The Doubt Factor!

Doubt can be used as an opportunity to seek God’s answers and go form unsure to sure.

I do believe that left unchecked and unaddressed, doubt can be a terrible thing….but that doesn’t make it a bad thing.

After all, there are numerous cases of people in the bible experiencing doubt:  Abraham doubted that he and Sarah would actually have a little bundle of joy in their twilight years.  John the Baptist doubted whether Jesus was the Messiah, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus themselves.  And after Jesus had risen, Matthew tells us that “When (the disciples) saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted.”  And of course, Thomas, who earned the moniker “Doubting” wanted to feel the wounds of Christ before he’d believe, and when he had, Jesus told him to “stop doubting and believe.”

And I know I’ve experienced doubt.  Haven’t you?

I remember quite vividly the time when I sensed a call to the Gospel Ministry.  It was a feeling of uncertainty at first.  The birds of unsure nervousness flew all around in my mind.  I surely wasn’t a good public speaker!  I hardly ever announced a hymn in church.  Butchering the English language was a nice way of summing up my ability to speak publicly.  I though was really impressed that God could use me, notwithstanding the fact that I did doubt my human capabilities.  Thanks to those stalwart youth leaders who encouraged, and succored me in those beginning years.  God used them to be an invaluable source of inspiration and confidence building in my ministry.  Doubt then gave way to a belief:  With God and supporting people I could do this.

Many of our youth need to have this kind of assistance that I got to move across the uneasy threshold “doubter-ship” to a wonderful oasis of “believer-ship”.  I believe with all my heart, as Christians we can lend-a-hand.  Let’s teach and guide them, helping to boost their confidence in God and spiritual things.  Simply put competence breeds confidence!

Think about how many things wouldn’t be here if someone hadn’t doubted.  Alexander Graham Bell doubted the telegraph was the best way to communicate, so he pushed himself to invent the telephone.  And the Wright Brothers doubted that people wanted to stay safe and sound on the ground, so they tinkered until they achieved flight.  Just to mention a few examples!  Doubt can be used as an impetus for tremendous achievements!  Young people, when others doubt you and your God given talents it is not a time to fold up and crawl into a hole.  Utilize it as motivation to achieve all that you can under God.  “Let no one despise you because you are young!”

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not advocating searching for doubt, or trying to find reasons to doubt, but when we do experience it, we need to use that opportunity to seek God’s answers and go from unsure to sure.

One of my favorite authors, Frederick Buechner, said that doubts are the ‘ants in the pants of faith; they keep it awake and moving.”  Amen!  I’ve been in too many churches where the people just park their cabooses on a pew and collect dust.  They deed some ants!

The lives of youth are all about questions and doubt – parents, school, authority, and sometimes church.  So what are we going to do about it when it happens?  Let them know that we won’t squash doubt, but that we’re willing to work through it with them.  Tell them about times you’ve doubted.  Tell them about biblical figures who doubted.  Tell them about the man who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus and said, “Help us, if you can.”  When Jesus replied, “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” The man immediately cried out “I do believe!”  And his son was healed.  Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds.”  Amen to that, too.

I consider doubt to be like a worm; it sounds sort of negative but we can’t forget that a worm is also a sign of good soil.
                                                          …….Pastor R. V. Bain,
                                                            Youth Director, North Bahamas Mission

Youth Camp

We regret to inform you that the Pathfinder Camp has been cancelled due to lack of support.  Please continue to pray for and support our young people.

Youth Weekend

• It is our pleasure to welcome, to our shores, Pastor Charles Blythe, the Youth Director for the West Indies Conference Union of Seventh-day Adventist.  Pastor Blythe was the guest speaker to begin this special Youth Weekend Friday evening.  He will be speaking at the Freeport church for the Divine Worship Service today and will be speaking again at the joint service at the Freeport Church today beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Come and be blessed.
   
• A joint Youth Social will be conducted on the grounds of the Freeport Church tonight beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Personal Ministries

1. All Personal Ministries Directors and Secretaries are asked to meet with Pastor Moncur next Sabbath afternoon, July 15, at 4:30 p.m. at the Shiloh Church.
    

2. All Community Services Directors are asked to meet with Pastor Moncur next Sunday morning, July 16, at 9:00 a.m. at the Shiloh Church.  Among other items, we need to relate to Hurricane Preparedness and the upcoming Community Services Exhibition in October.

Youth Ministries
UPCOMING EVENTS

v      July 30 – August 12 – The North Bahamas Mission Youth Department third Annual Gospel Extravaganza. 

v      August 7  Sports day 

v      Sabbath, August 12, 2006 Bible Bowl 

v      Youth Summer Splash 2006! 

v      The first Pathfinder March and Rally will be on Sabbath, September 16, 2006. 

Grand Bahama Academy
“A Journey Of Excellence”

Take advantage of a strong academic programme in a Christian environment.

     Registration is now in progress for the 2006-2007 School Year.

Ø      Space is available in K3 – Grade 10

Ø      Entrance Exams are Free

Ø      Early Registration is advised.

Please telephone 373-4794

“Striving to prepare students for eternity”

 Teaching Position
For September 2006

Grand Bahama Academy Invites Qualified Applicants For September 2006

Elementary School
Grades 1 - 6

Successful Applicant Must:

• Be a practicing Seventh-day Adventist
• Have a minimum qualification of a Bachelor’s Degree in the appropriate subject areas.
• Have a valid Teacher’s Certificate
• Must be prepared to be a team player with strong work ethics.

Application must be made in writing together with a full curriculum Vitae, a recent colour photograph and at least three references, one being that of your church pastor to:

Mrs. Desiree T. Rolle-Forbes
Principal
Grand Bahama Academy of SDA
P. O. Box F-60008
Freeport, Grand Bahama
or
Drop off at the school at Torcross and Sandcombe Road, Freeport, Grand Bahama
Deadline: July 30, 2006

 Happy Sabbath!

Family Ministries

Under the patronage of Pastor R.V. Bain and Mrs. Bain, the Eight Mile Rock Family Ministries Department will be holding its Second Annual Marriage Commitment Retreat, November 3-5, 2006 at the Xanadu Beach Resort and Marina.  The cost of the event is $350.00 per couple, which includes hotel room, food and resource materials.  Presenters for this event will be Doctors Wendell R. & Althea McMillan.  You don’t want to miss it so contact your Family Ministries Leaders in your local church or call Chris & Eleanor Rolle at 351-2358 for further information.  Please note that you will also want to invite couples from the community at large.  Come and receive a rich blessing.

Happy Sabbath!