Summer is typically the time that many young people anticipate, it’s a time to relax, and have fun. However, for two siblings, this summer was about more than just that. Rachael Bain, an 11th-grade student at Bahamas Academy, took part in the colporteuring program last year. This summer, her younger brother Joshua Bain, an 8th grader at Bahamas Academy decided to join her.

Racheal said, “Colporteuring is a summer program from the publishing department of the South Bahamas Conference, where students who are interested would go into the communities and sell books. For me, some of my favorite parts was, well, making money, getting sales and also being able to hang out with my brother, for us doing it together.”

Joshua said, “What motivated me to do colporteuring was two reasons. I didn't want to be home with nothing to do for the whole summer. And then I wanted to see if the experience was the same. That my sister shared with me.”  

Pastor Nikita Thompson, Publishing Ministries Director of the South Bahamas Conference, shared that the colporteuring program is an initiative designed for people of all ages, and runs year-round. 

This summer, four young individuals, including the Bain siblings, took part in the initiative. Pastor Thompson also mentioned several of the communities they visited and shared on the books they offered.

Thompson said, “We encourage full time, part time and summer students. The summer program is a period of eight weeks. We have had the opportunity to go into the communities of Garden Hills, Golden Gates, Twynam Heights, Elizabeth Estates, Stapleton Gardens and Jubilee and of course many other communities. We offer Religious books such as Evangelism, Steps of Christ, The Great Controversy, and of course, our regular, the health books and cookbooks that people normally gravitate towards. Some of the books, Food that Heal and Plants that Heal.”

The siblings reflected on their journey, and how it shaped their perspectives. They both expressed that the program helped in their character building.

 Joshua said, “My experience was…  it wasn’t too great and it wasn't too bad. Some houses said no, but I just saw that as like, maybe the next house might say yes. And there was some issues, like dogs, but we tried our best to avoid them. My mom went with me for the first week to encourage me. It also helped me to build up my socializing skills with people, and I became more braver to do things that I wouldn't normally do.”

Rachael said, “It was a very unique experience. There were a lot of different people that I was able to meet, different neighborhoods that I was able to see for the first time. Some of the not so fun parts was like the dogs in certain neighborhoods. And also getting told no by some… by a lot of people. But it was also good because it taught me how to be more confident and how to present myself in a certain way when trying to advertise something to somebody.”   

Pastor Thompson emphasized the importance of young people engaging in initiatives like this, and he encouraged other individuals to join. 

Thompson said, “It helps young people to be able to deal with rejections and to be able to strengthen their spiritual walk with Jesus Christ. It also helps them to be more obedient to the word of the Lord. And more important, it help them to learn how to share their faith. If anybody is interested in becoming a Colporteur, whether full time, part time or a summer student. They can just walk into the South Bahamas Conference, ask for the publishing director, who is myself, and, I can take them into an interview and they can fill out an application.”   

In addition to spiritual and personal growth, colporteuring also provides young participants with an opportunity to earn funds to help cover their tuition fees. We are grateful for this ministry and pray for its continued success.