As we are now in the eighth month of this year one may tend to agree with me when I say it has been a year full of necessary and unnecessary challenges.

Through every storm, we have seen the hand of God moving in our lives and the life of this the South Bahamas Conference. COVID-19 has placed an extra burden on our lives as we are now mandated to wear masks in public places, stay away from large gatherings, wash our hands frequently,sanitize often and where possible take the vaccine.

God’s desire is that we be healthy and that our lives reflect the creator God as we live a life of wholistic health. We are also to be good stewards as wedo what is possible to protect ourselves and our neighbors from getting this preventable yet deadly virus. Permit me to share with you two passagesof scripture that I believe will corroborate what my thoughts are:

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3John 2

“If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, Iwill put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” - Exodus 15:26.

Finally, allow me to share with you these guidelines from the world of health, The Bahamas Government, and the South Bahamas Conference ofSeventh-day Adventists. These guidelines will decrease the risk of the transmission of COVID-19.

Health Laws:
Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, Trust in God. “Reform, continual reform, must be keptbefore the people, and by our example we must enforce our teaching. True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. It isimpossible to work for the salvation of men and women without presenting to them the need of breaking away from sinfulgratifications, which destroy the health, debase the soul, and prevent divine truth from impressing the mind. Men and womenmust be taught to take a careful view of every habit and every practice, and at once put away those things that cause an unhealthycondition of the body and thus cast a dark shadow over the mind. God desires His light-bearers ever to keep a high standard before them. By precept and example, they must hold their perfect standardhigh above Satan's false standard, which, if followed, will lead to misery, degradation, disease, and death for both body and soul.Let those who have obtained a knowledge of how to eat and drink and dress so as to preserve health impart this knowledge to others. Let the poor have the gospel of health preached unto them from a practical point of view, that they may know how to care properly for the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” (The Health Food Ministry, pg.37).

Government Protocols

  • church meetings must be limited to one hour;
  • church gatherings must be limited to 33% of the occupancy capacity of the facility;
  • indoor funeral or cremation services are prohibited;
  • funeral or cremation services are only permitted outdoors;
  • funeral or burial services are permitted only at the graveside;
  • funeral, burial, or cremation services are limited to 30 persons, excluding the officiant and funeral workers;
  • repasts are not permitted;
  • cremation services are permitted outdoors and are limited to one (1) hour.
  • all churches must keep a register of all persons attending all in-person services or meetings. This register must be retained for a period of at leastsix (6) weeks.
  • all churches must conduct temperature checks of all persons entering church buildings.
  • masks must be worn by persons entering church buildings at all times;
  • hand sanitizer dispensers must be placed at all entrances and persons entering must be required to use them before they are seated;
  • hand sanitizer and soap dispensers must be filled at all times;
  • a distance of at least 6 feet must be maintained between all seated persons;
  • microphones, podiums, and lecterns, must be sanitized after each person has used them.

--Article written and compiled by Pastor Leonardo Rahming, Executive Secretary, South Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists