Nassau, Bahamas… [Bahamas Conference/Libna Stevens/IAD]
For the first time in the Bahamas, an Adventist leader addressed the Christian Council’s Annual Church Service for parliamentarians. The service, which included Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham and former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, cabinet ministers, members of parliament, senators and Christian leaders, took place in the Centreville Adventist Church in Nassau on Jan. 16.
Pastor Leonard Johnson, president of the church in the Bahamas Conference, was the invited Adventist leader who delivered the spiritual message to the assembly. He was invited to speak by House Speaker Hon. Alvin Smith.
Against the background of concern regarding the alarming crime rates in the Bahamas, Pastor Johnson talked about the story of Moses and Aaron from Exodus 32 and appealed to legislators to learn from the unfortunate example of Aaron who displayed ambiguity and a lack of courage. In 2007, the Bahamas recorded its highest murder rate.
“Some persons seem bent on pressing the alarm button, signaling that we have lost the battle [on crime] as situations have gotten out of control,” Pastor Johnson said.
“While I concur that our situation is a grave one and one that needs to be addressed, I do not share the view that we have lost the battle and need to despair as though there is no hope.”
Instead he called upon legislators to learn from the mistakes made by the children of Israel who panicked and experienced serious consequences. Pastor Johnson expressed the need for legislators to be courageous in “doing the right thing as opposed to doing things right”.
“It was the right thing that Aaron failed to do,” he said. “Rather, he listened to the people who demanded that 'gods be made to replace the true God'. While Aaron knew better, he yielded and politicians need to know that listening to the wishes of the people is not always correct.”
Pastor Johnson challenged religious leaders and the local Christian Council president to be clear and responsible on their statement on law as people might get the wrong message when it is said that “the law of God or the ten commandments are no longer binding”.
Finally, he made an appeal for consecration and commitment to counter the crime problem and the spread of HIV, as well. Pastor Johnson said everyone is required to combat crime.
“Everyone must assume ownership of the spread of crime. Until we take and accept ownership we are unlikely to experience success,” he added. “These steps or ingredients are necessary if crime and other social ills will be reduced.”
Pastor Johnson said later during an interview that reducing crime is the responsibility of both the government and its people, and added that the Adventist Church is continuing it own efforts to counter the problem. In addition to networking with law enforcement agencies and other denominations, the church operates outreach programs in Bahamian communities.
“What the church is seeking to do in the Bahamas is to not only point out that everybody must accept ownership, but find definite ways to combat the wave of crime through conflict resolution and parenting seminars,” he said. “It’s a long-term thing.”
“One of the initiatives has been offering conflict resolution seminars to Adventist ministers as well as pathfinder leaders who work directly with community youth to teach them to resolve their differences without becoming violent.”
About Pathfinders, he said many young men between the ages of 15-25 are committing crimes, and that Pathfinders targets these individuals and teaches them how to resolve differences in non-violent ways.
Other programs include assisting singles in respecting themselves, married couples in strengthening their relationships, and parents to become more effective as they raise their children, he explained.
In addition, the church runs a weekly one-hour television program called Adventist Speak. The program promotes accountability among citizens and offering assistance to law enforcement.
“Crime is not committed by itself, it’s committed by people,” said Johnson, who is a regular on Adventist Speak. “We are asking people to come forth and report what they know, because if we fail to do anything we in essence are contributing to the spread of crime.”
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in The Bahamas has over 16,300 church members worshiping in 51 churches. The church’s regional offices include the Bahamas Conference and the North Bahamas Mission which operate the Bahamas Academy, Adventist Counseling Services and an Adventist Book Center.
