CLICK
HERE to read about CRC's outreach
to Inagua, Bahamas June 30 - July 15, 2005
Since
the 1960’s, because of the nations’ close
proximity, Bahamian and American Methodists have been
traveling between their countries sharing spiritual,
financial and material resources. In August of 2001,
CrossRoad Church launched its own Bahamas Ministry
by inviting the President of the Bahamas Conference
of the Methodist Church (BCMC), Rev. Charles Sweeting,
along with Rev. Carla Culmer, to visit the Jacksonville
District churches.
At
CrossRoad Church, the ministers shared with staff
and mission board members the many needs throughout
the islands. CrossRoad Church’s first response
was to send one of its members to the Abacos to serve
for six weeks as lay pastor in the village of Hopetown
on Elbow Cay. The need for sound and lighting equipment
at St. James Methodist Church was noticed and CrossRoad
Church was able to send a system to Hopetown, which
enabled the church to present a Christmas play for
the entire community.
In November of 2001, congregational members and staff
from CrossRoad Church were invited to attend the BCMC’s
Central Council meeting in Nassau. Many needs throughout
the islands were identified at that meeting, and a
recommendation was made to establish a covenant relationship
between the Florida and Bahamas Methodist churches.
Bahamian
pastors and laity were invited to CrossRoad Church
in February 2002 to discuss how we might help establish
a contemporary church on the campus of Queens College
in Nassau. Within weeks of that meeting, sound, lighting,
and musical equipment were shipped to Rev. James Neilly
on campus and the new church, Global Village Methodist
Church, was launched. Our own Pastor Jerry Winkler
attended the inaugural service on April 21, 2002.
At the invitation of the Bahamians, on April 25, 2002,
twelve members of CrossRoad Church traveled to Rock
Sound, Eleuthera for three nights of praise, worship
and sharing the Gospel with the churches and communities
in the South Eleuthera Region. The group included
not only members of the CrossRoad Church worship team,
but also congregational members who felt a call to
help share the Good News with our Bahamian friends.
On Sunday morning, CrossRoad Church teams conducted
the worship services at each of the five churches
in the region. All were blessed – the CrossRoad
Church participants, as well as our friends on Eleuthera!
CrossRoad Church members attending the BCMC Annual
Conference in James Cistern, Eleuthera, introduced
Crown Financial Ministries courses in May of this
year. Delegates to the conference, numbering close
to 200, were taught the Crown series, “Discovering
God’s Way of Handling Money” – proven
financial principles that are truly life-changing
for their churches, as well as individuals.
Bahamas Youth Directors, Juliette Phillpot and Carl
Campbell, from Nassau visited CrossRoad Church this
June during Youth Week, sharing messages in the evenings
and participating with our youth in the fun during
the day.
Also
in June 2003, a CrossRoad Church member traveled to
the island of Bimini to serve as lay pastor for Wesley
Methodist Church where she shared the Gospel, conducted
Bible studies, prayer services, and provided pastoral
care for the congregational members. This church is
one of many among the 34 churches in the BCMC, which
are without a full time ordained or lay pastor.
On
September 1, 2002, new officers were installed in
the Bahamas Methodist Conference. Mrs. Kenris Carey
was elected President; Rev. Bill Higgs, Vice President;
Dr. Reg Eldon was re-elected Secretary; and Vince
Knowles was elected Treasurer. We look forward to
working with these new officers as we participate
in Covenant activities together.
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