The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE LAUNCH for the new Inner-City Pastors and Ministers Alliance successfully took place on May 8 with a special church service held at creative Christian Arts Ministries International.

Under the theme “Disciplining Our Nation – Changing the Culture”, which is taken from Matthew 28:18-20, the members of the Alliance invited the public to join them as they all came together for one common goal: bringing about change and discipline within Nassau’s inner-city communities.

Apostle Henry Higgins, of Creative Christian Arts Ministries International and the founder and chairman of the Alliance, said with this launch they wanted to leave the four walls of the church behind and carry the gospel into the inner-city through evangelism to witness first-hand the needs of the people.

He said the launch also promoted a culture of peace and love as well as establish centres for counselling, conflict resolution and anger management.
The Alliance’s pastors and ministers, who are from various denominations, churches and inner-city communities, were in high spirits as they made a vow to unite in their mission to take the name of Jesus to the streets to bring about a change to the hearts of the people.

At the launch, Apostle Higgins shared the vision of the Alliance with the congregation. He said that the Lord had directed him to conduct a survey in the inner-city and that he had found that most of the crimes committed in the country were done by persons who were products of abject moral poverty.

He explained that moral poverty is when a person does not have a real identity and does not have an appropriate role model from whom to learn vital, everyday lessons.

Apostle Higgins said that moral poverty is when a child grows up surrounded by “deviant, delinquent and criminal adults in chaotic, dysfunctional, fatherless, Godless and jobless settings where drug abuse and child abuse are twins”.

God, he said, gave him the vision to create the Alliance so as to build and resurrect the inner-city communities from the mess they have found themselves in. He said that through the Alliance, they will be able to reach people where they live, and through the Holy Spirit their lives will be changed and they will seek to join and become a positive force in the country.

Apostle Higgins told the congregation that the vision of the Alliance is to create a group of pastors, ministers, teachers, life coaches, family members and other adults who care enough about people to nurture and disciple them into the Kingdom of God.

He said that the Pastors Alliance will be partnering with the Bahamas Christian Council, all governmental agencies, local churches and denominations as well as non-governmental agencies to fulfil their mandate.

He thanked all of the pastors and ministers who came on board initially to trust his leadership for this mandate. Apostle Higgins also gave thanks to God for choosing him as a vessel to lead the Alliance in the Bahamas.

Rev Dr Ranford Patterson, president of the Bahamas Christian Council, delivered the charge for the Alliance.

He took his text from 1 of Samuel 17, as he compared the Alliance to David who had to face a major enemy of his nation and Goliath.

Rev Patterson told the congregation that the Bahamas has one Goliath that must be defeated, and that is sin.

“Because of sin in the hearts of the Bahamian people today there is much poverty, crime, violence and other social ills. It appears that many persons of our nation have taken the position of Saul and the Israelite army. They were not prepared spiritually, physically or mentally to take on the Goliath that has come up against the Bahamas. It seems that we as a people are afraid to stand up against the Goliath that is destroying our nation,” said Rev Patterson.

He said the Alliance must take up the spirit of David and stand by its mandate by confronting the Goliath. He encouraged the Alliance to pray, but he told them that they must understand that the church has always been praying and that it was time for action.

“The Alliance must be the one who must operate on the word of God where it says faith without works is dead. Prayer is an action of faith, but that faith must be put into action by this Alliance whom God has called for such a time as this,” said Rev Patterson.

He told the congregation that he was elated and excited that God would raise up a man and a group of people who have the courage and the tenacity to fight against the Bahamas’ Goliath.

“The Alliance is not to be fooled by its size, as it may be small in number, but God never uses big numbers to complete any assignment he wants done on the Earth,” Rev Patterson said.

“God used a little shepherd boy with no soldiering experience to save a nation and God will do the same again as long as members of the Alliance stay focused and committed to the cause. David had a cause to defeat Goliath and the Alliance has a cause to defeat the Goliath that has come up against our nation.”

Also ministering at the Alliance launch were Soul Warriors, Raw Talent, CCAMI Dance Ministry and One Flesh Mime.