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Convention 2002 Begins on Wednesday

With a brand-new year come new opportunities for growth, a new start or second chance and renewal for our Conference membership. And what better way to accomplish such objectives than by commencing the year with a spiritual revival. For Adventists that is convention. That’s right Convention 2002 with the theme "United In Worship of God" opens on Wednesday, January 16, at the Good News SDA, Church in Flamingo Gardens, with Dr. Wendel R. McMillan, Secretary of West Indies Union, delivering the charge. On Thursday, the venue shifts to the Living Faith Church, and Elder Noel Fraser will present the message. Friday, Convention 2002 continues at Hillview with Pastor Herman Ming, Union Treasurer, as speaker. Sabbath morning all members are to meet at the Church of God auditorium on Joe Farrington Road for Sabbath school and divine service, at which Dr. Patrick L. Allen, Union President, will be the guest speaker. At Grant’s Town on Sabbath afternoon the ordination of Pastor Owusu Boateng, Pastor of the South Andros district, will take place. Finally, on Sunday, January 20 Convention 2002 for New Providence will conclude with the final charge to be presented by Pastor Keith D. Albury, president of Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Additionally, members can look forward to great music, reports and fellowship. Among the musical groups and persons committed to ministering at Convention 2002 are Voices In Praise, Voices of Hope, The Convention Choir, Harmonious Praise, Meistersingers,and the Sentinels, etc.

Convention 2002 can be the best in accomplishing all of its goals with the commitment of each member praying as never before for each speaker, musician, singer, usher, parking attendant and assistant. Also, we are accorded the opportunity to lift each other in prayer. It would seem from the reports round us that the devil has intensified his attack and onslaught on the people of God. His darts are hurled at many and varied areas of the body of God. For some it is a personal attack, an attack on a member of the family, worry, fear, anxiety, doubt, etc. If none of the above rings a familiar note, then look in your neighborhood or pick up the newspapers; there you are certain to read or hear of someone who has been afflicted or inflicted, be it physically, emotionally, socially or spiritually.

Finally, on behalf of our Conference’s Administration, I implore you truly to make 2002 a year of unity and dedicated worship. Let’s avail ourselves of greater service. (Convention 2002 will be held throughout the Family Islands as of next week and in Grand Bahama February 1-3). Editor

Church Officers Commitment Service to be Held Today All Church officers for the year 2002 are requested to attend a service of commitment today, January 12, at the Centreville Church at 4 p.m. -Administration, Bahamas Conference

Deacons & Deaconesses Ushering Schedule for Convention 2002 We invite the participation of all Deacons and Deaconesses in the Adventist community to assist with ushering as follows:

1. Wednesday, January 16, Convention will be held at the Good News Church, Flamingo Gardens. All Deacons and Deaconesses of the Good News Church are requested to serve.
2. Thursday, January 17, Convention will be held at the Living Faith Church, Old Trail Road. All Deacons and Deaconesses of the Living Faith Church are requested to serve.
3. Friday, January 18, and Sunday, the 20^th, the Hillview Church will host Convention. Therefore its deacons and deaconesses will render service.
4. Sabbath, January 19, in the morning at the Church of God Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road, the following churches’ Deacons and Deaconesses are asked to be on duty: Centreville, Johnson Park, Maranatha, Philadelphia, Bethany, Ephesus, Breath of Life, New Englerston, New Providence, Berea, Francophone, Ebenezer and Bethel.
5. Sabbath afternoon at 3:30 p.m. for the Ordination service at the Grant’s Town Church, its Deacons and Deaconesses are requested to serve.

Female ushers on Sabbath morning should wear white with red corsages. Male ushers to wear black or dark blue suits, white shirts and red ties.

Additionally, a meeting of all head Deacons, Deaconesses and assistants will be held today immediately following the Joint Officers Commitment service at Centreville Church.

Thank you for your patronage. May God continually bless you as we begin this year. -Pastor M. A. Smith, Chairman of Ushering Committee

Adventist World Leaders Discuss Challenges of Cross-Cultural Mission Mission experts and directors of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Global Mission religious study centers met together December 5 to 8 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to share reports and discuss future directions for Adventist relations with other religions throughout the world.
"Global Mission has established religious study centers for Buddhism, Secularism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam to help the church better understand and more effectively communicate with people of differing beliefs," says Dr. Michael Ryan, director of Global Mission. "The Adventist Church is a witnessing community, but we condemn using force or any unethical means to persuade others. We respect their dignity, and their right to choose their religious beliefs. The study centers help us build bridges, without giving offense to other religions."

Jerry Whitehouse, director of the Adventist-Islamic Relations Center, reported on the special focus of his work since the September 11 terrorist attacks. "There is an increased openness among Muslims to discussion with other faiths," he said. Not only has this tragedy provided many new opportunities for inter-faith dialogue, he added; it has also given the center the chance to help correct misunderstandings within the Adventist and wider Christian communities regarding Islam.
Many of the reports focused on new ways to make Adventist faith and worship meaningful to people in different cultures. Presenters stressed that a responsible Christian witness must be sensitive to cultural differences.
Discussion also centered on how to translate Adventist beliefs into a language that people from other cultures and religious traditions can understand. "There's a tremendous gulf," said Ryan, "between the worldviews of certain world religions and the worldview of Seventh-day Adventists." Despite this, many of the study center directors emphasized areas that Adventists hold in common with other religions.
"Adventists have so many points in common [with Jews] that being Adventist brings us closer to the Jews than to any other ethnic or religious group," said Richard Elofer, director of the Worldwide Jewish Friendship Center.

Participants at the meeting also began identifying agenda items for the next Global Mission Issues Committee, a group formed to address problems and challenges of working cross-culturally. Next scheduled to be held at the Adventist world headquarters in April 2002, the committee will discuss topics such as polygamy, ways that church organization can better facilitate mission, and the need for an abbreviated church manual for use in certain parts of the world. -ANN

Combined Convention Choir to Rehearse All choir members of the SDA community are invited to attend Convention Choir rehearsal today at 3 p.m. at the Grant’s Town Church. Choir Director Bro. Nelson Bain solicits your support as we prepare to worship through the ministry of music.

Congratulations! Congratulations and best wishes are extended to Miss Cherita Symmonett, daughter of Bro. Christopher and Sis. Cutel Symmonett of the Grant’s Town Church, on the occasion of her being called to the Bar. In a ceremony with all its pomp and pageantry, Cherita, along with six other candidates, was called to the Bahamas Bar on Friday, December 21, 2001, at the Supreme Court, Nassau, Bahamas.

Supported by family members, her pastor, Eric D. Clarke, and others, Cherita in her response, gave thanks to God for his leading and proudly proclaimed that she is a Christian, an Adventist Christian. Committed to living a godly life, Cherita is determined to uphold integrity, honesty, and loyalty in the practice of law as an attorney. -M. Ellen Knott

SDA Art Club  All members of the SDA Art Club are reminded that art classes will resume Sunday, January 13, at 3 p.m. at BA Secondary School. A. Mason/Ian Antonio

Teacher’s Aide Needed The Bahamas Academy of SDA Early Learning center needs a substitute teacher’s aide. Interested persons should call 393-8898, or stop by the Elementary School on Penny Savings Bank Lane, to see the Principal for further details.

SDA Eleuthera Association to Meet A meeting for members of the Eleuthera Association will be held on January 27 at Grant’s Town at 5:00 p.m. All Eleutherians and friends of Eleuthera are invited to attend.-Curtis Bryan

Long Island to get a New Church Building (Stevens)  Your financial assistance is needed to support the building of a new SDA Church in Scrub Hill, Long Island. To this end an account has been opened at the Conference office.

We need at least 100 SDA Long Islanders and friends of Long Island to pledge/deposit $100 into this account to expedite the completion of a modern edifice to the honour and glory of God. Come on, saints, let’s put Long Island on the map. -D. Ritchie

Bahamas Conference Upcoming Events   Sunday, January 13, 2002, Workers Meeting at the New Providence Church at 9 a.m. All workers, including those on the Family Islands, are required to attend.

1. Tuesday, January 15, at 5:00 p.m. Finance and Budget Committee meeting at the Conference office.

2. Wednesday, Jan. 16, beginning of Convention at the Good News Church, Flamingo Gardens, at 7:00 p.m.

3. Thursday, Jan. 17, Convention continues at Living Faith Church, Old Trail Road, at 7 p.m.

4. Ministers Meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Conference office.

5. Friday, Jan. 18, Convention continues at Hillview Church.

6. School Boards meeting at 9 a.m. at the Conference Headquarters.

7. Sabbath a.m., Joint service at Joe Farrington Road. Song service will commence at 8:45 a.m.

8. Sabbath, January 19, Ordination of Pastor K. Owusu Boateng at the Grant’s Town Church at 3:30 p.m

9. Sunday, Jan. 20, Convention concludes at Hillview at 7:00 p.m.

Elder’s Notice Elders interested in the Elder’s Certification Course 102 are requested to sign up at the Continuing Education Division of Bahamas Academy on Wulff Road between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The course commences on Sunday, February 10, 2002 at 8:00 a.m. at BAS.-Pastor L. C. Rolle, Ministerial Director

BA Continuing Education Program Through a convenient evening program, Bahamas Academy Continuing Education Division is helping many working adults achieve their educational goals. The BACE program can help you move from where you are to where you would like to go. Centrally located, BACE provides residents of New Providence with the opportunity to receive individual attention in a friendly learning environment.

For further details regarding fees and registration, please call 393-9362, or stop by the office at Bahamas Academy on Wulff Road (9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday).

Cooking Classes Bahamas Academy Continuing Education Division is offering a six-week course in Vegetarian Cooking. Interested persons are invited to call 393-9362 for further details.

Fire Victim’s Request A recent fire victim and family are in need of a furnished apartment. Please contact Bro. Ray Jennings at 356-4684 should you have one available.

Cat Island SDA Advancement Society to Meet A meeting will be held tomorrow morning, January 13, at 10 o’clock for members and friends of Cat Island at the Hillview Church. -N. Seymour

Women’s Ministries Leaders to Meet All Women’s Ministries Leaders and their assistants are asked to meet with sister Scavella Sunday morning, January 13, at 7 o’clock at the New Providence Church.

Amalgamation Committee to Meet Members of the Amalgamation Committee are requested to attend a meeting tomorrow, Sunday, January 13, at 5 p.m. at the Conference Office.

SDA Law Enforcement Officers Committee to Meet Members of the SDA Law Enforcement Officers Committee are requested to meet today, January 12, at 6 p.m. at the Grant’s Town Church.

Bahamas Conference Executive Committee to Meet The Bahamas Conference Executive Committee Meeting and Annual Audit will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2002,at 9 a.m. at the Conference office.

Bahamas Academy Elementary Bahamas Academy Elementary is accepting new applicants for all grades Level -K2 to 6- for the school year 2002 to 2003. Application forms are available at the school on Penny Bank Lane from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday. The first entrance exam is scheduled for Friday, February 22, 2002, at the school from 9 a.m. to noon for those entering grades 1 to 6. For further information, please contact the school at 393-8898.

The Adventist Book Centre to hold Blowout Sale January 31 to February 3, the Adventist Book Centre will hold a blowout sale. All are invited to stop by and check out the savings. Twenty percent off case prices. Books available up to 40% off . All Vegetarian meats 15% off.

Marriage Commitment Seminar It’s exciting, it’s coming, Marriage Commitment Seminar 2002. Couples are asked to plan from now to attend this seminar February 8 to 10, to be held at a major hotel to be announced. Registration will begin on Monday, Jan. 14. Please contact K. Cargill for more details at 242-341 4021.  See NAD Family Ministries Page

Youth Leaders to Meet A meeting for all Youth Council members including "Listen-Up" Committee members will be held on Monday evening, January 14, at 7 o’clock at Grant’s Town Church.

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P.O. Box N-356, Harrold Road, Nassau, Bahamas.   Tel:  242-341 4021    Fax: 242-341 4088

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