A New Adventure

Ever since I announced that I would no longer be serving the First Presbyterian Church of Sand Springs, folks have been asking what it is I will be doing. I have to admit that I have been wondering that myself. I have looked at several options, from teaching to serving other churches. I have sent out resumes, e-mails, and even had a few personal contacts with other pastors and leaders who have been in my situation.

The result of all this is that I have been accepted as pastor of the Lucaya Presbyterian Church in Freeport, Grand Bahama. It sounds like an appointment to paradise, and in many ways it is, but it will be no picnic.

The church was founded about 50 years ago by the Church of Scotland as a mission to the indigenous people and the expatriates who lived there. About five years ago, the church decided to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in the United States since Florida is much closer and more able to provide ministry support. I will be received into the EPC and serve as their first pastor from that denomination.

The Bahamas is a chain of nearly 700 islands that stretches from the southeast coast of Florida to just northwest of Haiti. Only about 30 of the islands are inhabited, with the vast majority of the population living in Nassau. There are about 300,000 people in the Bahamas, and nearly two-thirds live on New Providence, where the capital is located.

As I said, the setting is beautiful, but the ministry will be challenging. The island the church is on, Grand Bahama, is the northernmost of the outer islands of the Bahamas. This is not Nassau, with its bustling city and five-star hotels. Unemployment on the island is around 25%, so there is a lot of need among the people there. One of the issues they have is that tourism, which is down right now, provides about 60% of the GDP, and employs about half of the nation’s workforce. When tourism is down, it puts a lot of people out of work.

The church supports a ministry called CrossReach, which feeds 50 families a month to help them make ends meet. This ministry is overseen by Jerry Coleborn, who has been doing it for the past few years. Expenses are in excess of $1,000/mo, all of which goes to local families.

The church itself is very international, as you might expect. It consists of Bahamians, as well as citizens of many different countries, like England, Scotland, Canada, and even Lebanon. In many ways, it is like a church in the US; they have worship on Sundays, outreach ministries, and even a youth group. So my responsibilities will include things like preaching, planning worship, training elders, and helping the church in its outreach ministries.

But because of their unique setting, there are many other challenges as well. There is a lot of poverty on the island, and a need for better education and health care. Many of the native people live in small, family-related communities.

This will be a huge change for our family, but a great opportunity to bring God’s message of love and peace to a community in need. I appreciate all the support this congregation has shown to my family, and I would appreciate your continued prayers for this transition. Rest assured that you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

I will still have the same e-mail address, so you can contact me that way, and I will probably still post on facebook from time to time, and update my blog. The church does have a website, so you can also keep track of us there. It is at lucayachurch.com.

Remember the words of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

May God continue to bless and be with us all.