Bahama Mission
May and June 2002
We continue to do all that we can to keep everyone updated on progress with our joint work in the service of the Master. We remind you about the regular e-mail updates. If you are not receiving these and would like them, just send us an e-mail making that request.
We are most pleased with the internal growth in so many of our congregations in the Islands. I look back over the years and see the great progress of the Church in Nassau and Freeport. I remember well when these congregations were small and struggling. Now they are large, self supporting, and aggressive in evangelism. They are the congregations that others in the Islands look to for assistance in times of need. They continue to supply preachers on the week-ends to the congregations in San Salvador and Abaco. Bill Miller and others have passed the baton to younger men whom they have trained. These young men are talented, effective, and motivated.
Groups from the United States and from the Bahamas continue to go into the Family Islands helping the smaller congregations. This serves to strengthen those who go, and is of great benefit to the small churches.
Groups have gone from Wynn, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee to Rock Sound, Eleuthera. Lincoln Young reports the largest crowds ever in these VBS and meeting efforts. Mike Gurganus has taken the first group to Exuma and really laid the ground work for our next congregation in Georgetown. This hub has a population of 3700. Another effort using both Americans and Bahamians is planned for September. We also will be delivering the Bibles and Studies to the schools with the help of Danny and Melanie Guinn and their plane. We are moving slow because we do not yet have a family to lead the effort by living in Exuma.
Freeport has had and will have a total of 7 groups this summer. They have about finished the addition to their building and continue to reach out in the community. Marsh Harbour has been without a local preacher for a year. They also have sorely missed Drexel Major who led the singing and did some of the teaching and preaching. Drexel continues to improve and adjust while living in Nassau. His family has moved to be with him. Leonard Edgecomb has stepped into the gap and organized others to help with the young people and to carry on. Preachers come in most week-ends, and Leonard teaches classes, leads the singing and preaches when needed. August 3, 4, 5, a group from Nassau will go to spend the week-end in Abaco helping to teach and encourage. August 6-11, 22 from the West Broward congregation in Ft. Lauderdale will be in Marsh Harbour for a VBS and a period of teaching with teens and adults.
Brethren in Cat Island and Long Island are able to carry on, in spite of the fact that many are still moving away to find jobs in the city, and the older people are growing older and passing on. Our hope for these small rural congregations is for the future. Many retired people are moving back to their roots, and those who were converted in the small Islands are finding active places in other congregations. They face much of the same challenges that small rural congregations do in the States.
We are in the middle of Hurricane season, and continue to be watchful and hopeful that we will be spared another year. Hurricane Relief work is demanding, but often opens doors and gives up opportunities for spreading the Gospel. Repair of damage is a long process that sometimes takes years.
We are happy to have the plane back in top shape after the incident. The new paint on the wings looks even better than the rest of the plane. We are thankful and continue to prepare for safe operation of this valuable tool. The five men recently killed in a crash in the Bahamas were in the same kind of plane we use. I was shocked a few days ago when our neighbor in Florida came over to tell us that another next door neighbor was one of the five killed. This took place three years to the day of the John Kennedy crash! Dinah says that this will increase your prayer life!
My Dad is making slow progress in the hospital since falling after a worship period and breaking both his shoulder and hip. At 84 he is still productive and just published another book for men in Mission areas. This 500 page book is a practical study of New Testament words tucked neatly into practical lessons for classes and preaching. "He Shall Tell Thee Words", is going to be a great aid for preachers and teachers in areas where resources are unavailable.
We still have many in our congregations over the Islands who need our prayers as they struggle with various illnesses.
We were excited to note that the 32nd Annual Caribbean Lectureship this year had an attendance of more than 500. The great thing is that most of the brethren were from the Islands. I remember when this started, I led a large group to Jamaica from the United States and most in attendance were Americans. This is progress.
Even though things slow down in the Islands during the summer, because those who can afford it will travel and go to the city to do their annual shopping, progress is being made. Teaching continues on a daily basis and additions take place with regularity.
We continue to need your prayers and support. Without each doing what we can, nothing would be done.
Checks can be made to:
Bahama Mission Church of Christ and sent:
Attn: David Caskey Missions
Gulf Coast Church of Christ
3825 McGregor Blvd.
Ft. Myers, Florida 33901
If you need additional information about the work in
the Bahamas, please feel free to write to the above address, or refer to our
web page.
david
