Online Logos July 31, 2004

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Global Evangelism Continues

The Global Evangelism program that started in the Bahamas Conference last week continues at the six centers throughout New Providence. In spite of the heavy rain on Monday, all the centers remained open. Reports from the various centers indicate that the Bible-based messages are clear and the attendance is increasing. Three of the speakers are from Germany, and one is from the United States of America. They are bringing a fresh approach to the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With the assistance of the DVD player and video projector, the speakers have had no difficulty in holding the attention of their listeners.

Peter Munch, a 6-foot 7 inches tall German, is the tallest among the preachers. Towering over the pulpit at the Grant’s Town Church, he not only captivates their attention but holds the interest of his audience as he presents the Word of God in a dynamic way. This committed Christian layman is a Chemistry and Geography teacher in the public school system in Germany. He is willing to allow the Lord to use him to point others to Christ.

Nadege Demitri Apatout, an articulate and youthful German of Guadeloupian descent is bringing hope to the hearts of the Haitian community at the Francophone Seventh-day Adventist Church on Balfour Avenue, Nassau. The attendance at this center has been especially good. We are praying that many will surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the Berea Church, Gerald Stoeck, another German young man is sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The hearts of the hearers are warmed as they listen to the speaker each evening.

Accompanied by his wife, Jenny, Pastor Dennis Nikel, the mentor of the group of guest evangelists, is from Idaho, U.S.A. He is preaching to an enthusiastic audience at the Hillview Church. Although the audience was smaller than usual on the rainy Monday night, he gave a dynamic presentation that truly inspired those in attendance.

Local speakers include Lebert McBean, Ednal Collie and Anson Albury at the Maranatha center. Brother McBean, an enthusiastic Literature Evangelist in Nassau , preached for the first three nights. His dynamic presentations were received gladly. He was followed by Brother Collie, a retired teacher and committed lay preacher. Anson Albury, a new intern will be the speaker for the final week. At the New Providence center, Pastor Peter Joseph was the speaker during the first week, and Pastor Leo Rolle will be the preacher for the final week. As we continue to support Global Evangelism at the various centers, consider the following statement by Ellen White:

"The third angel’s message is swelling into a loud cry, and you must not feel at liberty to neglect the present duty, and still entertain the idea that at some future time you will be the recipients of great blessing, when without any effort on you part a wonderful revival will take place...Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the heavenly dew...."   Evangelism, pp. 701, 702

Festival of the Laity Countdown  During the period August 18 to 21, over sixty lay persons from the Bahamas Conference will travel to Montego Bay, Jamaica, to attend the Festival of the Laity. The theme for the conference will be "Fan the Flame, Rekindle the Passion, Share the Joy." Presentations will include:

• Prayer Ministry conducted by Pastor Samuel Telemaque of the Caribbean Union Conference.
• Small Group Ministries by Pastor David Cox of the British Union Conference.
• Leading God’s Church by Pastor Keith Albury, president of the North Bahamas Mission.
• Successful Lay Preaching by Dr. Enell Hall, School of Religion and Theology of Northern Caribbean University.
• Conducting Successful Community Services Outreach by Mrs. Joan Wint, Principal-Denbigh High School, Jamaica.
• Youth Evangelism by Pastor Baraka Muganda, World Youth Leader of the Adventist Church.
• Stable Family Life In A Chaotic World by Pastor Gordon Martinborough, Inter-American Division.
• Evangeliving - Living the Gospel by Pastors Carlyle Bayne and Bernardo Rodriguez, Inter-American Division.
• Restorative Justice-Promoting Healing in Broken Communities by Mrs. Carol Palmer, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Jamaica.
• Prision Ministry-Unlocking The Bars Of The Heart Behind Prison Bars, by Richard Bland, North American Division.
• Combating The Devastation Of HIV/AIDS-Caring For The Wounded by Dr. Mutel Kerr, British Union Conference.
• Retaining God’s Harvest, by Pastor Basil Reid, Personal Ministries Director of the West Indies Union Conference.

There will be a meeting for all persons traveling to the Festival of The Laity, tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Centreville Church. Pastor T. Basil Sturrup, Personal Ministries Director

 

Marriage Partnership: the On-Going Debate  Sabbath School Units are noisy with healthy discussions this quarter about "Religion in Relationships". This subject speaks right to the heart of the greatest need in our church: the need for healthy, meaningful relationships. Perhaps the topic thus far that brought the greatest discussion and perhaps the greatest disagreement is last week’s lesson "Marriage Is Not Out-of-Date." We do know according to research that married people live longer and are happier. We also know that two of the reasons for marital dissolution, even among Adventist couples, are 1) an individual in the relationship needs are not being met, and 2) a misunderstanding of "headship" in Ephesians 5:25. Why is there such a battle for the "top position" in marriage. Or is there really a top position? Ellen White states in her book Adventist Home page 106: "Neither husband nor wife is to make a plea for rulership . . . Both are to cultivate the spirit of kindness, being determined never to grieve or injure the other. . . ."

I’m suggesting that a clear understanding of Ephesians 5 emphatically nullifies any idea of a "top position" or "the one in charge" in marriage. Paul endeavors to emphasize to the Ephesians the equality of the genders. The context of his statement is that women in Ephesus were, by tradition, practice and law, of inferior quality and thus had a lower status in society than men, like Bahamians women before 1962.

The Ephesian women were uneducated, unskilled, and had no political, economic or social rights. Therefore men were more powerful and in charge. Paul then, appealing to these men said profoundly, "Be the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church." We cannot divide the sentence. Note also that he did not state head of the home. Why? Because he was directly dealing with a problem of inequality of the genders. In the beginning husbands and wives had equal voice, vote and power. Adam and Eve were given dominion, or authority over the earth and not each other. We see that in the Genesis account in Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life--the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals,  and small animals." New Living Translation

When he tells the wives to "submit," he was also addressing a cultural problem. When a woman got married in Paul’s day, she was still attached to her father. Her father had authority "over" her and she had to respect him over her husband. The Greek word for "submit" literally means "to identify with," and not to subdue oneself. Paul was telling the wives that under God they were no longer to "identify" themselves with their fathers but instead to "identify" themselves with their husbands. The secondary application of this passage is "wives and husbands submitting" to each other (Ephesians 5:21). The main emphasis a godly husband should have is to find ways of becoming a partner with his wife.   The words that should predominate a marriage relationship are harmony, togetherness, mutuality, companionship, partnership and sacrifice. Family Ministries Director

 

Steering Committee Meeting  The members of the Steering Committee that has been appointed to plan the activities in honor of Pastor and Mrs. Roach are requested to meet in the Board Room at the Conference Office on Tuesday, August 3 at 1:00 p.m. All point persons are also invited to attend. Chairpersons of the sub-committees and the point persons from the churches should be prepared to report on their assignments.

 

New Appointments At NCU  Dr. Patrick Williams, former Assistant Professor of Accounting and Business at Andrews University, has been appointed Vice-President for Administration at Northern Caribbean University. This appointment took effect July 15, 2004. Dr. Williams has a wealth of experience in the field of business, management and accounting. A Jamaican by birth, Dr. Williams holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Andrews University. Ms. Rhoma Tomlinson, former lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies, has been appointed Director of Public Relations and Marketing. She has over ten years experience in Journalism and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication from the University of the West Indies.

These appointments were announced by President Dr. Herbert Thompson at the recent Charter Day Celebrations in June. Source: NCU News and Media Information

 

Recognition Service and Banquet For Dr. Hugh and Mrs. Olga Roach During the weekend of September 3 to 5, 2004, Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Roach will be recognized for giving 50 years of service in education and the gospel ministry. The schedule for the weekend will be as follows:

Friday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Joint service at the Hillview SDA Church, Harrold Road

Sabbath, September 4, at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Special services at Maranatha.

Friends from the community are invited to attend.

Sunday, September 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Formal Banquet at the Radisson Cable Beach Hotel

Tickets for the Banquet are now available. The deadline for submitting ads is July 31. Please contact one of the following persons to get your tickets and/or to place an ad in the Commemorative Booklet.

Listing of point persons in the churches:

• Adelaide Eric Bain
• Berea Nelson Moncur
• Bethany Allison Mason
• Bethel Pastor Edward St. Fleur
• Breath of Life Sharon Robinson
• Centreville Betty Tinker
• Ebenezer Pastor Edward St. Fleur
• Francophone Pastor Edward St. Fleur
• Gambier Pastor Gary King
• Good News Peter Scavella
• Grant’s Town Christine Brown
• Hillview Donnalee Bowe
• Johnson Park Barry Saunders
• Living Faith Andria Musgrove
• Maranatha Katrina Mitchell
• Message of Hope Marva Farquharson
• New Englerston Rose Sands
• New Providence Vernal Rolle
• Parkgate Cheryl Forbes
• Philadelphia Annette Dorsette
• Real Harvest Preston Johnson

Track and Field Summer Camp  The First Annual Dianne M. Woodside Track and Field Camp will be held from August 9 to 13, 2004 during the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Registration will take place at the Stadium from August 3 - 6 from 5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. and during the morning of August 9. Contact Dianne Woodside at 341-5034 or diannewoodsidetrackcamp@yahoo.com for more information.

 

Youth Announcements

!West Indies Union/Inter American Division Bible Bowl.

West Indies Union/Inter American Division will be conducting a Bible Bowl for young persons between the ages of 15 - 30. The questions will be taken from the book of Daniel.

This is a final call for all persons interested in signing up for the Bible Bowl. A meeting will be held tomorrow at 8 a.m. at the Berea Church

!A special meeting for all persons traveling to Osh-Kosh will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Hillview Church.

 

S.D.A. Educators’ Association Activities Please remember the following up-coming events:

September 12: Prayer Breakfast/Seminar November. 6: Boat Cruise Mrs. Elmore Jacques, Public Relations

Cafeteria Matron Needed Cafeteria Matron needed for September, 2004. Interested persons should call 341-4162 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

 

National Women’s Retreat Persons interested in attending the upcoming "Women United In Spirit and Purpose Through Prayer " Retreat are reminded that the deposit is now due.

Adventist Book Centre The Adventist Book Centre invites you to come by and shop for all your health food needs. A full-time colporteur is now available to come to your home or office. Should you need this service please call 341-2429. Additionally, delicious, hot vegetarian lunches are available daily. Just another service we provide to meet your needs. - Ask about the Gold Card. Kenny V.A. Deveaux, ABC Manager

V.B.A On The Move Andrew Hanna led a team of volunteers to Bluff, Eleuthera last weekend to work on the Fellowship Hall at the Bluff Church. Dennis Dean, Wellington Burrows and Marvin Taylor assisted Brother Hanna in tiling the bathroom and installing kitchen cabinets. The group also participated in the Sabbath services and encouraged the members of the church to remain faithful to the Lord.  Carpenters, masons and helpers are needed at the Early Learning Centre. Come at 8 a.m. tomorrow and help us finish the roof and plaster the walls.

Living Faith Women’s Ministry Department Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church, Women’s Ministry Department Cordially invites you to "A celebration of Sisterhood" Sunday, August 8, 2004 at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, Gulfstream Room, Nassau Beach Hotel, Cable Beach. Tickets are available from the Women’s Ministry Director at your church or from Sister Vesta Williams (393-0027 or 502-9539) at Living Faith.

Ghana, Africa Trip Lay Evangelist, David Williams, will be in Ghana, Africa, August 23 - September 11, 2004. Please pray for his success as he travels.

 

Business Logos The Communication department is looking into the possibility of printing a Business edition of the Logos to accommodate the many "secular" announcements and ads. We are trying to eliminate the more "secular materials from the Sabbath edition. Let us have your views on the need for the Business Logos.

 

Sun sets today at 7:56 p.m. Sun sets next Sabbath at 7:52 p.m.