An appreciative audience of family members, friends and church members responded to the various speakers and presenters of musical selections with appropriate applause and enthusiastic amen's. The performance of the Grant's Town Church Choir, the Police Reserve Choir, and the Pathfinder Band were especially noted.

Speaking on behalf of the Hon. Cynthia Pratt, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Alfred Grey, M.P., Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries  and Local Government thanked the Conference for setting aside a special time each year to recognize and thank public servants for rendering service to our country. He further commended the Adventists for their disciplined lifestyle and exemplary citizenship.

In his reference to the crime problem facing our society, Minister Grey said, "There is no quick fix, and there is no fix at all without the help of Almighty God" to deal with the vexing problem of crime. He observed that we have come a long way from the past when there was more respect for the law and greater regard for life. Today's "criminal minds," he said, and those who exhibit "anti-social behaviour" do not consider the principles of conflict resolution in dealing with problems. Admitting that some law enforcers and even some politicians break the law sometimes, he challenged the public officers to serve their country with pride and dignity. He concluded by saying, "As you serve your country, we pray that you will be satisfied that you have done the best that you can as long as you can."

The main speaker for this Eleventh Annual Law Enforcement and Civil Servants Service was Dr. Leonard A. Johnson, president of the Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. His sermon, "Lessons from the Life of a Civil Servant," was based on the Biblical account of Daniel's life as a civil servant in Babylon (Daniel, Chapter 6). He noted that Daniel was one of the young, talented, gifted and good-looking men selected from among the nobles taken from Israel to Babylon and placed in the civil service. In his discourse, Dr. Johnson highlighted several characteristics that made Daniel stand out among the wise men of Babylon and which can be of benefit to us. They are as follows:

1. He was a man of integrity and great honesty. Daniel was chosen because he  was trustworthy.  He did not use his position to get "kickbacks," nor did he seek to be rewarded for doing his duty. He valued his reputation, and everybody knew what he stood for. His reputation went before him. We, too, should guard our reputation and not do anything just for a reward, but we should do it because it is the right thing to do. Dr. Johnson lamented the poor attitude that is so often found among civil servants. He made reference to the popular song by K.B. that so aptly describes the attitude of some public servants. However, he believed that the song did not describe the group to whom he was speaking.

2. He made up his mind not to deviate from the principles taught him. Although he was offered to eat from the king's table and drink the finest wine available in Babylon, Daniel was content to follow the simple diet stipulated by God. By sticking to the vegetarian diet to which he had become accustomed, he and his companions proved to be healthier than those who ate from the king's table. It pays to stand for principle and follow God's way.

3. He was a man of prayer. When King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream that he could not remember, he called for his wise men to reveal the dream and its interpretation. When the wise men could not satisfy the king's request, he ordered that they be killed. Although Daniel was not among the wise men invited to respond to the king's request, he was the first one the executioners approached to be put to death.  Daniel asked for time to respond to the king's request. He and his companions prayed as they had always prayed, and God revealed the dream and the meaning. God came through for Daniel, because he was a man of prayer. God also answered his prayer and delivered him when he was thrown into a den of lions. When we call on Jesus and pray consistently, things begin to happen.

4. He was a man with an excellent spirit.  He had a positive attitude about life. It has been said that "Your attitude determines your altitude." That is to say the extent of your achievements are determined by the kind of attitude you display. John Maxwell reported that 68% of the customers who stop doing business with certain establishments do so because of the poor attitude of some employees. Daniel knew the value of a positive attitude. That is why Nebuchadnezzar ha a special regard for him. Even those who did not share his convictions recognized that he was a man who had an excellent spirit.

Dr. Johnson challenged the law enforcement officers and civil servants to be men and women of integrity and of an excellent spirit, even if hated by others. He encouraged them to do their best to represent their country and their God. They were admonished not to compromise their integrity, rather they should trust God.

At the conclusion of the service, we went away determined to emulate Daniel by serving to the best of our abilities in whatever area we are called to serve.