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Position of the Adventist Church on Gambling
Because
of the recent pronouncement by the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister
of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, regarding “number houses” coupled with
the ongoing debate regarding gambling, the Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists shares its position on the issue. This statement on gambling also
reflects the official position of the world church on the issue. The
Administrative Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
voted this and presented it to the General Conference Session in Toronto,
Canada, June 29 – July 9, 2000. It is presented here for the benefit of our
members who may not be fully aware of the stand the Adventist Church has
taken toward gambling.
Definition of Gambling
Seventh-day Adventists define gambling as a paid game of chance which
increasingly impacts more and more people all over the world. The concept of
winning at the expense of others has become a modern curse. Society pays the
escalating cost of associated crime, victim support, and family breakdown
which erodes the quality of life. Consequently, Seventh-day Adventists have
consistently opposed gambling, for it is incompatible with Christian
principles. Additionally, Adventists do not view gambling as an appropriate
form of entertainment or a legitimate means of raising funds.
Violates Christian
Principles of Stewardship Gambling violates Christian principles
of stewardship. During creation’s week, God established the principle and
dignity of labor (Gen.3.19). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul,
building on the same foundation, identified work as the appropriate method
for gaining material benefit (1 Thess 4:11; 2 Cor 9:8, 9). Therefore, the
church is opposed to the playing of a game of chance while dreaming to gain
at the expense of others. Gambling has a massive impact on society.
Financial costs result from crime committed to pay for the gambling habit,
increased policing, and legal expenses, as well as associated crimes
involving drugs and prostitution. Gambling does not generate income; rather
it takes from those who often can ill afford to lose and gives to a few
winners, the greatest winner of course being the gambling operator. The idea
that gambling operations can have a positive economic benefit is an
illusion. In addition, gambling violates the Christian sense of
responsibility for family, neighbors, the needy and the Church.
Gambling Creates False
Hopes The gambling dream of “winning big” replaces true hope with
a false dream of a statistically-improbable chance of winning. Christians
are not to put their hope in wealth. The Christian hope in a glorious future
promised by God is “sure and certain”- unlike and opposite to the gambling
dream. The great gain that the Bible points to is “godliness with
contentment” (1 Tim 6:17; Heb 11:1; 1 Tim 6:6).
Can Become Addictive
Gambling is addictive. The addictive quality of gambling is clearly
incompatible with a Christian lifestyle. The Church seeks to help, not
blame, those suffering from gambling or other addictions. Christians
recognize that they are responsible before God for their resources and
lifestyle (Refer to1 Cor 6:19, 20).
Opposed to Raffles or
Lotteries Given the aforementioned, The Seventh-day Adventist
Church does not condone raffles or lotteries to raise funds, and it urges
members not to participate in any such activities, however well-
intentioned. Neither does the Church condone state-sponsored gambling. The
Seventh-day Adventist Church calls on all authorities to prevent the
ever-increasing availability of gambling with its damaging effects on
individuals and society. Again, it is to be noted that the Seventh-day
Adventist Church rejects gambling and will not solicit nor accept funding
that is clearly derived from gambling. - Pastor Leonard Johnson
Membership
Retention Meeting A Membership Retention
meeting for all Elders, Church Clerks, Sabbath School Superintendents,
Adventist Youth Leaders, Personal Ministries Leaders, Women’s Ministries
Leaders, Children’s Ministries Leaders, Men’s Ministries Leaders, and Family
Ministries Leaders, will be held at the tent tomorrow, March 2, 2008 from
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. with Pastors Peter Joseph and Wilfred Adderley.
Stewardship
Secretaries Meeting All Stewardship leaders are requested to
meet with the Conference Stewardship director tomorrow, March 2, 2008, at
the Conference office at 8 a.m.
The Hour of
Gospel Music at the Mary Ingraham Home continues weekly on
Sabbaths from 4 to 5 p.m. Today, the Francophone Church is expected. Next
Sabbath, the Gambier Church is scheduled.
BA
Elementary Holds Cultural Display The Campus of Bahamas Academy
Elementary buzzed with excitement on Thursday, February 21, 2008, as the
Grade 6 students displayed their research on four large countries of the
world: Brazil, Australia, Japan and Switzerland.
The students used several
mediums to assist viewing students, parents and judges in understanding the
country they were exploring such as charts with animal life, pictures of the
government, main industries, currency, and locale on the world map. The
students further showed of their culinary skills by providing tasty dishes
from these countries in the form of pastries, chocolates, cheese, pasta,
fortune cookies, fish eggs, cakes and a jeep. Some students were bold
enough to speak in the dialect of the country, wear the national dress and
play the country’s music, which gained the applause of the viewers.
The four judges, Dr. John
Carey, Education Director, Mrs. Lavonda Smith, Social Studies Teacher at the
Secondary School, Mrs. Estherlene Ash, former Principal of the Elementary
School and Mr. Nelson Bain, Music Teacher at the Elementary School, praised
the students for their effort. The students long be remembered for their
creativity and research exhibited in the display. - Mr. Nelson Bain
SAT
Schedule The final sitting for the SAT Academic year of 2007 -
2008 is Sunday, May 4, 2008. All fees and applications should be submitted
to Bahamas Academy School on or before March 25, 2008. All interested
students from both private and public schools are invited to apply. - Denise
Johnson, Guidance Counselor
Sabbath
School and Personal Ministries Workshop On Sunday, March 30,
2008 at 9 a.m – 12 noon at the Hillview Church. All Sabbath School &
Personal Ministries directors, assistant directors and secretaries are
kindly asked to attend this very important Seminar and Workshop. - Pastor W.
T. Adderley
Elders
Libronix Training Seminar All Adventist Church Elders are
invited to register for the upcoming Elder’s Libronix Digital Library
Training Seminar to be held Sunday, March 30, 2008. Sessions will begin at
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This seminar provides skills and resources for
sermon preparations. Seminars participants are eligible to purchase the
computers used during the seminar on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please
continue to watch the Logos for additional information.
Libronix
Advance Training Sessions All pastors and past Libronix seminar
participants are invited to attend the advanced Libronix Digital Library
training sessions to be held on Monday, March 31 to Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
All day sessions will be held. Registration is now in progress for this
seminar. Space is limited therefore; pastors and advanced students are
asked to register with Ms. Mary-Ellen Knott at the Adventist Headquarters.
Please continue to watch the Logos for additional information.
Children’s
Production Tomiko Williams of the Maranatha Church is
putting on a production entitled “Noah, the Ark, and the Flood” April 27,
2008. She is inviting all young persons (ages 5-12) who are interested in
being a part of this production to come to practices on Sundays at 9:30am to
11:30am. The production needs a total of 110 children.
Note of
Thanks Mrs. Euthalie Rahming (wife) and the entire family of the
late Retired Superintendent of police, Errington Rahming, MBE wish to
express their profound thanks and appreciation to The Bahamas Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists, Pastors and all who contributed to the funeral
service and the comfort of the bereaved. The pastor, officers and members
of the Hillview Church are to be especially recognized for their many kind
acts and support during our time of loss.
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Pastor Baraka Muganda |
Pastor Balvin Braham |
Masterguide
Camporee Update Our World Youth Director, Pastor Baraka Muganda,
and Pastor Balvin Braham, Associate Youth Director of the Inter-American
Division are officially confirmed to be in attendance at the West Indies
Union Pathfinder/ Masterguide Camporee to be held at Camp Verley, St.
Catherine Jamaica from July 21 to 28, 2008. Over 500 international
delegates from various parts of the United States, Canada and Trinidad will
be in attendance. Another 3500 are expected from Jamaica, Bahamas, Cayman
Islands and Turks and Ciacos Islands. They are all very excited about the
camporee and are just ready to begin.
Our very own Pathfinder band
will be out in full force. We are looking for a delegation from the Bahamas
conference of over 100 persons. Parents, Pathfinders and Masterguides, time
is of the essence. You don’t want your pathfinder to be left out from a
once in a lifetime opportunity. Registration fees and forms are due now.
Contact your local club director or the Youth department of the conference.
Masterguide
Camporee Meeting All parents of pathfinders, and mastergiudes
attending this year’s camporee are asked to attend a very important meeting
on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 6 p. m. at the Grants Town Church.
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Sun Sets Today at
6:12 p.m.
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Sun Sets next
Sabbath at 6:16 p.m.
