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The Ingathering Campaign initiative within the Seventh-day Adventist church offers an opportunity to its parishioners to annually appeal to our neighboring friends in the community to partner with us for the welfare of society. Ellen White includes, “We are to give to the world the light of truth, as revealed in the Scriptures; and we are to receive from the world that which God moves upon them to give on behalf of His cause” The Southern Watchman, March 15, 1904.

The divine mandate that has been given to the Church should motivate and compel us more than ever not only to identify the needs in the community but also to implement strategies by which those needs can be met. Hence, the purpose of the ingathering campaign.

In Jesus’ eschatological discourse recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, we see the tremendous reward that will be given to those who would have met the needs of the less fortunate. Jesus says, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” Matthew 25: 34-36

This passage conveys a strong reminder to the household of faith of our responsibility to holistically minister to the various needs in the community. Against this backdrop, I share with you some of the objectives of the Ingathering Program.

1. To involve church members as active participants in the annual Ingathering campaign.

2. To visit the homes and businesses of people, sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

3. To share with the public the humanitarian work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Through this initiative, the church has been able to help meet the need for health, education, community service, disaster, and food distribution including famine relief, and similar projects.

As we launch the Ingathering Campaign on Sabbath October 7, 2023, let us all embrace this opportunity to go out and share with our friends in the community the love of Jesus while offering them an opportunity to give their financial contribution. Finally, I appeal to all Pastors, Elders, young people, and our other supportive and dedicated members of the South Bahamas Conference to engage wholeheartedly in Ingathering 2023. With the help of God’s wisdom and guidance, we all can achieve our ingathering goal. May God bless you and have a Spirit-filled Sabbath.

-Pastor Wilson Isnord South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists