The Tribune

SOUTH Abaco recently celebrated its youth at the St Martin’s Anglican Church in Sandy Point.

During a special service, the young Christians received certificates from representatives of the Crossing Rock and Sandy Point areas.

Brenae Bain, youth leader of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, conducted and moderated the occasion.

Highlights included a selection from Chase Pinder from the Agape Gospel Chapel, who read the lesson of the afternoon taken from Proverb Chapter 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Also during the service, the Mount Zion Baptist Youth Choir sang two selections for the gathering which had everyone tapping their feet and singing along, according to Father Chester Burton, Anglican Church Rector.

Soon after, an offering was made to assist persons who were left devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

“Remarks were bought by Dudley Lightbourne who made a poignant observation that there are hardly any parents present to bask in the radiance of their child’s or children’s accomplishments. He reflected and lamented that during his era parents escorted their child or children to church and these sorts of functions. However, nowadays there has been a paradigm shift in which children have to bring themselves (to church) and challenge themselves towards greatness,” said Father Burton.

Senior Deputy Island Administrator Zephaniah Newbold was next to bring remarks, and he challenged the youth to be more like the graceful bald eagle.

“He emphasised that the eagle’s life cycle is similar to that of the human life cycle. He stressed that eagles stay together as lifelong partners. For instance, they build their nests together, they take turns warming the egg, and feeding and nurturing the young eaglet until they are ready to fly and leave the nest; the place the once called home,” said Father Burton.

Father Burton was also given the task of preaching and inspiring this cadre of young people, and in his sermon he asserted that the scripture selected for the service was the perfect one.

He admonished the youngsters to listen to their parents because they know best. He also quoted from Whitney Houston’s song “The Greatest Love of All”, in which the late singer proclaimed that the children are the future.

He told the congregation that when they are in doubt they should seek the advice of a priest, pastor, parent or some trusted individual to help them make the right decision.