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An Appeal for Help
It is not usual that I do what I am about to do or write back to back these
two weeks in the Logos.
However, I deem this matter extremely necessary hence
this note. Little over a week ago, the Treasury Department informed me that
the building funds have been depleted, and the amount allotted for BA’s
Building from the United Development Fund (UDF) has been used up as well. You
know only too well what is the implication of this fact! Simply put–it means
discontinuation of work; this is not something that you or I welcome when the
momentum at the site is high. Also, work stoppage would mean unemployment for
many workers at the site who have voluntarily agreed to work at a reduced
rate; thus my appeal for your financial contribution today. Following a
similar appeal at Berea last weekend, a brother handed me an envelope with
$100, and later I would learn that another person from another church
contributed $3000 to ensure that this drive continues. God is truly good!
Thanks to these individuals and to those of you who give weekly or monthly.
Also, thanks in advance to you who will give today and during the weekend. By
God’s grace, our school will be completed. Also, I think it is important that
I let you know that Denise and I give consistently to this project through
Grant’s Town. It is important that I demonstrate what I request of you, and so
we will give an additional amount today to help with the project. I also ask
that you visit the site from time to time. You would not know how much your
presence would encourage the workers there. Try it! You, too, will be
encouraged.
BA’s Reunion Banquet BA’s banquet scheduled for next weekend also affords us
another
opportunity to raise funds for Bahamas Academy. You will enjoy the
evening of reflection, reconnecting with old scholars and friends and much
laughter. Obtain your ticket from Headquarters, the school on Wulff Road or
from any committee member.
See You At
the Banquet
The Price of Sacrifice
The name Mrs. Ruth Sands-Glinton may not strike you,
but it is one that stands for conviction and commitment. Sister Ruth is a
member of the Maranatha Church, having been baptized earlier this year at a
crusade conducted by Pastor T. Basil Sturrup. Additionally, she is the
proprietor and operator of The Shoal Restaurant.
Based on her religious convictions, she decided to make certain radical
changes regarding her restaurant operation. Says Sister Glinton “We now close
for Sabbath and have eliminated alcoholic beverages, conch, crawfish and other
unclean foods, according to Leviticus 11, from our menu.” She adds, “ Of
course, this has created a drop in sales and cause some longtime customers to
take their business elsewhere”. Nevertheless, her faith which is being tested
is still firm, for she knows that her God is faithful and keeps her going
daily.
For 27 years, Mrs. Sands-Glinton with her family and a committed staff have
operated The Shoal. She explained that “a number of patrons question my
decision to close on the busiest day of the week and joke that I must have
heard from God Himself to close up shop and go to church.” She continued,
“Though sales have fallen recently, loyal customers are returning and coming
back to their favorite place to eat”.
Members, again I appeal to you to ensure the success of this business and
other businesses operated by Adventists. The Devil must not succeed in
destroying this business or any other member’s business because of
faithfulness to God and His word. Sister Sands needs our prayers and support.
You will be pleased to know that she has a son and sister at Grant’s Town.
Happy Sabbath! - Leonard A. Johnson, President
Ministerial Intern Assists in Eleuthera On Sabbath, October 8, Timothy Neilly
was ordained as an elder of the Rock Sound Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Timothy Neilly is a ministerial student at Oakwood College, in Huntsville Alabama.
He is assisting in the Eleuthera District, with direct responsibilities for
the Rock Sound Seventh-day Adventist Church. Since coming to Eleuthera, he has
revived the services of the church and began making inroads into the community
with one to one evangelism. He has introduced a plan to increase the attendance
at his churches. He rescheduled the mid-week service for the Rock Sound Church
to Tuesday, and also assists the Tarpum Bay Church with its mid-week service
on Wednesday.
He is also making his presence felt through the “adopt a class” of the North
Eleuthera High School, a program where individuals interact with a class
once a week for seven weeks, teaching the young men and women to make life
changing decisions.
See Photos
Bediako Reports on Church Growth and High Loss of Members General Conference
Secretary Matthew Bediako reported church membership at the end of 2004 to be
13,661,015, and from July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005, 1,094,138 people were
baptized into the Adventist Church, an increase of 90,127 over the same period
in 2003/2004. Also reported was a membership loss in the last year of nearly
500,000, largely due to division membership audits.
The Inter-American Division had the highest number of members (2,608,122),
followed by the South American (2,492,178) and East-Central Africa (2,120,609)
divisions. The North American and Southern Asia divisions passed one million
in membership during this review period.
Bediako also informed delegates of the progressive work of Adventist World
Radio (AWR). In September 2004, he reported, AWR operations were reorganized
and merged with the Adventist Media Center in Brazil. In early 2005, a
four-year modernization project at AWR's shortwave station on the island of
Guam was completed. Funds have been donated to purchase 500 AM/FM/SW radios
for listeners in remote areas of the Philippines, Madagascar, and Cambodia, as
well as for the nomadic Masai people in Africa. In Ethiopia, an entire
congregation of Baptists joined the Adventist Church as a result of AWR's
shortwave broadcasts. And despite the chaotic political system and the lack of
a postal system in Sudan, more than 4,000 students have enrolled in the local
Bible school in neighboring Uganda since broadcasts began in 2004.
The extensive work of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), which
"partners with communities, organizations, and governments to improve the
quality of life for millions of less fortunate people around the world," was
also shared. According to Bediako's report, in 2004 ADRA helped nearly 24
million beneficiaries worldwide, including those affected by the civil
conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, people living in war-ravaged Liberia,
survivors of the Asia tsunami, and those devastated by hurricanes Katrina and
Rita along the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Delegates Vote to Study Membership Retention "You have 35 to 40 percent of the
number baptized who are leaving the church," said President Paulsen, beginning
the Sunday afternoon session by exploring the reasons why the church has lost
so many members during the past several years. "Why is this happening? What is
causing it? Is there something we should do differently?
"Is that the picture," he added, "and if it is, do we have to live with that?
What is it that we can and should do differently? . . . This is very troubling
. . . and a very, very important factor in the life of the church."
Delegates from several divisions suggested solutions to curbing the high
membership loss, including emphasizing small-group initiatives; concentrating
more on personal rather than public evangelism; budgeting more funds for
nurturing new members, especially youth; and allowing young adults to play a
more significant role in the church. An action was voted that "in view of the
expressed concerns over membership retention, this Council recommends that
divisions request their respective unions and conferences/missions to conduct
a parallel study of membership growth and retention, with guidelines provided
by the General Conference Secretariat, and report its findings to their
division, with measures to be taken to strengthen the retention of members."
The motion went on to read, "Divisions shall submit a cumulative report to the
General Conference Executive Committee, which in turn shall create a study
commission on ways and means to address the matter of member retention."
An amendment voted at the session set Annual Council 2007 as the date when
this study should be completed and presented to the delegates. "Tell the World
Initiative” The Annual Council business session began Sunday morning, October
9, on a spiritual note with GC vice president Mark Finley presenting the
church's vision for evangelism 2005-2010 called "Tell the World." Finley
described the initiative as a vision for how the gospel of Jesus will be
shared by the Adventist Church in the next quinquennium, saying it is "more
than a program" and "more than a slogan"; it is "an individual and corporate
commitment to live out the key values of quality of life, unity, and growth in
God's family."
Finley, along with GC Office of Mission Awareness communication director Gary
Krause, Ministerial secretary James Cress, and others, also identified seven
key areas, or goals, on which the church should focus: (1) spiritual growth,
(2) community involvement (increasing the percentage of church members
involved in community service from 29 to at least 40 percent), (3) personal
witness (challenging 5 million Adventists to reach at least one person for
Jesus by 2010), (4) city outreach, (5) church planting, (6) evangelistic
programming, and (7) media ministry.
Also emphasized was the importance of divisions, unions, and
conferences/missions taking "ownership" of this program, with the GC providing
visioning and resource support. "Tell the World" will be included on the
agenda at each Annual Council throughout the next five years. Many delegates
spoke to the importance of "Tell the World," expressing strong support for the
program.
More Young Adults, Women, Comprise Executive Committee
Nearly one-third of
this quinquennium's Executive Committee members are new to the position,
changing its makeup to include more women and young adults. On Sunday morning,
October 9, six young adults under the age of 30 were voted as members of the
committee. Total membership is 288.
Special Series on Discipleship Beginning the third week in October and running
through the third week in December 2005, the Adventist Review will produce a
special three-part series on discipleship-Loving Service, Prayerful Living,
and Studying the Word. This series is available to purchase for US$5.00 per
package (plus US$3.00 shipping to US addresses, and US$7 for international
addresses), or you can receive the series free when you subscribe to the
weekly Adventist Review between now and December 31, 2005. Call 1-800-456-3991
and mention the discipleship series. -Adventist News
Exhibition
Building Communities Through Christian/Health Services The Community Services
department in collaboration with the Health Ministry department seeks to build
stronger communities. These two ministries of the church bring to life the
practical elements of the gospel in light of III John verse 2, "Brethren I
wish above all things that you PROSPER and be in GOOD HEALTH, even a thy soul prospereth." On Sunday, October 16, 2005, the Health Department and Community
Services Department will combine its efforts to Host the annual exhibition on
the R.M. Bailey Park.
Under the theme "Building Stronger Communities Through Christian Service," the
day's activities will begin with a colourful float parade that will leave the
Conference Office at 9 a.m. on to Tonique Williams-Darling Highway, North on
Blue Hill to Wulff Road on Wulff Road to Marathon Road, South on Marathon to
R.M. Bailey Park for the opening ceremonies.
The rest of the days activities will consist of fun and games for the
children, including a treasure hunt, bouncing castles, ball throwing and the
like. You can also purchase delicious dishes from the many church booths
represented. There will also be food tasting, aerobic exercises, a variety of
health lectures and a massive clothing give away. - T. Basil Sturrup,
Departmental. Director
Message of Hope 2nd Anniversary
The Message of Hope Church will be celebrating
its second anniversary October 21-23, 2005, with Friday evening Vesper,
Sabbath services and a cultural show on Sunday. All are invited to come and
bring a liberal offering or a donation to aid the church’s building fund.
-Curtis Bryan
A.Y. Leadership Course Pathfinder Honors FAIR, October 23rd beginning at 10:00
a.m. at Hillview SDA Church. Earn honors in christian manners, basic rescue,
book keeping, computers, first aid, knot tying, sewing, baking, and
stewardship just to name a few.
Nova Announcement All individuals interested in pursuing either a Bachelors or
Masters degree in Business Administration or Human Resources at Nova
Southeastern University here in The Bahamas, starting in July 2006, are
invited to attend an informational meeting at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday,
November 5, 2005 at 8 pm. The classes are scheduled for Saturday nights and
Sundays to accommodate Sabbath Keepers. For more information, please call Dr.
Leon Higgs at 323-3930 or 324-3767
Hour of Gospel Music The Hour of Gospel Music at the Mary Ingraham Home
continues on a weekly basis at 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The schedule for today,
October 15, will be the Maranatha SDA Church. Next week, October 22, music
will be provided by the New Englerston Church.
Faithful Spouses Many husbands
and wives are physically faithful to their
marriage vows, however, too many spouses are emotionally or spiritually
unfaithful. They allow their minds to wonder on other persons and things. They
spend more time and energy in caring for others than they do for their spouses
leaving their partners feeling lonely and cold. The sad truth is that there
are too many who are sexually unfaithful in marriage. It is a deadly secret
that’s eating away at the health of our families today. I encourage all
Adventist spouses not only to remain physically faithful to your spouses, but
emotionally as well. -Barrington Brennen, Family Ministries and Counseling
Services
Youth Announcements
Masterguide Training continues for All MGITs this Sunday
7:00 a.m. at Hillview Church. Please be on time.
W.I.U./I.A.D. Bible Bowl Young persons who have signed up to participate in
W.I.U./I.A.D. Bible Bowl are advised that a run-off will be held on Saturday,
October 15th at 4:00 P.M. sharp at the Berea Church. The book of study is
"Messages to Young People." One person will be selected to represent the
Bahamas Conference at the West Indies Union Level on Sabbath afternoon,
November 5th at N.C.U. in Mandeville, Jamaica. Out of the eight fields in West
Indies Union, one person will represent the Union at the Inter-American
Division level at the end of the year. -Pastor A. Burrows, Youth Director
Education Department of Centreville Church to Host Speech Competition The
Education Department of the Centreville Church extends an invitation to all
our sister churches to participate in a speech competition to be held at the
church on November 5, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. Topic “The Television and Internet are
Designed to Contaminate The Minds of Christians.” Trophies and certificates
will be awarded.
Applications forms and rules for the Speech Competition can be obtained at the
Youth Department of the Conference. Deadline for application will be October
22, 2005. For more information call Pansy Hamilton-Brown at 393-1493.
Centreville Church Women’s Ministries The monthly meeting of the Women’s
Ministries Department of the Centreville Church will be held on Monday,
October 24, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. All women are especially invited to attend this
service that will focus on the topic “Healing for Broken Women.” -Pansy
Hamilton-Brown, Women’s Ministries Director
Adventist Men Practice Today at 3:30 a practice will be held at the Living
Faith Church for all Adventist Men in preparation for our second Christmas
Concert. - Anthony Roach
Adventist Educators’ Association Meeting Our next association meeting will be held
on Saturday, October 22nd at 8:00 p.m in the Doctors’ Hospital Conference
Room. Come and make a difference. - R. Dames
Weekly Radio Program Tune in to Healthy Lifestyle for Better Living Radio
Prgoram that is aired on ZNS 1540 at 9:00 p.m. every Tuesday.
Sun sets today at 6:45 p.m.
Sun sets next Sabbath at 6:38 p.m.
