Writer's Conference

The MCCA Sunday School Curriculum Writing will take place on Wednesday, April 15- April 18 at the Wesley Methodist Church, Malcolm Road, Nassau. There will be 10 writers. This Writers Conference is one of eight across the Connexion. Rev. Paul Douglas-Walfall, Connexional Publication Officer and Mrs. Mazee Brusch, District Editor will facilitate.
We extend a heartfelt gratitude to all persons who have avail their time to assist with the writing.
Every blessing.

The Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd Youth Group

Our newest Congregation in the Bahamas/Turks and Caicos Islands Conference has installed its new executive for its Youth Group. The group has renamed itself as G.S. Generation. The new executive members are:
President: Shelmernique Cartwright
1st Vice President: Taneil Gibson
2nd Vice President: Krystal Cash
Secretary :Gereka Sturrup
Chaplin: Kendra Ingraham
Sargeant at Arm: Geneka Sturrup

If you wish to communicate to the group you can do so through its President, by contacting Rev. Emily Demeritte.
Every blessing G.S. Generation and looking forward to hearing good things.

BTCIC Children's Summit

Plans are on the way for the third BTCIC Children's Summit. This will be held at the Church of God Camp, Marshall Road in Nassau from July 23-26, 2009. Registration forms are now available from the Children Leaders in all circuits. Registration fee is $200. The first payment of $100.00 is due on April 15 and the second payment is due on June 30.
All children who belong to the Methodist Church, come and enjoy.

Youth Week Completed

The youth of the Andros Circuit have completed their youth week, under the theme, " My Help Comes from the Lord" on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 7 a.m. The week ended with a Lock-In from Friday 13th at 7 p.m. at the Mount Zion Methodist Church, Nicholl's Town. There were 32 young people in attendance. The evening was filled with spiritual, physical and educational activities. Some sessions were- Helping Yourself-Savings, Making the tools to help yourself, Balanced Diet and Personal Hygiene, Spiritual Will Power, Games, and Dance the Night Away . The facilitators came from persons in the Andros Community, which included a nurse, pastor, police officer, and some teacher(s). We express gratitude to all the facilitators for sharing with our young people in the midnight hours. We also express thanks to the organisers of this evening to morning fellowship.

Youth Week On Its Way

The Andros Circuit began its Youth Week on Lord's Day, March 8th. The young people participated in worship in our four congregations which stretches from North to Central Andros. Tonight, March 12, the children between the ages of 7-14 years participated in an Elocution Competition at Wesley Methodist Church (MCCA), Mastic Point. There were two categories: ages 7-10 and 11-14. The winners for these categories were:
Ages 7-10 years- 1st-Micah Russell, 2nd-Kylon Newton, 3rd-Kadisha Scott
Ages 11-14 years-1st-Laterio Woodside, 2nd-Johnte Curry, 3rd-Victoria Christie
Congratulations to all the participants. We extend thanks to the donors of our trophies.

Where are our men and boys?

The Rev. Mark Christmas wrote this pastoral letter on MCCA Men Lord's Day, February 22 and I found it fit to post it on the blog with his permission, of course.

Today, we celebrate MCCA Men. Who is a MCCA man? All males who are 18 years or older. You would have read in your bulletins of the Inaugural MCCA Men's Assembly to be held in Jamaica in April. The Assembly forms the first step towards the formalization of MCCA Men as an umbrella organization for all men's group in the Connexion.
With the formation of MCCA Men, it will give greater voice to the specific interests and issues affecting the male membership of our churches. MCCA Men will not only make resources available to men but allow men to be the resources as well, enabling the work among men and boys.
Every year we are faced with challenges that affect men and boys, challenges that are physical, social, cultural, economical, religious and political, to name a few. There are some challenges that are common to men and women alike and there are challenges that are unique to men. There are challenges that are common to men universally, there are challenges that are common to men in the Bahamas as a whole and there are challenges that are unique to Andros.
The challenge of space and identity stems from the concept that "outside" is for boys and "inside" is for girls. As long as the girl is inside the "yard", she is fine, but the "road" or the "street" belongs to the boys. It is common then, for the "boys" to hang out on the "street corner" or around the bars or shops to 'lime', drink, smoke, chat, quarrel, fight, plan, watch passers-by or verbally harass the young women. It is what gives the male his identity or so it seems. To remain "inside", as a male, is to run the risk of being branded as a "sissy". If the male then identifies with the "outside", should the church then, move to the outside as well-beyond the four walls? Perhaps we should start by listening to Christ and to the men and boys, identify with them and all Christ to transform us into what he would want us to be and to do.

Andros Circuit Youth Week

The Andros Circuit will celebrate its Youth Week from March 8-14, 2009. The theme for the week is "Our Help Comes From the Lord." The week will begin with Exchange of Services by the Youth on Lord's Day, March 8. On Thursday, March 12, there will be the second Elocution Competition for ages 7-14 at the Wesley Methodist Church, Mastic Point. Then on Friday, March 13, the Youth between ages 12 to 25 will participate in a Lock-In beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 7 a.m. on Saturday. March 14. This will be held at the Wesley Mount Zion Methodist Church. The organisers said that these activities will bring the youth together, not just only from our Methodist Church, but also from other denominations in the community. This promises to be a quite successful week.