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The
challenge is one of attracting to membership in the church,
the young people who get into trouble because they are idle.
The church's witness in the future will be greatly diminished
if it does not today, attract many young people into wholesome
activities.
Many
young people are involved with gangs and drugs. Rev. Dr. J.
Emmette Weir has stated that, "A person turns to drugs
because he is not really happy. He is not a whole person.
He is not satisfied with his life and he seeks relief in drugs
or alcohol. The child who is neglected by his parents, the
young person frustrated because he cannot find a job...,"
these are the people who often turn to drugs. They seek to
be turned on. They are often bored with the hum drum existence
and so they seek to escape by going on a trip.
And
so to cure them, they must be given self-respect and self-esteem
again. They must feel that they are really wanted.
They
need to be made into whole persons again. And this is what
Jesus did in His ministry. He was concerned to bring healing
and wholeness to the person.
The
B.T.C.I. Conference recognizes the tremendous problems of
our youth and is challenged to address them through the love
of Christ.
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Rhodes
Memorial Methodist Church is acutely aware of the crisis of
young males in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. In seeking
to help young males to be ready to face the challenges involved
in this crisis, the Rhodes Educational Assistance for the
Development of Youth (R.E.A.D.Y.) was instituted. This program
seeks to promote the self-development of young males in the
church community by helping to provide constructive guidance
and support and by motivating them to acquire key life skills,
which would lead to the enhancement of their lives and a better
world.
The program
focuses on such issues such as:
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Self-esteem and identity |
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Sexuality |
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Decision Making Skills |
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Substance Abuse Prevention |
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Violence Prevention and Conflict Resolution |
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Intra personal and Interpersonal Relationships |
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Academic and Vocational Development (Mathematics and Language
Arts) |
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Martial Arts/Self Defense |
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Sporting Activities and Clinics |
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Musical Instrument Instruction |
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The
B.T.C.I. Conference encourages youth to become members of
our Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade companies, Girl Guides,
Brownies, Sunday Schools and other similar organizations that
teach true Christian life principles. A youth ministry headed
by a full time youth minister is the objective.
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