The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

UNDER the theme “The SHIFT is on – Acts 2 and Joel 2”, the Bahamas National Baptist Youth Convention will play host to Summer Fest: Reloaded 2015.

The event is set to run June 24-27, all taking place at the New Covenant Baptist Church, East West Highway, with sessions beginning at 9am and at 7pm nightly.

Speakers and presenters include Rev Christina Bethell of Bethel Baptist Church on Wednesday; Apostle Valentino Williams of Life Changers Ministries on Thursday; Rev Alphonso J Jackson, Jr, of the Great Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Miami, Florida on Friday, and author Dr Jamila Jackson and therapist Dr Harrison Thompson on Saturday.

More highlights will include appearances and performances by Bahamian entertainers, including Lyrically Blessed, Jonathon Farrington and Tameka Taylor during the night sessions.

In an interview with Tribune Religion, Rev Deno Cartwright, director of the Bahamas National Baptist Youth Convention, said the need to host this event again came about as a proactive response to the crisis Bahamians are facing when it comes to the youth in the country: whether spiritually, emotionally or mentally.

When speaking about the featured artists taking part in the event, Rev Cartwright said they were chosen because of their ability to lead God’s people into worship.

On Saturday night, Rev Cartwright said there will also be an awesome worship concert and dance ministry event featuring Denzcil Rolle and Friends, Pastor Trent Davis and NuVoice, Tabernacle Concert Choir, Fresh Wind, Hiz Reflection Mime Ministry, Calvary Deliverance Dance Ministry, Hinds Feet Dance Ministry along with the Summer Fest Choir, praise ensemble and dance ministry.

“We are enthused to rebrand Summer Fest by including on our agenda leadership and entrepreneurial classes, and also to act as a place of spiritual empowerment, intellectual development and a chance for youth to display their skills and talents to the glory of God. We are ecstatic to be used by God to impact our generation,” he said.

Sharing a little about their history, Rev Cartwright said the National Youth Movement was launched in the 1970s by the National Baptist Convention during the summer to actively engage in outreach and evangelism among the country’s young people.

“This event, though hosted under the National Baptist Convention, spanned across denominations and age groups, and became the impetus of a number of commitments to Christ and revival among our nation’s youth. The event encompassed fine arts through a drama and concert production, skills training and basic information related to youth and young adults during the day sessions, with evangelistic thrusts during the night sessions,” said Rev Cartwright.

He said the acronym SHIFT used for the upcoming Summer Fest stands for “Sudden Heavenly Invasion causing Forward Transition”. They are seeking to bring about a spiritual revival that will ultimately propel the Bahamas into a greater relationship with God. At the end of this event, they hope to have achieved a forward movement and progression in every aspect of the lives of the young generation.

“We are convinced that the church ought to lead in the reformation of the culture, and we are acutely aware of the strategic call of the Church to be salt and light in our communities. Further, we are cognizant of the truth that everything that is seen is caused or created by that which is unseen. Thus, we are seeking to impact the spiritual lives and the minds of our young people through practical skills and leadership training during the day sessions and spiritually enriching night sessions,” Rev Cartwright said.

“Also, this year we are added an all-male and all-female session on Saturday focusing on our older teens and young adults with a trained therapist and doctor and author who will discuss issues that are real, radical and relevant. This session is a no holds barred, down-to-earth discussion ranging from the spiritual to the physical.”

He said they are looking forward to branching out and carrying the Summer Fest to the Family Islands in the future, as well as to invite international brothers and sisters to spend this time with the youth convention through days of preaching, teaching, missions and evangelism outreaches.

“I am convinced that this generation will launch revival within the nation and Summer Fest will prove to be a catalyst that God uses to do just that. We wish to stress that although Summer Fest is hosted by the Bahamas National Baptist Youth, it is indeed cross-denominational, cross-cultural and we are only concerned about lifting up the name of Jesus Christ to this generation,” said Rev Cartwright.

For all interested in attending Summer Fest 2015, Rev Cartwright said it is important to note that a busing system will be provided for the day sessions. Details will be posted via the organisation’s Facebook page (Bahamas National Baptist Youth 242) or twitter #bnbyouth242.