The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Christian Council President Dr Ranford Patterson says Hurricane Joaquin was a warning that Bahamians need to repent their sins and turn back to God.           

Dr Patterson announced yesterday that a National Service of Thanksgiving and Repentance will be held at the Evangelistic Temple on Collins Avenue and 4th Terrace, Centerville, next Wednesday to thank God for sparing lives  during the devastating hurricane.

“While many Bahamians in the southern Islands of The Bahamas, including Acklins, Crooked Island, Rum Cay, Long Island and San Salvador, suffered significant material loss and mental and emotional anguish, through the mercies of Almighty God, no lives were lost as a result of Hurricane Joaquin,” he said in a statement.  

“We are also grateful to Almighty God for sparing the central and northern Bahamas, including New Providence, Eleuthera, Abaco and Grand Bahama. As a result, we are constrained to give God thanks for His mercies toward us. When we consider the origin, the path, the duration and the eventual disintegration of Hurricane Joaquin, we believe that this hurricane came to us as a warning to The Bahamas of our need to repent of our sin and turn back to Almighty God.

“The purpose of these services is to bring together Bahamians representing all segments of society and the Church in The Bahamas in praise, worship and thanksgiving to God for protecting our people against the loss of life during one of the most devastating hurricanes in our nation’s history. These services will also serve as a time for us to acknowledge, repent of and turn from our sin and get back on the road that leads to our God.

“We believe that God would honour His promise given us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, that ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’

“We take this opportunity to thank the Prime Minister and his government for their support in this national endeavour and look forward to all segments of government in attendance at these services in New Providence and the Family Islands.

On Monday, November 23, we are seeking to have our schools acknowledge and promote the National Service of Thanksgiving and Repentance during their school’s general assemblies. On Wednesday, November 25, the Student Christian Movements or SCMs will hold special time of prayer from 8am to 8.45am at each of our schools. The Council has also planned for all Church Heads and Pastors in New Providence to meet at Clifford Park at 12 noon on Wednesday, November 25, to rededicate our nation back to God.”