International
Women’s Day of Prayer and Fasting
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Miriam
Knowles, Women's Ministries Director |
Today has been designated “International
Women’s Day of Prayer” for all Adventist churches around the world. We trust
that every member of the churches in our conference can enter into the
spirit of the day and benefit from our concerted effort to give praise and
honour to God for His abundant mercy and marvelous grace. This day of prayer
and fasting comes at a crucial time for us as a church and as a nation. It
is an important time for the church because we have committed ourselves to
the “Pentecost and More” evangelistic campaign. And we need the power of the
prayers of the saints to prepare us for the battle ahead.
Ellen White said that prayer is the answer to
everything; therefore, through prayer and fasting we are conditioned to
receive the Holy Spirit who will empower us to witness for Christ.
This is a critical time for us as a nation because we are facing some
serious social challenges. Domestic violence and other crimes seem to be
escalating. We need Divine intervention to save the day. Also, we are
preparing for our national elections. Therefore we need special guidance in
choosing those persons who will represent us in the next parliament. I
believe that when we pray sincerely and fervently, God will answer our
prayers.
In support of today’s emphasis, the President of West Indies Union, Dr.
Patrick Allen, wrote the following:
“Every year the women of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church world-wide observe International women’s Day of Prayer on
the first Sabbath in March. We in West Indies Union laud, applaud and
embrace this effort, and invite the entire church membership – men, women,
and children – to unite and make this a day of Prayer and Fasting. We ask
our pastors and elders to join with the women’s Ministries Department to
give leadership, unity and effectiveness to this effort.
Like the people of Ninevah, there is a need for
us to robe ourselves in sackcloth and ashes, bow in penitence to God on
behalf of church members, families, communities and the whole nation.
Women’s and Children’s
Ministries Hold Consecration Service As the Women and
Children’s Ministries Department came together in their annual consecration
service on Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m., the walls of the Grant’s Town
Seventh-day Adventist church appeared to vibrate with the melodious singing
of the congregation. Under the theme “Women Committed to Service,” the
women’s ministries director, sister Miriam Knowles and children’s ministries
director, sister Diane Jones highlighted to the congregation the importance
of both divisions in our churches and the crucial role that each department
plays in the enhancement and growth of our women and children. The musical
items presented by the Brown sisters and the Grant’s Town ladies chorale
took everyone to an even higher spiritual level.
The keynote speaker, Pastor Eric Dannie Clarke,
admonished the congregation to love their neighbors as they love themselves.
He emphasized that each person needs to appreciate him/herself for who
he/she is and to recognize that each one is unique. The church must give
more effective leadership to the nation. We need to demonstrate
Christ-likeness by precept and example.
Our nation has been battered by crime and unspeakable violence and unless we
unite to petition the Lord, as the people of Nineveh did, we along with the
rest will sink further into the gloom. We are comforted by the knowledge
that God invites us to come to Him as a corporate body to receive healing.
He promises that ‘If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and heal their
lands.’ II Corinthians 7:14
Pastor Clarke further encouraged the
congregation to carry their candle to the world and let their light shine
forth so all can see. With words of hope ringing in their ears, members of
the congregation held up their lighted candles as they listened to Karen
Scavella sing the song “Carry Your Candle.”
Pastor Andrew Burrows led the audience into the
prayer of consecration and commitment. This consecration service will truly
go down in the annals of history as a memorable and enriching experience. We
look forward to the next consecration service with great anticipation. -
Diane Jones, Children’s Ministries Director
Let us take God at His word. Let us come together in faith, in sincerity,
and in humility before Him.” Have a happy and spirit-filled Sabbath!
Eight Weeks to Wellness off to a Great Start
On Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the Bahamas Academy Gym, approximately
200 eager participants sat expectantly for the beginning of the Eight Weeks
to Wellness program. This program is sponsored jointly by the Adventist
Health Professionals Association, Better Living Health Center and lots of
community business partners. Our community business partners provide the
funding in thousands of dollars so that this program could be offered to the
public relatively free. Two of our platinum business partners are City
Market and Colina Imperial.
During the opening ceremony, the Hon. Dr.
Bernard Nottage, the Minister of Health, gave the opening address. He
commended the Seventh-day Adventist Church for their commitment in impacting
the nation’s health in organized programs such as this one. He pledged his
ministry’s support in helping to fund such programs in the future. He then
challenged each participant to learn as much as they could and to not only
be hearers but doers of the principles of healthy lifestyles. The minister
also pledged to give a year's membership in the gym of their choice to two
persons who do the best in the program.
Each participant of the program was
pre-screened to get their base-line cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood
pressure reading along with their height, weight, waist and hip
measurements. At the end of the program, they will be screened again in
order to see the impact of the program.
This year our Eight Weeks program is using the theme “Raising the Standard
from Super-size families to Super Healthy families. In order to make an even
greater impact on the children of our nation, the Adventist Health
Professionals Association has partnered with the Bahamas Heart Association
to take the Eight Weeks to Wellness program to four of our nation’s schools,
starting in March of this year. – Dr. Idamae Hanna
New Adventist TV Programme
Adventists Speak, a one-hour weekly television programme will be
launched next month on ZNS TV-13 (Cable Bahamas Channel 11). The purpose of
this programme is to showcase the Adventist Church, its mission, teachings,
people and the impact they are having upon the community. The air time will
be Sundays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Stewardship Weekend at BOL
Church There will be a weekend of Stewardship emphasis at the Breath of Life
Church on Marshall Road on March 17 to 18, 2007. Sabbath morning a
Stewardship Festival will be held. During the afternoon a Stewardship
Seminar will take place. On Sunday, March 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, a
Family Finance Seminar will be held. All persons are welcome to participate
and attend these meetings. For more detail call Nikki Williams at 324-6753.
School of Evangelism
The School of Evangelism continues on Sunday, March 4, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. at
the Hillview Church –Pastor Peter Joseph, Coordinator
Parkgate Church Crusade The Adventist community
is invited to the Parkgate evangelistic crusade under the theme "By Thy
Word" with Evangelist Earl Thomas. Meetings begin Sunday March 4, nightly at
7:15 p.m. at the Church on Parkgate and Kemp Roads.
Praise Reunion to Rehearse Tonight All Praise
Reunion members are reminded of their rehearsal tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the
Living Faith Church, Old Trail Road. Please make every effort to be on time.
–Harold Dorsett
Parkgate ‘GATORS’ Pathfinders
Club Walk-a-thon March 11 at 5:30 a.m. Beginning at 5:30
a.m. -Route : leaving the Church parking lot, walking East along Parkgate
Road, to Village Road, walking North on Village Road to Montague, then West
on Montague to Long Warf , returning from Long Warf, heading East along Bay
Street onto Village Road , south on Village Road onto Parkgate Road, West on
Parkgate Road to Church Grounds.
Children’s
Ministries Preachers Workshop Postponed The child Preachers'
workshop scheduled for Friday, March 9th and Sunday, March 11th is postponed
to a later date. Please look out for new date. –Diane Jones, CM, Director
Pathfinder Meeting Continue at Centreville The
Centreville Pathfinder Club meets tomorrow, Sunday, March 4, 2007, from
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Persons wishing to join this club are welcome.
–Grace Bostwick,, Pathfinder Director, Centreville
Youth Ministries
The Bahamas Conference Youth Ministry has adopted the theme,
“Sold out to Jesus,” for the year 2007. Please take note of the following
events/activities:
1. Masterguide training for the Haitian and English speaking districts
continues on Sunday, March 4, 2007 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at Bahamas
Academy High School. All persons taking the course are asked to meet at that
time.
2. Adventist Volleyball Season begins on April 14th. Teams can begin
registration for volleyball by contacting their local AYS Leaders for the
registration form or coming to the Office. All teams should be registered by
April 6th. Games begin Saturday, April 14 at the Bahamas Academy Gym.
3. Youth Bible Bowls Please note that the Bahamas Conference Youth
department will be participating in two separate Bible Bowls. These are as
follows:
a). The Inter- American Division Sponsored Bible Bowl. The books of study
for I.A.D. Bible bowl are Songs of Solomon, Ecclesiaties, and Proverbs. (N.I.V.).
The Bahamas conference run-offs will be held on Friday, April 13. Each
church is asked to have their own run-offs and prepare one person between
the ages of 16-30 for the conference run-offs. The A.Y. leader must submit
the name of the participants, who must hold membership in the local church,
to the Conference Youth department by March 12, 2007. No names will be
accepted after this date.
The winner of the conference run-offs will represent the Bahamas conference
at the West Indies Union Level in June, at N.C.U. in Mandeville, Jamaica.
The winner at the union level will represent the West Indies Union at the
IAD finals to be held during the Youth Leadership and prayer Convention in
Colombia in July of this year.
b). The West Indies Union Bible Bowl. Each year, West Indies Union host a
Youth Weekend for the entire union. This year's weekend will be held form
April 27-29th. During this weekend, the W.I.U Bible bowl will be held. The
books of study for this Bible Bowl are the four gospels. The categories are
as follows: Ages 6-9 Mark, ages 10-15 Luke, ages 16-22 Matthew, ages 23- 35
John. Each church is asked to have one youth in each category prepared for a
local competition to be held at the end of March. Venue and time to be
announced. Winners from each category will represent the Conference at W.I.U.
youth weekend in April. Please note that this Bible bowl is a separate event
from the IAD Bible Bowl
4. Adventurer uniform Parents, and Adventurer clubs are reminded that the
new uniform for adventurers and eager beavers is now navy blue trousers and
jumpers (replacing the Khaki). The Inter-American Division sets the
uniforms. Our goal is to have our Adventurers and Eager Beavers in the new
uniforms by end of April, in preparation for youth march in May. Please
contact your local adventurer leaders or the youth page of the Bahamas
Conference web-site for details.
5. Listen Up
Check out the Listen Up
website at the
www.bahamasconference.org/listenup . Click on the logo and you just
might see yourself!
To join the Listen Up Club, please call 393-1493 or email dillette2002@yahoo.com.
– Pastor Andrew E. Burrows, Youth Director, BC
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, March 3 Message of Hope Church is
expected. Next week Sabbath, March 10, Francophone Church is scheduled.
Cat Island Easter Homecoming
The Cat Island Advancement Society is hosting their annual Cat
Island Homecoming April 6 to 9, 2007. Persons interested in attending this
homecoming are invited to call and register with Elder Norman Seymour at
324-6744.
Sun
sets today at 6:13 p.m.
Sun sets next Sabbath at 6:16 p.m.
