I see my role as “ministry”, says PM

I see my role as “ministry”, says PM
Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis addressing the Opening Session of the 97th Annual National Convention of the Church of God - Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands Thursday night (March 22, 2018) at the Bishop William Johnson Convention centre, Joe Farrington Road. (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)

Improving the quality of life for all Bahamians is a mandate The Government of The Bahamas takes seriously, according to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.

Addressing the Opening Session of the 97th Annual National Convention of the Church of God – Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands at the Bishop William Johnson Convention Centre, Joe Farrington Road on Thursday, the prime minister said this means “doing all that it can, for as many Bahamians as it can, for as long as it can”.

“We want to help the poor and we will. We want to help the downtrodden and we will. We want to help the disenfranchised, and we will. In short, we are about improving the quality of lives for all Bahamians.

“I see my role as prime minister as ministry. I am about the business of uplifting the lives of Bahamians. In this regard I shall remain steadfast, unmovable.”

Dr. Minnis also applauded Bishop Moses Johnson, national overseer and Administrative Bishop of the Church of God – Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Island, for his “exemplary leaderships and your partnership with my Government to improve the quality of lives of Bahamians everywhere.”

Further, Dr. Minnis said, “I pray that God will richly bless you, your congregants and your Ministry.”

The prime minister commended the convention on its 97th annual sitting, calling it a great achievement.

“You are three years away from your centennial anniversary celebrations. I look forward to celebrating with you what I know to be a momentous occasion. Your doctrinal commitments and core beliefs such as repentance, justification, regeneration, new birth and others are well documented,” he said.

“Yours is a great legacy and you stand on the shoulders of great men like Bishop William Johnson, Bishop Neville Hart, Bishop John Humes, among so many others.”

Dr. Minnis further commended the convention on giving people the “spiritual tools needed” to become productive citizens.

“We live in an age and time when our young people, in particular, are being exposed to various doctrines, teachings and theories. Times are different from my growing up. Whatever the Preacher said to me was accepted. Whatever my teacher said to me was Gospel. But today, we are exposed to every whim and belief. Our young boys and girls are exposed to tons of information – things we generally regard as foreign – thanks to technological devices and social media. The point I wish to make here is simple: Our young people must be grounded in Godly teachings from a very young age. We must ensure their attendance in Sunday School and Bible teaching,” he said.

“I am of the view that once given spiritual tools, our young people will survive the fiery darts of the wicked. But prepare them now to be steadfast and unmovable. I am focusing on the youth and the parents and guardians of our youth, as this must be the key to our great future. We must provide these spiritual nutrients to our youth to be strong.”