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Reflecting On
the First Quarter
Happy Sabbath Dear Saints of God! Today marks the second day in the second
quarter of 2005. This,
through
God’s leading, will usher the Seventh-day Adventist Church into it’s 58th
General Conference session to be held in St Louis, Missouri. Reports indicate
that many of you are planning to attend. Recognizing that there are many new
believers, I ask that you check with your pastor for information regarding
this exciting event.
The first quarter kicked off with a Spirit-filled convention which
attracted many of our Family Island local leaders with their equally exciting
reports. Also, we were blessed with the timely messages of Dr. Herbert
Thompson, president of Northern Caribbean University based in Mandeville,
Jamaica. Convention was followed by our first Prayer Summit with Pastor Samuel
Telemacque of Caribbean Union leading out and coordinated by Pastor Jeremiah
Duncombe, local Prayer Coordinator. This prayer focus has probably had the
most significant impact upon the first quarter, for the summit attracted some
of the best attendance at any joint meetings within our conference. Augmenting
this was our first Union-wide prayer emphasis launched on the first Sabbath of
March. I need not tell you that prayer puts us in tune with God and gives a
perspective that we would not have otherwise.
- Bahamas Academy New Building
Another highlight of the first quarter was the ground breaking for the
new Bahamas Academy on Marshall Road. Though there have been many challenges
associated with the actual commencing of construction, I am happy to report
that work has started with the layout. Expect more information on this major
undertaking. I also remind those of you who pledged to contribute toward the
project to live up to your pledges as funds are needed to keep the work
going. Plan to also to give voluntary labour.
Evangelistic Thrust
While there were other events and activities for the first quarter
including the Education Summit, Fun Run/ Walk initiative and the Family Life
Marriage Enrichment, it must be noted that the highlight of the first
quarter was our evangelistic thrust which came in the form of three regional
crusades. To date, over three hundred persons have responded in baptism, and
today more will answer the call and go all the way with their Lord Jesus
Christ in water baptism. I urge that we treat with care and concern these
dear ones ensuring their full acceptance and growth into the Seventh-day
Adventist Family. It is always a thrilling experience to witness relatives
and friends enjoying victory in Jesus. Though some of you may not be aware,
I was privileged to conduct a short revival during the third week of our
city crusades (March 16 – 19) in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. With the assistance
of Pastor Lynden Williams, his wife, Jackie Williams and brother, David
Williams, God gave two precious souls who responded to His appeal and thus
are members of His remnant church.
From Here
Equally exciting will be this second quarter as next weekend we will
welcome Pastor Errol Thomas from our Union Headquarters in Mandeville,
Jamaica to do a free couples’ seminar for married and engaged couples at
Bahamas Academy’s Gym. Joining him will be Pastor Gordon Martinborough from
The Inter-American Division, for a Family-Life Certification Seminar for
pastors. Also, Pastor Ronnie Henry, Stewardship Director of West Indies
Union, will head a list of distinguished presenters for the Stewardship
Bible Institute jointly between the Bahamas Conference and the North Bahamas
Mission, April 15 to 17, 2005, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in Nassau. The purpose
of the Institute is to provide a training program for Pastors, Church
Elders, and Local Stewardship Leaders.
The Health Ministries Department will host a Health and AIDS seminar for
Church Health Directors and all Pastors, April 11 to 13. Seminars will be held
from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m at the Conference Office. Dr. Elie Honore and Dr.
W. R. McMillan will be the guest presenters for this seminar. Thus you can see
that April will be an exciting month. Nonetheless, I caution that we seek to
establish and/or maintain our quality time with God as this is the only way
that we will grow in His knowledge and grace. Again I wish for you a blessed
day in the Lord. -Leonard A. Johnson, President, BC
Prayer Request Continue to pray for Pastor Keith Albury who was
diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma while in Doctors Hospital a few weeks ago.
On Thursday, March 19, days after receiving the diagnosis, Pastor & Mrs.
Albury returned to Freeport, Grand Bahama. On Sabbath, March 21, he preached
at the Freeport Adventist Church a dynamic sermon to conclude the "Revelation
of Truth Bible Conference," which he started before his sudden
hospitalization. The first elder of the Freeport Adventist Church, Lawrence
Palmer, continued to proclaim the gospel nightly at the Bible Conference for
three weeks after Pastor Albury's diagnosis. On that Sabbath, after Pastor
Albury's sermon,10 precious souls were baptized.
A few days later, after sharing Christ with his members, Pastor & Mrs
Albury traveled to Florida, where he is now, to have further diagnostic
testing and treatment. Pastor Albury's spirits are high and he continues to
depend on Jesus to sustain him daily. Please keep him and his entire family in
your prayers."
Getting It Right Someone called me
January 3. "Sorry to ask you a stupid question," they said, "but a friend of
mine just told me they heard the General Conference is planning to change the
church's name. Is that true?"
"Change it to what?" I inquired. "She said they're dropping the
'Seventh-day' part, and leaving only 'Adventist.' "Nothing to it," I told the
caller.
But my subconscious went ruminating on the conversation, I think; and about
five hours later it dawned on me what likely had happened. I'd recalled
reading a release from one of the offices in the General Conference or the
North American Division advising those who write for the church to always use
the church's proper name. Avoid the abbreviated "SDA," it said. Instead, we
should spell out the name. And in spelling it out, we should do it right. Not
"Seventh-Day Adventist" (with a capital D), but rather "Seventh-day
Adventist." The directive further observed that the abbreviated form,
"Adventist," often comes in handy--for variety, and when we need to shorten,
as in a long document in which the church's name appears multiple times.
It was probably this communique that had become garbled as it made its way
across the churches. Someone either misread it or got the information
secondhand and ran with it. It all reminded me of a pet peeve I've nursed over
the years, having to do with the irresponsible way some Adventists assess
spoken or printed material.
I remember calling the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) radio from
my office at the Canadian Union years ago to upbraid them on something in
their broadcast that morning. Why did you leave out thus and so? I asked
accusingly. It made your reporting unbalanced, I said. Imagine how chagrined I
was when the announcer read back to me part of what he'd presented that
morning, proving that what I charged had been omitted was actually there! I
was crestfallen.
It taught me a lesson about listening well, about reading carefully,
especially when we intend to take issue. We sense that here at the Review
from some of the letters we get. But the problem is much bigger than people
misunderstanding what we write in the Review. It has to do with the way
we evaluate news reports, documents, speeches, publications, etc., that
impinge on Adventist faith and the church's mission. The thought came to me
some years ago in the wake of the alarm in some quarters of the church over
the pope's Dies Domini ("Day of the Lord") Apostolic Letter.To hear the
uproar, you would have thought the sky was falling in. Then I took time to
read the document for myself. One or two lines with potential implications for
religious freedom, yes, but basically a pastoral letter, such as any
denominational head would have a right to send out to their own pastors,
priests, or parishioners.
My point is that we do a disservice to the church when, misunderstanding
the intent of a document, announcement, or release, we rush to judgment,
warning of dire prophetic consequences, needlessly alarming fellow members by
crying wolf--again. Every responsible Adventist should be concerned that our
colleagues and fellow church members read and listen carefully. You don't have
to understand everything you hear or read. But when you intend to make
something an issue, your first obligation is to make sure you do.
Some rumors in the church (such as the one I mentioned at the top) are easy
to dispel. Others can leave a trail of destruction in their wake, including
people's lives and careers. So before climbing on our soapboxes, firing off
that letter, or ascending the pulpit to proclaim some new and exciting
(prophetic or other) development, let's make it a habit to ask the right
questions: Did he/she really say that? Did I miss something? Are my facts
straight? Did I get it right?
We're all listening ears for the church, and all of us are voices. The
church benefits when the majority of its members make it a habit of being
hard-nosed about their facts. As Adventists, we should be noted for our
fairness and our credibility. Spreading false reports and rumors is not our
business--especially not in God's name. -Roy Adams is an associate editor
of the Adventist Review
Farewell Concert in Honor of Audrey Dean-Wright
The Mesistersingers will host two evenings of
farewell
concert in honor of Audrey Dean-Wright, President and Choir Director emeritus
of the group, on the occasion of her leave for overseas mission to Cuba. The
concerts will be held at Government House Ballroon on April 23 and 24, 2005.
Special guest artist (doctoral candidate) Angelique Clay from Oakwood College
will be featured.
Additionally, the Mesistersingers will pay special tribute to Eurydice
Osterman, professor at Oakwood College, on the final night’s concert.
Tickets will be available from the Bahamas Conference headquarters and
group members. Proceeds from these concerts will help to defray the group’s
travel to the General Conference and Bahamas Academy New Building.
An Evening of Sacred Music An evening of sacred music featuring Allison
Mason, guest artists Keson Tinker and Friends-4-Life will be held
Saturday, April 16 at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street at 8:00 p.m.
Artists Ian Antiono and Kendly Darling will host an art display prior to the
concert from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. For tickets kindly call R Smith at 324-6997 and
Mable Mason at 341-6637. - A. Mason
Family Life Certification Part two of the Family Life Certification
Series with Pastor Gordon Martinborough for all pastors and departmental
directors will be held on Sunday, April 10, 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Monday,
April 11, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hillview Church.
Free Married Couples Seminar Pastor Errol Thompson, Family Life
Director for West Indies Union will be in Nassau, April 8 to 10 and will be
hosting free Married Couples Seminars as follows:
Friday evening 7:00 to 8:30
Sabbath afternoon 3:45 to 6:00
Sunday evening 7:00 to 8:30
All of these meetings will be held in the Bahamas Academy Auditorium (not
the Gym).
Stewardship Bible Institute The West Indies Union and the
Inter-American Division are excited at collaborating to conduct the
Stewardship Bible Institute jointly between the Bahamas Conference and the
North Bahamas Mission, April 15 to 17, 2005, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in Nassau.
Wholestic Lifestyle Coming soon to New Providence is Wholestic
Lifestyle a clinic specializing in Colon Hydrotherapy (Colonics). Call
325-6173 or 323-0610 for additional information on how you can benefit from
this highly recommended health program.
Bahamas Academy Announcements The ENTRANCE EXAM for new students
desirous of entering grades 1 – 10 of Bahamas Academy of Seventh-day
Adventists for the 2005 – 2006 school year will be held on Thursday, March 24
from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon at the elementary and secondary campuses
respectively. Application Forms for K2 to grades 6 can be collected from the
elementary campus (Penny Savings Bank Lane) during regular school hours.
Application Forms for grades 7 – 10 can be collected from the secondary campus
(Wulff Road) during regular school hours. The Application Form and
registration fee of $20.00 must be turned in before or by March 24, 2005.
Enquires can be made at 393-8898 (Elementary) or 393-3381 (Secondary).
-Lynn C. Smith, Principal, BA
Youth Corner
*All Masterguides-in-training are asked to meet tomorrow, Sunday, April
3 at 7 o’clock the Hillview Church.
*There will be a General Youth Council meeting for all Adventist Youth,
Pathfinder and Adventiturer Leaders on Monday, April 4th, at 7:00
p.m. at the Berea Church. - Pastor A. Burrows, Youth Director
Church Membership Directory Software Training Workshop The above
training workshop for pastors, church clerks, communication leaders and
persons interested will be held Sunday, April 24, 2005, at the Conference
Headquarters from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please bring a laptop and call
361-6355 regarding fee.
Congratulations and Welcome Home Congratulations are extended to former
Bahamas Academy student, Mrs. Sonya Moxey-Crayton who was recently promoted to
the position of assistant Treasurer of the South Central Conference of SDA in
Nashville Tennessee. Sonya is currently visiting Nassau with her husband and
two children. Welcome back!
Hour of Gospel Music at Mary Ingraham Home The Hour of Gospel Music at
the Mary Ingraham Home continues on a weekly basis at 5:00 p.m. The schedule
for today, April 2, will be the Johnson Park Church, and next week, the Living
Faith Church.
Adventist Book Centre The Adventist Book Centre is pleased to announce
that the large SDA Hymnals with notes are available in various colours. For
your complete health food needs, come and visit us. Devotionals for 2005 are
still available. Thank you for your patronage. -Kenny V.A. Deveaux, ABC
Manager
Newly baptized members who are needing jobs should call 341-4021 and ask
for Dr. John Carey.
Pre-mothers Day Women’s Ministries Bigest Boat Cruise Coming Soon
Coming May 7, 2005, the Women’s Ministries department will host a pre-mothers
day boat cruise on board the largest of the Calypaso boats. Plan now to get
your tickets from your local WM Leader. The boat will depart Prince George
Wharf at 8:30 p.m.
Publishing Seminar Publishing leaders from the Inter-American Division
and West Indies Union will be conducting a Publishing seminar April 29 to 30.
All persons interested in the literature ministry are especially invited to
attend. Prospective summer students are encouraged to register. Watch the
Logos for further details and venue.
Sun sets today at 6:26 p.m. Sun sets next Sabbath at 7:30
p.m.
Daylight Savings Time Begin Sunday Morning, April 2, 2005
