AIDS, young people and sport the focus of Bible work in ‘paradise’ Bahamas

Like youngsters everywhere, these boys in Nassau’s Montel Heights neighbourhood have hopes and dreams of a future filled with joy and peace. The Bible Society Auxiliary in the Bahamas is striving to help them fulfil these dreams by sharing the hope found in God’s Word. Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: UBS/Larry Jerden (BHM01DJ-17.JPG)

Bahamas Focus: stories and photographs by UBS Photojournalist Larry Jerden

NASSAU, Bahamas — Every year three million visitors flood to these islands in search of their version of paradise – sun, surf, gambling and water sports. Few are aware of the islands’ 2,700 churches or know of the work of the Bahamas Auxiliary of the Bible Society of the West Indies.

Yet while the world sees the Bahamas as a place of holiday escape, the Bible Society volunteers who conduct the work here see a young nation grappling with difficult issues, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic and youth gangs.

“The Bahamas is said to have the third-highest incidence of AIDS in the Western Hemisphere,” says the Rev Dr J Emmette Weir, a Methodist pastor who until recently served as Chairman of the Bible Society Auxiliary. “It is a serious epidemic and the numbers are growing.

“[The Bible Society] is developing a Scripture tract to address this problem from a biblical perspective. It will have medical information about AIDS – what it is, how it spreads, what the symptoms are and what can be done about it. It will also contain Scriptures about the body – how it is to be treated as holy and as a temple.

“We want to distribute it in schools and hospitals, and I believe they will be open to it,” Dr Weir continues. “We are seeking sponsors and already have an insurance company interested because AIDS affects their business. A local printer has agreed to print 100,000 copies for US$3,000, instead of the commercial price of around US$8,000, because he regards it as his contribution to the cause.”

Children and young people, who will be some of the main recipients of the AIDS Scriptures, are already an important focus group for the Bible Society. “With some 60 per cent of the population under 21, we have an important mission field – there is a huge generation that must not only receive a book in their hands but God’s Word in their hearts,” says Dr Weir.

Bible Society Promoter Robert Sands is actively involved in developing the Bible Society’s work among young people. As well as organising the distribution of Scriptures in schools, hospitals and at public events, he makes it a habit to have lunch each week with the leader of a different Christian youth organisation.

Encourage

“I want to encourage them and find out what is happening in their organisations,” he says. “Now is a great time for us to focus on youth because the government has mandated that student Christian movements be active in all schools. They have even appointed someone to see that this happens.

“There is a great openness among young Bahamians towards such organisations – they seem to have a great desire to be involved in something positive.”

Resonance

For children and young people living in the rougher neighbourhoods of Nassau where violence and crime are rife, the Bible’s message has particular resonance. Two Bible Society volunteers, Brenda Simms and Sue Damianos, are committed to taking God’s Word to children living in these areas.

“Sue goes into places most Bahamians won’t even go – areas where there are drugs and crime,” says Mr Sands. “There, she teaches Scripture to the children.”

Sport provides another opportunity for the Bible Society to reach out to the islands’ people, both young and old. The prominence of sport in Bahamian life becomes evident to visitors as soon as they arrive in Nassau airport, where life-sized posters of world-class Bahamian athletes who have taken medals in the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and other world championships, adorn the walls. It is estimated that 30 per cent of Bahamians are active participants in some sporting activity.

The Bible Society Auxiliary takes advantage of this interest in sport and distributes Scriptures at the Bahamas’ own Olympics-style event, the Bahamas Games, held every two years. The Games draw more than 20,000 people to the opening ceremonies – a large number for an island nation whose total population is only 300,000.

Opportunities