“It’s a Great Opportunity”

Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards. – William Arthur Ward.

This time of the year is a great opportunity for those involved generally in education and Grand Bahama Academy in particular.  Students will be attending Grand Bahama Academy (GBA) for the first time; returning students are entering a new grade; grade 10 is now added to the curriculum; new and returning teachers contributing to the continual development of this now not-so-young great educational institution (2006/2007 school year makes GBA 25 years of age); and parents having the confidence in letting GBA educate and care for their precious assets – their children.

We, the Administrators, Departmental Directors, and Pastors of the North Bahamas Mission thank all of our parents and students for choosing the right school, Grand Bahama Academy, for this new academic year.  Indeed, a solid Seventh-day Adventist Christian education is a great opportunity to showcase the true purpose of education.  The Divine Educator pointed out, through Ellen White, that” “True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study.  It means more than a preparation for the life that now is.  It has to do with the whole being and with the whole period of existence possible to man.  It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers.  It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come”. (Education, p. 13)

However, for the best to be maintained, the cooperative involvement of the home, the school, and the church is crucial.  Grand Bahama Academy is committed to providing the educational environment where each student’s unique ability is cultivated for personal enhancement, the good of society, the thirst for knowledge, and the deepening of a loving relationship with the Divine Creator, Jesus Christ.

Accomplishing this is no simple task.  Everyone, particularly every Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Christian is needed to think, speak, give wholesomely and  pray fervently for our school.  Grand Bahama Academy, from its inception, has strived for academic excellence.  We are proud of  our dedicated school administrators, teachers and staff.  This team of Spirit-filled workers is open to your positive input and desire to partner with you for the well-being of our boys and girls.

To all our students throughout the North Bahamas Mission, God has endowed you with tremendous ability, intellect and internal resources.  Be the best “you” that He has created you to be.  To all our SDA teachers, wherever you are called to teach, God has given you this gift so believe that He will likewise empower you for a great school year – keep faithful to your calling.

Again, administrators, teachers, staff and students, we are praying for your success, we remain committed to the success of our institution, and we thank you for supporting Grand Bahama Academy.

                              …..Pastor M.A. Smith, Education Director

Youth Ministries

1.  All Pathfinder leaders are asked to submit the names of Pathfinders to be invested later this month.

2.     All persons that have been in the Masterguide program and not yet invested and want to complete the program are asked to submit their names and contact numbers to the Mission Office by September 9, 2006.

3.     All persons interested in beginning the new Masterguide program in September are asked to contact your A.Y. or Pathfinder Leader or Peter Watson by September 9, 2006.

4.   All Adventurers, Pathfinders, Masterguides, A.Y. Personnel, Community Service Personnel and all members are asked to support the First Pathfinder March on September 16, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.  The march will begin at the Freeport Church and will end at the Urban Renewal Park in Freeport.  The objectives of this march are as follows:        

·         To spread the positive message of Seventh-day Adventist youth ministry within our community.
·         To recruit new members for our Pathfinder program and Pathfinder Band.
·         To participate in the “Tell the World” initiative of our world church – this includes youth involvement in community activities.
·         To speak out against the social ills that affect youth in our society and show that Adventist youth are holding up a standard in our community.
·         To enrich the lives of our Seventh-day Adventist youth as they participate in youth-to-youth ministry.   (passing out youth related reading material as we march)

5.      Our North Bahamas Mission Bible was a tremendous success.  Congratulations to the Shiloh Church who won the Contest.  We are now looking forward to September 30, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Freeport Church to have the final run-offs to decide the person that will represent the North Bahamas Mission at the West Indies Union Bible Bowl, October 28, 2006 in Mandeville Jamaica.  In connection with this we are asking all churches to present to us one candidate for the event and the books to be studied are still the four gospels from the New International Version.  Please study well and come prepared to represent your churches and Jesus!

6.       Band practice will be conducted Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 6:00 pm. at the Freeport Church.

 Family Life Ministries  The Inter-American Division will be conducting a special Family Life Cruise August 19-26, 2007 for members and friends of the entire Inter-American Division Family.  15% of the cost of the cruise is payable when you register during the month of October 2006 and 1/3 of the balance will be due by January 20.  We are encouraging families in the North Bahamas Mission to take advantage of this great opportunity to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in the Inter-American Division as you seek to enrich your family life.

WIU Centennial Celebration

“In 1906, West Indies Union was organized.  Although we have undergone many changes, we have experienced God’s guiding hands over these one hundred years, and we must raise our ‘Ebenezer’ in a spectacular weekend of praise, prayer, recognition and celebration”, says the president, Dr. Patrick Allen.

The culmination of the Centennial Celebration will be conducted Friday and Sabbath, November 10 and 11 2006, at the Gymnatorium of Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica.

A Centennial Awards Ceremony, to recognize 100 members who have given outstanding service in advancing the work in this Union will be one of the special feature. These persons will receive the Centennial Medallion.  Plaques will be presented to Fields and Institutions. A Parade of Nations (including the territories that were once a part of WIU), and the passing of the torch will be the closing feature.

The request comes to us to ensure that at least one representative from each church is in attendance, so that he/she can bring back a report.  We are also encouraged, as we continue the one hundred days of prayer and praise countdown, to make this event an integral part of our supplications. 

 Thank You

• Bro. and Sis. Charles Rolle and family sincerely thank all those who supported the cook-out on Thursday to assist Elaine with her medical bills.
   
• The Burrows Family thanks you sincerely for sharing our sorrow.  Our loss was made easier to bear because of your prayers, presence and acts of kindness.  Your thoughtfulness will always be remembered.        …..The Burrows Family

           Don’t Miss It! Don’t Miss It! 

• Sunrise Adventist Men invites you to an XCITING night of FISH FRY & FESTIVAL, JAM #2 – Come N’ enjoy Delicious food, lively games, slammin music and very live performances.  Drinks and Potato Bread will also be on sale. 

Date: September 2, 2006
Time: 8:00 p.m. – until
Place: Old Hawksbill High School Grounds

         All proceeds will aid the church building fund.

 Happy Sabbath!