The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The August 3 Nassau Guardian front page caption “Killer convention?” was a major source of conviction, sadness and embarrassment for this writer, as an evangelical Christian who loves the church, the mystical body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed, I was reliably informed about rumours of an alleged outbreak of COVID-19 infections and several deaths, all allegedly stemming from a Church of God Convention some weeks ago. A former Church of God elder told me.

This has to be a public relations nightmare for the Church of God hierarchy, who must be now bracing for a media firestorm.

Undoubtedly, there will be those from the agnostic community who will use this tragedy to further denigrate the Christian community and score brownie points.

My heart goes out to the bereaving family members, whose faith in the church must have been rattled.

If the COVID-19 outbreak allegations are true, it raises the question as to why did God allow this to happen. It also gives the perception that the Bahamian church has become an Ichabod, where God’s presence is conspicuously absent. All we seem to have are talented preachers, a nice music band, a stellar praise and worship team and beautiful sanctuaries. Yet there are no verifiable evidence of healings and miracles, similar to what the New Testament church experienced on a regular basis.

It is indeed ironic that this troubling and heartrending news comes on the heels of an announcement of yet another set of restrictions imposed on the Christian church by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis as competent authority. Prominent clergymen, including the Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander, voiced opposition to the measures, which were viewed as Minnis usurping the role as head of the Church. I too had been critical of the restrictions – and Minnis. Now in light of the alleged Church of God outbreak, I am beginning to wonder if we as Christians have been unreasonable and dangerously naive towards Ministry of Health officials, who are tasked with dealing with overcrowded hospitals with gravely ill COVID patients, with one foot on a banana peel and the other on the grave. At the end of the day, it is these healthcare professionals, many of whom are churchgoers themselves, who must deal with COVID patients, not the clergymen.

Minnis has been routinely castigated for impinging on the prerogatives of the church. I too am guilty of this. This country is between the Devil and the deep blue sea. COVID-19 appears to be here to stay, with virtually no end in sight, notwithstanding the brightest minds in science working nonstop in the laboratories of North America, Europe, India and Asia. Making matters worse is the strong campaign by Bahamian anti-vaxxers, which is often fueled by American You tubers and Face bookers, regarding the alleged side effects of the various vaccines. Whatever one’s views are regarding AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna, we anti-vaxxers must bear some of the blame for the ongoing COVID-19 mess in the country. I am convinced that the Minnis administration is facing strong external pressure from First World jurisdictions to achieve herd immunity – or else. We produce virtually nothing. Consequently, we are hardly in a position to play hardball with the G7 Nations.

This pandemic surfaced in late 2020 – a little over a year removed from the most devastating hurricane to slam into The Bahamas in modern times. The finances of the public purse are undoubtedly stretched thin. Government unions, apparently oblivious to the extent of the devastating economic impact of COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian, are regularly in the media demanding salary increases and other benefits. Fuel, food and building materials are rising sharply.

Meanwhile, the Christian church, of which I am a part of, has yet, to the best of my knowledge, to offer the beleaguered Dr. Minnis any prophetic word or guidance from the Lord, as a way to navigate the country through the COVID-19 pandemic. No divine solutions. Just criticism and blatant defiance towards the imposed restrictions.

And when there’s a purported “word from God,” it is usually given by certain morally bankrupt Facebook prophets, who just as well come out and admit that they’re really political operatives with a hidden agenda. Over 4,000 ministries call New Providence home, yet the capital is producing, on an annual basis, 100-plus murders per year. Armed robberies in broad daylight are now becoming a trend. House break-ins are systemic. Juvenile delinquency is through the roof.

Law-abiding citizens cannot go for an evening stroll through the Over-the-Hill areas, due to the infestation of violent gangs. Rape, incest and other illicit activities are all too common. Yet New Providence and Grand Bahama have far more apostles and prophets than the Old and New Testaments combined. All this while too many pastors are attempting to be the next TD Jakes and Benny Hinn, while hoping to make it on TBN and the Word Network. The operative phrase is ulterior motives. While we’ve protested the COVID-19 restrictions, we have, as a Christian community, offered no pragmatic alternatives that would keep our congregations and their families and colleagues safe. With a reported 4,000 ministries on New Providence, Nassau is so supposed to be experiencing the millennial reign of Christ. Where have we gone wrong as a Christian community?

The Church of God tragedy, if true, should’ve never happened. King David had his Nathan. Josiah had Huldah and Jeremiah. Ahaz had Isaiah. Ahab had Elijah. Jehoshaphat had Elisha and Micaiah. Zerubbabel had Haggai.

And Herod Antipas had John the Baptist. But who does Minnis have? Based on the mess in this country, I would say absolutely nobody. Minnis has absolutely no one he can call on to get an accurate prophetic message from the Lord. For what it’s worth, the alleged Church of God outbreak is one reason Minnis has very little regard for the church in this country.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama,

August 3, 2021.