By VANESSA C ROLLE
Guardian Staff Reporter
The church should become more involved in inculcating a strong family base for the nation in light of the reported "unacceptable" high level of crime, proclaimed newly-elected President of the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, Pastor Dr Leonard Johnson.
In an exclusive interview on Sunday afternoon, Pastor Johnson, who has served as an Adventist minister for some 21 years, said that crime statistics reported by the Royal Bahamas Police Force last week demand that the church work more assiduously to strengthen the integrity of the nation.
"I see this in terms of spirituality, in terms of the area of the family and certainly through the avenue of education. The church can really make a significant contribution," he said.
Presenting his vision for the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Johnson said the church should encourage the Biblical concept of family, as the family unit was created by God, and when it is intact, society and the nation as a whole stand to benefit.
There are some families in our community he said, which are not characterized as ideal because of certain circumstances, but in essence,the church has to work to help such families build a strong foundation and not fall apart.
"If we are going to do this, we have to start with our young people. We need our young people to appreciate and to value God's institution of marriage. Not just going at it the wrong way, but going at it the right way. And even before you can get there, you have to teach them how to be responsible, and how to make wise and intelligent decisions. Just one choice can ruin the life of one forever," he said.
The Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists had dominated them all.
Bishop Greene said the doubt and fear of the Judeans was similar to the Jews when Moses lead them out of Egypt and into the wilderness and the disciples who were on the boat with Jesus when the storm arose.
"It does not matter how the enemy comes against you, If God be for you who can be against you?" Bishop Greene preached.
He said the Judeans had every right to be afraid because the Northern Kingdom had been defeated by the Syrians.
Bishop Greene said King Hezekiah tore his clothes and went down into sackcloth and ashes and called on the men of God to pray and seek God's face for help.
He said the matter facing Hezekiah, much like those that face us daily had become too much to bear.
"Sometimes things get out of control and out of our control and beyond us," said Bishop Greene.
He likened Hezekiah's desperation to the point of no return to that of a mother who has brought her child to the ninth month.
Bishop Greene said if the child is not delivered on time the lives of the mother and the child are placed at risk.
He said there is time for a new order, a new awareness, where this nation must be free to give its praise to God and open to receive blessings from God.
He insisted that Bahamians "look to the hills from when they came," because there is no time for procrastination.
Bishop Greene said The Bahamas is a nation gripped with uncertainty of the challenges posed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Trade Organization and the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
He said while many Bahamians are impressed with what they have accomplished, they must not forget to seek the kingdom of God first.
"God said that if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me," said Bishop Greene.
He said while the nation may be faced with trouble, trouble is not the absence of God, but rather it is the collective failure to acknowledge the highest good and the attempt to move away from mediocrity and move toward excellence.
"The time has come for the delivery and for leaders to realise that Jesus Christ is Lord," he told the congregation.
Bishop Greene said this is the time where dreams are realised and the weak become strong and the faithless become faithful.
He said he has a problem with people who say, they can't worship with us because of political views.
Bishop Greene said those who cannot worship with God's people are not fit to represent God's people in Parliament.
"I don't care what America does or says, I don't care what Europe does or says, the same God that kept us when we were a fishing village and took us to where we are now, is the same God who will take us through the unknown future. Don't look around, look up to the hills from whence cometh your strength Bahamas," he said.
Bishop Greene said many times we defeat ourselves because as we are challenged, we often see ourselves as grasshoppers facing giants.
However, he added, the irony is that the giants don't see grasshoppers, they see a potential threat.
"Could it be that the people whom God took out of the fishing village, are beginning to doubt their God?" he asked.
Bishop Greene told the congregation to be of good courage and wait on the Lord because he will renew their strength.
His advice to Prime Minister Christie was that whenever he is challenged to make a tough decision, he should be lead by God, and move forward without hesitation.
Bishop Greene encouraged Bahamians never to falter in their faith of God when challenges arise.
