Wills: A Promise

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In the 9th chapter of the book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul skillfully  draws upon the legal concepts of wills and testaments to explain the spiritual mechanism of Salvation to his readers. Simply put, Paul demonstrates that just as a will represents a promise that was made by a person before his death, so was a promise made by God to mankind after Adam had sinned. Similarly, just as the testator must die for the beneficiary to receive the benefits of the will, so must Jesus have died for mankind to receive the benefits of salvation. We see that the concept of wills is one which has been entrenched in Roman, Jewish, and Modern-day society.

The Church, though its mission is a spiritual one, is an entity that currently resides and operates in the realms of men.

Consequently, its members are not deprived of, nor are they exempt from the opportunities and pressures that human beings face. One issue that has existed since the beginning of time (and one that continues to be developed) is the transfer of wealth – many times taking place upon the death of an individual, in which case the transfer is effected through the execution of a testament or will.  

A will represents declarations of a person’s wishes after his death and though it is often construed in the context of asset management, it also includes wishes that do not involve the transfer of wealth.  

In Chapter 8 of her book entitled “The Retirement Years”, Ellen White emphasizes the importance of creating wills that will “stand the test of law”. The truth of the matter is that no one knows when he or she will die. By creating a valid will, the loss of property and/or thousands of dollars will be prevented, and your intentions will be upheld (although you will no longer be here to ensure that they are upheld).

While this article seeks to provide its readers with basic explanations of the elements of a valid will, it is not meant to serve as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. With that being said, a valid will in The Bahamas is one that will possess the following elements:
1.the name of the testator (or testatrix) which is the individual that is creating the will;
2.the name of the executor (or executrix) which is the person to whom the testator has delegated the authority and responsibility of carrying out his instructions;
3.the name of the beneficiary which is the person designated by the testator to inherit his or her assets; and
4.the signatures of two witnesses, as well as, that of the testator or testatrix.  

In conclusion, let us remember that the responsibilities of great stewardship are not relinquished upon the steward’s death. Ironically, the effects of decisions made by great stewards surpass their time on earth and a will represents a powerful instrument in his toolbox.  

--Mr. Michael Toote Jr., CPA, LLB, Chief Accountant & Trust Director, South Bahamas Conference 


CONFERENCE CALENDAR OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE
2020 - February 
Evangelistic Reaping Season For Pastors
21 – 22: Choral Conducting Workshop for Choir Directors (p.m.)
23: Local Publishing Coordinators Training
23 – 27: Sabbath School and Personal Ministries International Congress (Mexico)
24 – 27: ATCU Treasurers’ and Accountants’ Training (Nassau)
29: 1st Quarter Youth Day (a.m) Local Church)
29: Youth Church (p.m) Joint AY

2020 - March
Evangelistic Reaping Season For Pastors
1 – 7: Women on God’s Mission
7: SBC Adventuree Camporee
7: AY Mission Transform (Missing Youth) Local Church
7: International Women’s Day of Prayer
11: Day of Prayer in Educational Institutions
12: ATCU Publishing Directors Meeting (Online)
13 – 15: Prayer Conference
14: Adventist World Radio Emphasis Sabbath-WORD SBC 88.3 FM
19: Elder’s Information Session
21: Global and Children Youth Day – Icare “Refugees


ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES
Risk Management 
There will be a meeting for all local church leaders at the New Providence Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday February 23, 2020 at 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m. All are encouraged to attend especially those that are affiliated with children, youth and church safety. The topic will be Child Protection and Church Safety. Our guest presenter will be Tim Northrop, President of Risk Management, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. 
--Mrs. Kimberley Bryan, Chief Financial Officer

Congratulations Dr. Peter Joseph
On your successful doctoral defense on Spiritual Leadership and Discipleship.
May God continue to bless you, your family, and your ministry to His people in this part of the vineyard. –Administration


ASI /ADVENTIST LAYMEN’S SERVICES AND INDUSTRIES
Elections To Be Held
The election of Executive Officers for ASI for the 2020 - 2025 term will be held on Sunday March 1, 2020 at 4:00p.m at the Grant's Town Church. Only financial members will have voting rights. Deadline for payment of membership renewal and application is Friday February 28, 2020. Please contact us at 427-2341, 376-7044 or 556-0492.

ASI Fair and Health Expo
Join us for a day of fun and excitement as you participate in health screenings (pressure, cholesterol, sugar, dental, vision etc.), Children's health expo, prayer & counseling, food demos and sampling and more! It is all free!
Register to participate (be a vendor) in our Business Expo.
This event will be held on Sunday March 29, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Windsor Park.
Save the date and plan to be there! Call 557-2176, 556-8492 or 428-4251 for more details. 
– Ms. Shandera Smith, ASI Secretary


BIBLE STUDY / SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
Please note there will be no bible class this week due to the Adventist Risk Management meeting. Bible Class will resume on Sunday March 1st @6:30p.m at New Englerston Church. Are you missing out? Next week we will examine the history of the English Bible and factors affecting the writing of the King James Version. Download the Logos Bible Software App and bring a friend. 
--Pastor Lynden Williams, Bible Studies & Spirit of Prophecy Coordinator


CHILDREN & ADOLESCENT MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT 
Leadership Certification Level Two
Of the certification will be held on March 27 – 29, 2020. All participants from Level One are asked to mark this date as we seek to be Certified, as outlined by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

ADVENTIST RISK MANAGEMENT MEETING
Please also note that all CHAM leaders, assistants and personnel in the Department of our local churches are asked to attend the Adventist Risk Management meeting on Sunday February 23rd, 2020 at the New Providence Church. Important procedures will be discussed that will affect our Department.
--Mrs. Lavern Sturrup, Children & Adolescent Ministries Director


HEALTH MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT
Monthly Health Leaders Meeting
All health leaders are invited to the monthly health meeting on February 23, Conference lunchroom from noon to 1:00p.m.

Cat Island Health Expo
All persons interested in being a part of the Health Expo scheduled for Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15, 2020 in Cat Island, please contact Nathelyn LaCroix at 242-826-8486 (WhatsApp) or 323-0610 for further information and cost.

Medical Missionary Evangelism
All persons interested in becoming Medical Missionaries please contact Nathelyn LaCroix at 323-0610 or whatsApp 826-8486. 
–Mrs. Nathelyn Lacroix, Health Ministries Director


FREE FOOT CLINICS
Barry University in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association will be hosting FREE Foot Clinics from Sunday March 1st to Friday March 6th, 2020 throughout New Providence. The Adventist Health Professionals Association will also be partnering. All persons with any foot complaint are invited to attend clinics for free services. Volunteers are needed to assist with the clinic as well. For more information or to volunteer please call Dr. Monique Mitchell at 601-1392, 502-4855, 802- FOOT (3668) or email at mitchellpod@hotmail.com.


MUSIC MINISTRIES
Rehearsals for the South Bahamas Conference (SBC) Youth Choir will be held each Sunday from 6:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Agape Church, Wulff Road. Persons between the age of 15 – 30 years with the ability and love for singing are invited the join. 
--Mr. Ashley Knowles, SBC Youth Choir Director, Mrs. Annette L. Dorsett, SBC Music Coordinator

2. The SBC Music Committee would like to thank all Music Coordinators and their teams for their attendance at the meeting on Sunday.

3. The Women's Choral will hold a rehearsal on Monday February 24th beginning at 6:00p.m. This rehearsal is in preparation for the Upcoming Women's Crusade which will be held March 1-7, 2020.  All ladies who wish to be a part are also invited to attend.  The Rehearsal Venue is the New Providence Church. 
–Mrs. Allison Rolle, Choir Director, Mrs. Annette L. Dorsett, South Bahamas Conference Music Coordinator.


PRAYER MINISTRIES
The first Sunday in every month will be early morning prayer meeting. Here are the scheduled meetings:
New Englerston - March 1, 2020
Hillview - April 5, 2020
Philadelphia - May 3, 2020
Bethel - June 7, 2020
Peardale - July 5, 2020
Berea - August 2, 2020
Ebenezer - September 6, 2020
Breath of Life - October 4, 2020
Centerville - November 1, 2020
Message of Hope - December 6, 2020

Prayer Conference
March 13-15, 2020
Theme: "Touching Heaven - Changing Earth" Learning to Pray With More Power.
Schedule of Meetings:
Friday 7:00p.m - 8:30p.m
Sabbath 9: 00a.m - 8:00 p.m
Sunday morning


PUBLIC AFFAIRS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (PARL) DEPARTMENT
Officers Elected At PARL Conclave
On Sunday, February 16, 2020, the following persons were elected to serve as the officers for the PARL (Public Affairs & Religious Liberty) Executive Board for the remainder of the quadrennium.Chairman, Pastor T. Basil Sturrup, Assistant Chairman, Mrs. Tanya Hanna, Director of Government Affairs, Ms. Lashell Adderley, Assistant Directors of Government Affairs, Dr. Elliston Rahming & Mr. Byron Woodside, Secretary for the Board and Legal Advisor Mrs. Adelma Penn. These persons will serve with additional board members and a panel of experts to assist the South Bahamas Conference to accomplish the mandate of this Department.
--Pastor T. Basil Sturrup, PARL Director


WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
First Quarter (January - March)
“WE” (Women Empowerment) – Q1 Forecast:          
February, 2020
22   New Providence Church Women’s Ministries Chat, Chew & Chill, 6:45p.m. Church Fellowship Hall.
23   Agape Women’s Ministries Prayer Breakfast 7:00am - Church Hall
23   Breath of Life Women’s Ministries Financial Empowerment Session “If your Bank Account could  
talk, what would it say to you?” 4:00p.m. BOL Church Hall

March, 2020
1-7   SBC “Women Saved By Grace” Spiritual Awakening & Empowerment Series, 6:45p.m, New Providence Church.
7   International Women’s Day of Prayer
20-22   WM “God’s Daughters Embrace” San Salvador Mission Retreat & Zone 1 Community Outreach
The countdown is on to our upcoming events!
Do you want to exchange your average life for deeper faith, greater power and more ministry impact? Saved by Grace, the first ever “Spiritual Awakening” & “Empowerment Series” by the Women’s Ministries Department of the South Bahamas Conference, will allow women from all walks of life,  to exchange a dry, thirsty and sometimes broken service,  for one that transcends more than we could ever think or imagine, by accepting God’s grace, which is greater than all our sin.

Come and drink of this life changing water, that will spiritually quench and hydrate us, as Sis. Beverley Williams ministers to us nightly. You don’t want to miss this exciting, power packed week, so come listen as we delve into specific issues affecting women, where others dare not go but which sometimes hinder our ministry service such as:  Mental Illness, Menopause, Depression and Anxiety, Loneliness from Grief, Infidelity and Alternate Lifestyle (Lesbianism) & Promiscuity. See you at the Well!

There are only ten seats left for the SBC WM God’s Daughters Embrace Mission Retreat in San Salvador. The deadline for payment is February 28. Kindly call 357-8030 to reserve your space.

Pause and Pray Wednesday
Don’t forget our weekly Pause and Pray appointment on Wednesdays at noon.

Donation Request, Used, But In Good Condition Devotionals
Kindly donate to your local Women’s Ministries Leader for distribution during our community outreach projects this year. 
--Mrs. Jacqueline Gibson, Women’s Ministries Director


YOUTH TIDBITS
Joint A.Y: The Pursuit. Come and share.
‘Should we pursue a mate and how?’
Sabbath, February 29th, 2020, 4:30p.m.
New Providence Church, Soldier Road.
SBC ADVENTURER CAMPOREE
Theme: Extraordinary
Date: Sabbath, March 7, 2020.
Time: 9:30a.m - 5:00p.m
Venue: New Providence Community Center, Blake Road.
HURRY FEW SPACES LEFT!
Contact local Adventurer Director for more information. Late Bird Registration Fee: $20.00 after February 19, 2020. Fee includes: Camporee Shirt, Patch, Pin & Honor.

Global Youth and Children's Day: iCARE - Refugees, Homeless, Strangers- March 21, 2020
Morning: Community Outreach Impact by local Churches AY Department.
Afternoon: Global Youth & Children's Day March - at 4:00p.m.
The route is as follows: Beginning at the Grant’s Town Seventh-day Adventist Church on Wellington Street heading West North onto Baillou Hill Road Continuing north to Cumberland Street West onto Marlborough Street Continuing to West Bay Street Ending at Arawak Cay Concert Grounds.
GYCD Concert: 5:00p.m, Arawak Cay Concert Grounds.

Lost & Found: Samson Delilah Story
Spring Youth Evangelism 2020: Joint Campaign
Living Faith Church
Sunday, March 22, to Sabbath, March 28.
Weekly- 7:00p.m nightly! Except Thursdays!
Speaker: International Youth Evangelist, Pastor Damien Chandler.
--Pastor Jamal Franklyn, Youth Director


SOUTH BAHAMAS CONFERENCE RETIREES' ASSOCIATION (SOBCRA) MEETING
The South Bahamas Conference Retirees' Association is having its first meeting for the year, on March 5th, 11:00a.m. at the Philadelphia Church in Elizabeth Estates.  All members and those wishing to become members are invited to attend.  


VEGAN COOKING CLASS
The Berea, Breath of Life and Good News Churches are encouraging you to Veganize Your Meals. Learn to cook 3 course wholesome meals on Sunday March 15, 2020 at the Breath of Life Church at 2:00p.m. A small donation is required. Call 636-0330 for more information or contact the Health Ministry’s leaders at any of these churches.



Please Email Weekly Announcements
To: sbclogos@gmail.com
Or logos@sbcadventist.org.bs
By Tuesday at 3:00p.m.