LLOYD QUANT Outreach Center was officially opened at St. David’s Methodist Church in Sea Grape, Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama this past Sunday. Participating in the official ribbon cutting was from left to right: the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama; the Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for the West End and Bimini Constituency; Evangelist Lloyd Quant; Mrs. Joan Stubbs; and Rev. Kenneth Lewis, pastor of St. David’s and St. Andrew’s Methodist Church. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)
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It Only Takes One
Person to Make a Difference, Darville Says
SEA
GRAPE, Grand Bahama –
Bahamians were
reminded Sunday that it only takes one person to make a difference and that
each of us should desire to be that person.
That
challenge came from the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael
Darville as he participated in the Commissioning of the Evangelist Lloyd Quant
Outreach Community Center in Sea Grape, Eight Mile Rock this past Sunday
evening.
Both the
Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe, and Minister for Grand Bahama,
the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, on Sunday past took time out from their busy
schedules to pay tribute to Evangelist Lloyd Quant.
Their
tribute came during the Commissioning of the Evangelist Lloyd Quant Outreach
Community Center, at St. David’s Methodist Church in Sea Grape, Eight Mile
Rock, Grand Bahama, Sunday evening.
At age
98, Mr. Quant is said to be the longest serving preacher in the Methodist
Church in The Bahamas and the Caribbean, having served the church and the
community of West Grand Bahama, in particular, for the past 80 years.
Addressing
the gathering at the commissioning ceremony this past Sunday, Dr. Darville
pointed out that it is the Government’s mission to wipe every tear from every
eye by providing support and assistance for the most vulnerable members of
society: children, the elderly, persons with disability, the poor and families
requiring social and financial support.
“Our
vision is to see a country where all citizens are economically empowered to
provide for themselves and their families and have equal opportunities to
access services that will enhance the basic quality of life for all.
“Despite
the efforts of the hard working employees in the Department of Social Services
and Urban Renewal 2.0, we realize that the Government cannot do it alone. As a team, together, everyone achieves more
and through the collaborative and synergistic efforts of public/private
partnerships, we know that we can and will accomplish our goals,” Dr. Darville
stated.
Also, he
stated that it is his belief that those who take part in philanthropic
activities must have a strong desire to see poverty, and the crime and general
social decay that accompanies it, eradicated.
“Therefore,
I applaud the supporters and contributors of this Outreach Center, who have
invested their time, finances and other resources to bring this project to
fruition,” Dr. Darville said.
He went
on to acknowledge 700 Partners, a non-profit organization headed by Ms. Ginger
Moxey, President and CEO of Immerse Bahamas, for listing the Evangelist Lloyd
Quant Community Outreach Centre as one of the worthy projects that require
community support.
“This
organization, which fuses the efforts of the Government of The Bahamas, global
and civic organizations, corporate Bahamas, religious groups and people from
all walks of life, in the spirit of culture immersion, philanthropy and social
responsibility, is dedicated to reaching those that are in need and restoring
the infrastructure that creates the environment for better communities, hence
their partnership with this Community Outreach Centre,” Dr. Darville informed.
Continuing,
he noted that it was his understanding that the Center housed a feeding
facility, which served breakfast twice weekly to more that 100 children.
“While
this is a step in the right direction, they have so much more they would like
to accomplish by expanding their facility to include a Wellness Center, an
After School Program and offering special classes such as Adult Literacy,
Karate and Sewing Programs, just to name a few.
“I would
like to take this opportunity to encourage the businesses and residents of West
Grand Bahama, in particular, to render assistance to this Center as it seeks to
expand its operation.
“I would
also like to encourage Pastor Kenneth Lewis, the parishioners of St. David’s
Methodist Church and the Outreach Center managers to continue to partner with
the Department of Social Services and Urban Renewal 2.0 in the execution of
your daily responsibilities and to remember that we are only as strong as the
weakest among us,” the Minister for Grand Bahama stressed.
Further
he advised that the greatest gift of any leader is his or her ability to
connect with, inspire and create opportunities for the youth, the poor and the
disenfranchised.
“It is my
sincere hope, therefore, that each of you will leave this service today
empowered with the belief that it only takes one person to make a difference,
and a desire to be that person,” he said.