The top leader of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas last week recognized the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the areas of health, education and youth ministries.
Prime Minister Perry G. Christie commended the Adventist Church for the role it has played in the development of the Bahamas and challenged Church leaders in the Caribbean nation to develop a health and wellness center, saying that the Church has a very effective healthy living program.
“You have an extraordinary history of commitment to best health practice,” Christie told Church leaders following a report from the Church’s top leader in the region. “In this report it speaks to the success of wellness programs that you have, but it also says we must move to create in the Bahamas a wellness center.”
Christie delivered his remarks on November 2 at the Hillview Adventist Church in Nassau during the opening business session of the denomination’s South Bahamas Conference.
Christie went on to lend his support for the wellness center, saying that the Adventist Church “has an international reputation for its commitment to wellness and healthy lifestyle,” and that if the wellness center is built “the government of the Bahamas will find a way to help you succeed at doing that.”
Adventists are noted for their commitment to healthful living and service. Church members around the world have been documented in books, magazines and medical journals as one of the longest-living people groups ever studied.
“As Adventists we have many ways we can help people in the community live healthful, joyful lives with our principles,” Belkis Archbold, Health Ministries director for denomination’s Inter-American Division, said following the meeting. “We are pleased to see this being recognized by government leaders.”
Leonard Johnson, president of the denomination’s Atlantic Caribbean Union, informed the delegation of upcoming plans to launch a health initiative entitled “I Want to Live Healthy” throughout the territory in 2015 and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to continuously pray for the leaders of the country.
“When we visit with leaders of our country, it is not just to solicit help from them or to deal with issues, but, as spiritual leaders, it is to take time to pray for them,” Johnson said.
There are more than 23,000 Adventist Church members in the Bahamas.