul A. Scavella, PARL Director
Stewardship and Trust Services Meeting
All Church Stewardship Directors, Trust Directors,
Treasurers
and 1st Elders are asked to mark February 11, 2007 on their calendars for a
meeting with Dr. Wendell McMillan, West Indies Union Stewardship Director
and Field Secretary. Please watch the Logos for additional information.
-Kenny V. A. Deveaux, Director Stewardship & Trust
Alumni of Bahamas Academy All alumni of Bahamas Academy are reminded
of a meeting to be held at the Bahamas Academy Auditorium on Sunday, January
28, 2007 at 4:00 p.m.
School of Evangelism The School of Evangelism resumes on Sunday,
January 21, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hillview Church -Pastor Peter Joseph,
Coordinator
Women's Ministries Leaders to Meet All Women's Ministries Leaders are
asked to attend a meeting on Sunday, January 21, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. at the
Conference Office lounge. -Miriam Knowles, WM Director
Youth Ministries
1. All Masterguides and Masterguides in training are asked to meet at Berea
Church on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007 at 1:00 p.m.
2. Masterguide training for the Haitian Districts and English speaking
districts to begin in February. To register, call the Youth Department
Office.
4. All Masterguides invested for two or more years are invited to sign up to
take the Leadership course to begin in February.
5. IAD Bible Bowl will deal with the following Books of the Bible: Songs of
Solomon, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Each church is asked to have at least
one delegate for the run-offs locally, Family Islands included. This event
will be held at the Maranatha SDA Church Friday, April 13, 2007 at 7pm.
Elders, Personal Min. and Sabbath School to Meet All Elders, Personal
Ministries and Sabbath School Departments are asked to meet on Tuesday, Jan.
23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hillview Church. -Pastor Peter Joseph, Director
Hour of Gospel Music The Hour of Gospel Music at the Mary Ingraham
Home continues weekly on Sabbaths from 4:30 -5:30 p.m. Today, January 20th,
Tony Russell's group is expected. Next week Sabbath, Jan. 27 the Bethany
Church is scheduled.
Sun sets today at 5:46 p.m
Sun sets next Sabbath
5:51 p.m.
