THE LOGOS Connected:  Growing  in  Christ                                                        “Year  of  The  Pastor”  

 

A Weekly Publication of the South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Editor: Joan M. Scavella Sunsets: 7:43 p.m. |Volume 20, Number 19 | May 9, 2015

A T R I B U T E T O M O T H E R S    

Over the years, I have

heard many

defini-tions of

Mother. Oxford Dictionary defines her as “a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth”. However, I define her as a rock, a source of strength, a caregiver, the kisser of all “boo-boo’s”, the mender of broken hearts, the source of encouragement, and everything in between. I think of her, in terms of a well that never runs dry; a well of knowledge… a well of love. Helen Steiner Rice explained the love of a mother perfectly when she said, “A Mother's love is something that no one can explain; it is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain. It is endless and unselfish, and enduring come what may; for nothing can destroy it or take that love away…”

When I think of who a mother is, I reflect on my grandmother, my mother, my sisters, my aunts… all women who have truly exemplified what it means to be a virtuous woman, “for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil…Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:10-11 & 28, KJV).

In relation to the mother, Ellen G. White in her book The Ministry of Healing (1905, p. 372) states, “She, by whose lifeblood the child is nourished and its physical frame built up, imparts to it also mental and spiritual influences that tend to the shaping of mind and character. It was Jochebed, the Hebrew mother, who, strong in faith, was "not afraid of the king's commandment" (Hebrews 11:23), of whom was born Moses, the deliverer of Israel. It was Hannah, the woman of prayer and self-sacrifice and heavenly inspiration, who gave birth to Samuel, the heaven-instructed child, the incorruptible judge, and the founder of Israel's sacred schools. It was Elizabeth the kinswoman and kindred spirit of Mary of Nazareth, who was the mother of the Saviour's herald.” While all the mothers mentioned above physically gave birth to their children, it should not lessen the impact and the role that non-biological mothers have played in all of our lives. I have personally come in contact with women who have never given birth, but have loved, supported, encouraged, and taken care of children in the church, and around the community. The love and dedication you have

shown to these children will never go unnoticed. The love of a mother is unmatched, and in my opinion, after the love of God, it is the purest love. It is described perfectly in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”.

Often times we overlook all that our mothers do and we take for granted the sacrifices made. So, I want to say, Thank you to all the mothers; thank you for the love you’ve shown, not only to your children but to others as well. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made, going without so that your children could have; thank you for being the mothers that God has called and ordained you to be. Thank you for being patient and kind, for keeping no records of our wrong, for protecting us, believing in us…for loving us the way God wants you to love. -Ms. N. Alisa Dawne Forbes, Administrative Assistant; South Bahamas Conference    

IT’S CAMP MEETING TIME AGAIN! Camp meeting is here again. It is intended to inspire within the saints of God a yearning and thirst for Christ’s second coming. Thus we gather with the view of encouraging one another to be ready to meet Jesus when He comes.

This year’s camp meeting will take place at the edifice of the Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church and in tents on its grounds. The services will run from Wednesday, June 17 - Sabbath, June 20, 2015. The theme is Connected: We Press On. Our guest speaker will be Pastor Calvin Watkins with workshops by Pastor and Mrs. W. S. Lee. -Administration

DR. TREVOR GARDNER TO VISIT SOUTH BAHAMAS CONFERENCE

Dr. Trevor Gardner, president of Northern Caribbean University will be the guest presenter in our conference on Sabbath, May 23, 2015. He will make presentations at the

Grant’s Town, Johnson Park and New Providence Seventh-day Adventist Churches at 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. respectively. All members are urged to attend the 6:00 p.m. Greet And Meet at the New Providence Church. -Office of Education

ADVENTIST MEDIA OPEN HOUSE Adventist Media Open House will be held at the South Bahamas Conference grounds on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. - until. Visit the conference office and experience the media ministry first hand. Adventist businesspersons are encouraged to share in this event. It is going to be an exciting time in our conference! For additional information, kindly contact Sister Patrice Williams-Gordon at 3414021. -Administration

ADJUSTMENT IN CHOIR REHEARSAL Due to the Mother's Day weekend, there will be no crusade choir rehearsal on Sunday, May 3, 2015. However, the choir will meet at the Grant’s Town Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. to practice for a function that will be held at the Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Sunday rehearsals will continue at the Grant’s Town Church on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. -Mr. Nelson Bain, Coordinator

FAMILY MINISTRIES Plan now for the SINGLE AND GIFTED seminar hosted by the Family Ministries Department of our conference. The seminar will be held on May 21-28, 2015 at the Centreville Seventh-day Adventist Church located on Fifth Terrace, Centreville at 7 o’clock nightly. The key text is Romans 8:31. The objectives for the seminar are: 1. To bring like-minded singles together for spiritual, social, physical and intellectual empowerment by sharing and receiving information. 2. To provide activities that bring singles together for self-understanding and meeting needs. 3. To point out opportunities for singles to use their gifts for God's service. 4. To provide a forum to address the struggles that singles wrestle with inside and outside the church. SINGLES, COME AND MINGLE! -Pastor Peter Joseph, Family Ministries Director

WOMEN’S MINISTRIES Thank you

*A heartfelt thanks is extended to all those who supported the Women's Health Forum, The Pink Impact, held on Sabbath, May 2, 2015 at the Living Faith Church. Special thanks to Pastor Ewen, the Living Faith Church family, Dr. Dames and Dr. Allick for the important

information given, Dr. Stephanie Hutcheson for facilitating, Sis. Nathelyn LaCroix and her Health Ministries team for partnering with us, and all the program participants. Gratitude is also extended to the Women's Ministries local leaders and their teams for their support and donations. *We wish all mothers in our conference a Happy Mother’s Day. May God bless you! Women's Ministries Care Package Initiative The Care Package Ministry of Women's Ministries is being launched today, May 9, 2015. The Bethany Church has been scheduled first and anyone interested in joining them can meet the ladies in the parking lot of the Princess Margaret Hospital at 6:00 p.m. sharp today. The next distribution is on May 30, 2015 with the Real Harvest and New Providence churches.

Pretty Purse Pretty Purse, a Women's Ministries program, is now airing on SBC 88.3 FM on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and on Fridays at 9:00 a.m. This program gives tips with a spiritual application on practical items found in a ladies purse. Ladies, please tune in and get the boost you need to take you through the day. Comments and suggestions are welcome. San Salvador Holiday Weekend Get-A-Way

Join the ladies of the Cockburn Town Seventh-day Adventist Church for a weekend of Spiritual Revival on May 22 - 25, 2015. Interested persons please contact your local Women's Ministries leader or Mrs. Mary Knott at the South Bahamas Conference office for more details. -Mrs. Jacqueline Gibson, Women’s Ministries Director

ATCU TO HOLD FIFTH SYMPOSIUM (JOINT SERVICE)

The Atlantic Caribbean Union will hold their fifth symposium at the Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Plan to celebrate with our union as we praise God for His leading in our growing union. –Administration

ATCU PRAYER INITIATIVE The prayer focus of the Atlantic Caribbean Union (ATCU) for May 10 - 16, 2015 is: The Need to Submit One’s Will to God. --Pastor Peter Joseph, Prayer Coordinator

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS TO PLAN FOR 2016

The following persons are asked to attend a meeting on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. at the Centreville Seventh-day Adventist Church to plan for the 2016 Law Enforcement Officers and Civil Servants’ service: Maureen Gilbert - Retired; Garnet Johnson - Immigration Department; Donna Humes - Department of Correction; Levi Lloyd - RBDF; Glenda Adderley - RBPF Reserves; Kent Sherman - RBPF Reserves; Thrale Miller - Customs Department; and Chrislyn Skippings - RBPF -Elder Teddy McDonald, Chairperson

IN SYMPATHY The family of Elder Isaac Daphnis mourns his passing. Elder Daphnis passed away quietly on Saturday, May 2, 2015 while in hospital. Funeral service will be held at the Northside SDA Church 1769 NW 119th St.,

Miami, Florida 33167 on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. -The family

CULTURE DAY AT BETHEL The Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church will host a Culture Day on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the Church. All are invited to attend. -Pastor Lynden Williams, Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church

MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA AT HILLVIEW

The Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church invites you to attend a musical extravaganza at the church on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway on Sabbath, May 16, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. The Sanctuary, Youth, and Children's Choirs will perform, along with guest choirs from our sister churches. A special offering in aid of the church's organ fund will be collected. Come and be blessed. -Mrs. Sandra Phillip-Burrows, Music Coordinator; Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church

POETRY FEST In Gratitude

Heartfelt thanks are extended to the CHAM leaders and members who supported the Poetry Fest on Sabbath, May 2, 2015. Special thanks to the judges: Dr. Pansy Hamilton-Brown, Mrs. Abigail Ralph, Mrs. Diane Jones and Ms. Melanie Hutcheson; and the pastor and members of the Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church. Below is the result of the finals: Name Church Poetic Style Marcia BienAime

Breath of Life

Limerick

Dejanae Forbes

Agape Free Verse

Ryan Haven Johnson Park Sonnet Congratulations to all the children who participated. While the children listed above received trophies, the following children/adolescents received medals: Name Church Poetic Style Kyra Bowlin Hillview Limerick Daniel Perpall

Grant’s Town Limerick

Astra Bowlin Hillview Free Verse Dicaprio Brown

Real Harvest Free Verse

Anheli Frank Johnson Park Free Verse Destinee Sutherland

Grant’s Town Free Verse

Joshelyn Wood

Living Faith Free Verse

Johnson Davilma

Francophone Sonnet

Roderick Sands

Hillview Sonnet

In the summation, the chief judge, Dr. Brown congratulated the 12 participants on their outstanding work and admonished the conference to secure their writings and ensure that the children are ably credited for their work. -Mrs. Joan Scavella, CHAM Director

SUMMER FEATURE Is your child/young adult graduating this summer? Send a brief article (50 words) and an electronic photograph of your child/young adult to the Logos editor at jscavella@sbcadventist.com.

EDUCATION SECRETARIES There will be a meeting for the all Education Secretaries at the South Bahamas Conference Office on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. -Mrs. Joan Scavella, Director of Education

HEALTH MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT

SBC Monthly Fun/Run/Walk The SBC monthly Fun/Run/Walk will be held on May 10, 2015 at 6:30 a.m., leaving Goodman’s Bay, heading west to Sandy Port and back. -Mrs. Nathelyn LaCroix, Health Ministries Director

BEREA 32 YEARS AND GROWING In May, Berea celebrates 32 under the theme, "Pressing Forward, United in Faith". On Sabbath past, the festivities got off to an explosive start with a prayer initiative. Upcoming events are: May 9 - Mother's Day May 17 to 22 - Faith in Jesus Revival May 23 - Homecoming Sabbath May 29 - Thanksgiving Vespers: "Still Have Joy" May 30 - Super Sabbath Celebration May 31 - Fun Walk, Run, Push-a-thon at 6:30 a.m. Concert at 6:30 p.m. Join us! The celebrations won’t be complete without you. -Mrs. Karen Scavella, Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church

CHIP LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOP IN NASSAU BAHAMAS

CHIP (Complete Health Improvement Program) is a world-renowned scientifically proven Adventist lifestyle intervention Program that has helped people to lose weight, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and reverse diabetes. The program has saved cooperate America millions of dollars in health care cost. CHIP is coming to town and you don’t want to miss out on this fantastic training. The training is limited to the first 30 registrants. It will be held at the Union office conference room on June 5-7 starting from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Friday (holiday) June 5; Sabbath 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday 9:00 - 12:00 noon. For more information on cost, contact Nathelyn LaCroix at 323-0610 or Idamae Hanna at 323-5473.

YOUTH TIDBITS

Sunday, May10, 2015 at Hillview Church 6:00 a.m. - Master Guide Training 6:00 p.m. - Youth Bible Study Basketball Official/Referee training session will be held for three weeks. Each church is asked to send two representatives. A small fee is required. For more information, contact Pastor Larry Green. -Pastor Larry Green, Youth Ministries Director

SUN SETS NEXT SABBATH MAY 16, 2015 AT 7:47 P.M.

Website: http://southbahamasconference.org

Have a Blessed and Wonderful Sabbath!