THE LOGOS - South Bahamas Conference

 THE LOGOS
Connected: Scatter to Gather “Lord Transform Me” A Weekly Publication of the South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Editor: Joan M. Scavella
Sunsets: 7:40 p.m. |Volume 21, Number 34 | August 20, 2016
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT IS EVANGELISM
S
eventh-day
Adventists
in
the
South
Bahamas
Conference do
exceptionally
more to keep
the
church
relevant
than
many
are
willing to accept. Without the enthusiastic
involvement of these church members in the
work of mission, the church as an institution
would have lost its reason for existence. Our
m e m b e r s h i p understands that the goal
is always MISSION. Is it any wonder that
hundreds of people every year come to a
saving knowledge of Jesus and are baptized
into the Seventh-day Adventist church?
More than just preaching sermons or investing
money, our lay members conduct Bible studies
and visit homes throughout the Bahamas. Many
of the Bible studies take place not just in
homes, but also on parks, on the streets, and
even in the malls during lunch hour. A number
of our Adventist business owners take time to
conduct Bible study at their business sites.
Every week personal testimonies by our
members in their communities create desires in
the hearts of listeners for similar experiences.
This is so easy that all must become involved in
sharing their personal testimony to nonbelievers. This involves three elements: 1. Your
life before conversion; 2. How you gave your
life to Christ; and 3. What Jesus means to you
at present.
Health Evangelism is active and effective in our
field. Whether it is Eight Weeks to Wellness,
health seminars, workshops or health crusades,
we are seeking out people where they are. The
Word preached in the pulpit is the beginning.
"There are multitudes that will never be reached
by the gospel unless it is carried to them."
Christian Service, p. 121
The activities of Community Services have
served well to break down barriers and make
the gospel non-threatening. Churches have been
meeting the temporal necessities of the needy
and also relieving their physical wants and
suffering. This demonstration of empathy and
compassion for both Christians and nonChristians is a powerful argument in favor of
Christianity.
Child evangelism was prominent in our
conference this year. Not only did our children
reach the young, but also the young at heart.
The children spoke for Christ and both the
young and young at heart responded in baptism.
We dedicate our children daily at Bahamas
Academy. We offer gratitude and stand in awe
as we interact with the largest congregation five
days per week. What a humbling experience for
our teachers, support staff, and administrators at
Bahamas Academy!
Our women ministries department continues to
recharge as they posture for the great
breakthrough in October when the opportunity
for powerful witness will be heralded by Pastor
Hyveth Williams, professor of homiletics at the
Theological Seminary at Andrews University in
the United States of America. Our hearts
remain pliable for a mighty move by the
Saviour.
Public evangelism and nurturing are integrally a
part of the church's witness. Through
evangelistic meetings, large groups of people
have received doctrinal instructions and as a
result made responsible decisions to join the
church.
Through
mentorship,
spiritual
guardianship, skills training, fellowship,
worship, and further study, new believers have
experienced effective nurturing. It is
encouraging to see the new believers bringing
their family members to church. This is
evidence of effective nurturing.
In Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 19,
Ellen White's counsel is timely. She says, "In a
special sense, Seventh-day Adventists have
been set in the world as watchmen and light
bearers....They have been given work of most
solemn import - the proclamation of the first,
second, and third angels’ messages. There is no
other work of so great importance. They are to
allow nothing to absorb their attention." Be
faithful to duty! -Pastor Peter Joseph, Executive
Secretary; Lord
Coordinator
Transform
Me
and
Prayer
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Mangrove Cay is calling, Come over into
Macedonia and help us. This settlement is the
newest entered territory in the South Bahamas
Conference and is in the process of planning
great things for the next twelve months
beginning with the first ever Mangrove Cay
camp meeting September 24 and 25. Be a part
of history and plan to join us for this
weekend. Contact us for details at 341-4021 or
email us at [email protected]
Our conference is in the process of preparing a
documentary tracing the work of the Adventist
Church in the South Bahamas Conference. In
this regard, we are seeking identify persons to
contribute to this effort with written and verbal
information on the work in New Providence as
well as on the family islands. Kindly contact
Pastor Brennen or the media department if you
have valuable information that can make this
effort meaningful or if you are in a position to
be interviewed for the television.
The campsite is undergoing forty thousand
dollars worth of upgrade. It is our intention to
operate the campsite, GMCI and the proposed
multipurpose auditorium under the umbrella of
a management board. The reality of up-keep
and cost to maintain these facilities in the best
possible shape will demand a cost. Fees will be
attached to the use of the facilities. In this vain,
there will also be an on-site caretaker at Camp
BAMIVOCA as at the end of September. The
constituency is asked to be aware of these
changes, and seek to corporate with the
new facilities administrative board that will be
in place in the near future.
The
conference
administration
is
prayerfully seeking to open and grow the work
in the unentered territory of Mayaguana. This
is a part of the strategic plan for this
quadrennial. If our members are interested in
working with the administration in this regard
kindly contact the office of the President and
speak with Pastor Brennen. The targeted month
for entry is November.
The Oakwood University Aeolians will visit the
South Bahamas Conference on January 4 - 9
2016. Their visit will centre on the official
launching, and ground breaking of the
Adventist multi-purpose building here in New
Providence. This is a venture that the
administration recommended to the conference
committee, who in turned voted the approval of
the project in June 2016. The administration
subsequently called a meeting with the elders of
the conference and got their support to move
forward by faith. This objective calls for much
prayer as groundwork has begun. Members,
begin to pray, and get ready to participate in
this “faith + works” initiative in October
2016. Mrs. Audrey Wright, Conference Music
Director and her team are immersed in plans for
the unforgettable concert that will push the
project. -Pastor Paul Scavella, President
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Bahamas Academy School Board meeting is
rescheduled for August 25, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. Mr. T. Milton Lewis, Secretary
COUNTDOWN TO WINNING YOUR
HEALTH GOSPEL CAMPAIGN
ARE YOU ATTENDING
NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY?
If you are attending Northern Caribbean
University in the 2016-2017 school year, please
register with the Office of Education at the
South Bahamas Conference by August 26,
2016. -Mrs. Joan Scavella, Director of Education
ARE YOU REGISTERED?
There will be a registration table at the
enditnow Forum at the Living Faith Church for
ladies to register for the 2016 Women’s
Ministries Conclave with guest, Dr. Hyveth
Williams.
Please secure your space, as you can’t afford to
miss this transforming event. -Sister Jacqueline
Gibson
ATCU RETREAT
All ladies registered to attend the Cayman
Islands Retreat, please contact your local
Women’s Ministries leader for important
information. There will also be an upcoming
meeting for attendees, so please stay tuned for
date, time and venue. -Mrs. Jacqueline Gibson,
Women’s Ministries Director
-Mrs. Nathelyn LaCroix, Health Ministries Director
HEALTH EMPHASIS WEEK
Health Emphasis Week will be celebrated on
September 17 - 24. The theme of the week is
"Healthy Churches". -Mrs. Nathelyn LaCroix
BAHAMAS ACADEMY UPDATES
Please note the back-to-school dates below:
*Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. Orientation for parents of the Early Learning
Centre.
SINGLES: BONDAGE OR FREEDOM
The Singles’ Ministry of the Centreville
Seventh-day Adventist Church cordially invites
you to attend the Single: Bondage or Freedom
on Friday, September 2, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. and
on Sabbath, September 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Stanley James.
Do not miss this event! -Ms. Tanya Young,
Singles’ Ministry, Centreville Seventh-day Adventist
Church
SBC WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
Third Quarter (August & September)
“WE” (Women Empowerment) - at a glance:
August 2016
EnditNow Emphasis Month
August 25
*Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. Orientation for parents of the Elementary and
Secondary Divisions.
*Friday, September 2, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. to
12:00 noon - Orientation for new students of all
divisions.
*Monday, September 5, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.
school reopens for all students. -Office of
Education
HURRICANE PREPARATION
Are you prepared in the event of a hurricane?
Are your house in order, insurance updated, and
evacuation plans reviewed? Now is the time to
perform an inventory. -Your Coaching Servant,
YOUTH TIDBITS
-Basketball LeagueBasketball League continues tonight,
Saturday, August 20, at the HD Colburn
Gym at 8:15 p.m. -Daran Clarke, Coordinator
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT
MINISTRIES
-Art ExhibitionThe long awaited CHAM Art Exhibition will
be held at Bahamas Academy on Marshall
Road on September 12 -15 and 18, 2016.
Exhibition room will be opened at the
following times:
Monday - Thursday: 3:15 - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The exhibition will be closed on Friday and
Saturday, September 16, and 17.
Get your child’s application form from your
local CHAM leader or assistant leader.
-GuidelinesAll work should be no smaller than 8½” x
11” and no larger than 20”x 30”.
Work may be of any shape. It may be a
drawing, painting or collage.
No 3-dimensional work will be accepted.
All work should sit on an easel.
Work should be mounted on a hard
surface/frame.
Work should reflect the theme, Change me
Jesus.
Deadline for submission is September 5,
2016.
Parents are encouraged to have their
children enter the art exhibition. -Mrs. Joan
Scavella, CHAM Director
Paul Scavella
SUN SETS NEXT SABBATH
AUGUST 27, 2016 AT 7:34 P.M.
Conference website:
http://southbahamasconference.org
Email: [email protected]
Have a blessed Sabbath!
ADVENTIST BOOK CENTRE
Visit your ABC and take advantage of the
materials that are sure to enhance your ministry
and your life! Store hours: Sunday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30
p.m. and on Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. -Mrs.
Cherry Blackmore, ABC Manager
ATCU PRAYER INITIATIVE
The prayer focus of our union, the Atlantic
Caribbean Union (ATCU) for August 21 - 27,
2016 is: Good News, Bethel, and Ebenezer
Churches in the South Bahamas Conference.
Join the entire union in prayer. -Pastor Peter
Joseph, Prayer Coordinator
Bring a friend. Hear our guest presenter! Ask
your questions!
27
EnditNow Emphasis Day (all local
Churches)
September 2016
17
Zone 3 Community Out-Reach at Her
Majesty Prison Women Inmates
Cayman Islands Women’s Ministries Retreat
-Sister Jacqueline Gibson, Women’s Ministries
Director