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Last Updated: Feb 27, 2017 - 5:05:48 PM |
Nassau, Bahamas -Remarks Made By Bishop Neil C. Ellis on The Occasion of Mount Tabor’s 30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service February 26th, 2017:
Today, I stand in awe of the unequivocal, indisputable unwavering and incomparable faithfulness of God.I borrow the thoughts of The Prophet Jeremiah, who upon reflecting on the goodness cries out in the book of Lamentation with a reminder that“It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.TheLordis my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”
Hope and Faith have been the bedrock of our ministry over the past 30 years.We have hoped in God and He has remained faithful to us.We have stood on the truth of His word; and can testify that everything that He hath promised He has performed.
· It is his faithfulness that has been a Mighty Fortress and Strong Tower to us.
· It is His faithfulness that has protected us from the snare of the fowler; He did not allow the enemy to triumph over us and for this we are eternally grateful.
Thirty years ago, Patrice and I,along with 11 others, with nothing more than Faith in God, embarked on thecall from God to begin a new ministry here in the Bahamas.Little did we know then, that this would bethe beginning ofa journeyof a lifetime, transforming people into believers and believers into faith-walkers. What a journey it has been!
Today, 30 years later, more than 8,000 people, at some time or another, has called this place their church home.
David, in the 127 portion of the Psalmsreminds us that, "Except theLordbuilds the house, they labour in vain that build it." Today, joy bells are ringing in my heart when I think of the fact that God, over these 30 years, has allowed us to be a part of something He's built.
· He has built a house that has stood the test and thetempestof time and tribulation and remains a refuge for thedisillusioned, despondent, discouraged, downtrodden and disenfranchised.
· He has built a house on the foundation of Prayer, Praise, Worship, Submission, Empowerment, Stewardship and Integrity.
· He has built a house that stands on theseven mountains of Business, Government, Media, Arts and Entertainment, Education, the Family and Religion.
· He has built ahouse where His Presence is welcomed, HisPower ismanifested and His Glory ispursued.
· He has built a house where the Language of Love is lived out in the lives of the members who called thistheirhome.
Our journey from then to now, is laid outin the 30th anniversary commemorative booklet and it speaks to much of what has been accomplished over the past 3 decades. I trust that you would take the time out to read it. As you do so, I trust that you find reasons to affirm that God has been and continues to be faithful to us.
In the synoptic gospels, Mount Tabor is referred to as the Mount of Transfiguration - a Place of Transformation. It represented the place where Jesus was transformed before the very eyes of his disciples.Today, we believe that we have held true to our Prophetic Name and Mission.
Over the years, we have record of aTotal of 29,247 persons committing their lives to God through their personal confession of faith with an additional 8,845 persons rededicating themselves to the cause of Christ and the work of the kingdom.We are pleased to report that during these 30 years, we have taken 8,824 people to the waters of baptism.
We have grown where we were planted.
We sought to be light in moments of darkness.
We made every effort to be salt to communities who had lost their taste for God and for the common good.
When we found the Hungry, we sought to feed them. The Naked - we clothed them.
The Imprisoned - we visited them.
The Hurting - we helped them.
Over these 30 years, we've tried, as best we could, to touch the heart of God through touching lives.
Mount Tabor you have a right to celebrate. Over the years you've done well!
· You have, through our feeding program directly out of the church's budget, distributed38,846hot meals to the sick, the needy and the shut-in.
· You've made4,961hospital visits.
· You have given just over $452,000in scholarships to members to attend and matriculate at high schools, colleges and universities both at home and abroad.
· You've placed 7 single mothers and their children in newly built homes with no cost to them whatsoever. Being the generous people that you are, in each case, you made sure that the house was fully furnished.
· In addition, you've paid the down payment for 13 other families to move into brand new, fully furnished homes with their only commitment being to pay the monthly mortgage.
· In a joint partnership with Arawak Homes Ltd. you have established three housing subdivisions:Mount Tabor Estates East, Mount Tabor Estates West and Mount Tabor Gardens, in an effortto making housing more affordable for our members.
Mount Tabor, I'm so proud to be called your pastor!
In addition to meeting the spiritual and physical needs of its members, another hallmark of this ministry is its belief in and endorsement of higher education. Mount Tabor Church is adamant about the educational growth and continued learning of its members. In a joint partnership with New Covenant University, located in Jacksonville, Fla. from 2013 many members who have never received a college degree, realized this dream.
Mt. Tabor, through its leadership team, was successful in Negotiating the Cost, Overseeing the Administration, and sharing in the successful completion of degrees in Christian Leadership, Education, Counseling, and Theology.
Young adults, Middle aged men and women, and Seniors, as old as 70 years of age, maximized this wonderful opportunity....Some receiving their first degree and others went as far as earning their PhDs.
To date, Mt. Tabor’s membership, through this partnership has seen the conferral of:
· 72 Associate Degrees
· 22 Bachelor’s Degrees
· 14 Masters Degrees, and
· 2 Doctorate Degrees......a total of 110 over the three year period. To God be the Glory!
As a ministry, we’ve:
· Led clothing and Grocery Distributions,
· Provided Pre-Marital, Marital, Career and Crisis Counseling,
· Served as a support group for Cancer Survivors and others whose medical prognosis robbed them of hope.
· We haveprovidedcounseling and financial assistance to local Nursing and Children's homes, as well as Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities.
· We've gone after the Homeless and Disenfranchised and, in many cases, provided them with food assistance and in some cases, Temporary Accommodations.
· We've stood with those who lost their jobs and have fallen on hard times.
My Brothers and Sisters, I am proud to report that God did all of this through us without ever having to go to the Government of the Bahamas for assistance over the past 30 years.This Ministry has stood on its own weigh and has been sustained by the mighty hand of God.
Today, even as wereflect on all that has been done, we are resolute that this is not the timefor us to slack our riding or relax in our mission.Instead, this is the time for us to take ministry to the next level and prepare the way for the next generation. It is my deep conviction thatwhat God has done is nothing compared to what God is getting ready to do.
The next phase of our dream is to complete our 2-story building extension which will house our Youth Center, Multi-Recreational and After-School Outreach Facilities, a Television Studio, 12 Sunday School Classes along with Ministry Meeting Spaces.
Through the grace of God, the building is now ready for the erection of the roof that we hope can be completed by the end of April of this year.
In the earlier service today, many of our Members responded to our appeal to make this a reality andI want to sincerely thank them all. Now we invite you are friends and supporters who are able to join our members in giving a sacrificial gift of $300 or whatever you can, as the entire offering today will be used to complete the Roofing stage of the new building.
A special 30th Anniversary envelope has been placed in your commemorative anniversary book. During the next selection of the choir the ushers will use that opportunity to receive your offering. Let me thank you all in advance for your generous support.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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