Tiny islands dot the sparkling blue water, stretching to the horizon, but this idyllic vacation spot harbors some dark secrets.
From Columbus to colonists, the Bahamas are full of history and adventure. Christopher Columbus made his first landfall on San Salvador Island, and the Bahamas provided a haven for the infamous Blackbeard and a host of other eighteenth-century pirates.
Just over 300,000 people call the Bahamas home, where tourism and financial services dominate the economy—one of the wealthiest in the Western hemisphere. Despite these riches, though, the divide between rich and poor seems impossible to bridge.
Hurricanes frequently devastate the low-lying Bahamian islands. While the rich build strong structures and protect themselves from damage, the less fortunate occupy shaky homes that are vulnerable to destruction.
Farmers struggle to survive while the rich play in the sand and sun. The urban poor fight for equal access to education, healthcare, and housing. The disadvantaged of the Bahamas need to know they’re not forgotten.
Bring security and comfort to the displaced as you work on construction projects to provide shelter for the residents in the poorer areas of the islands. Share the love and joy of Jesus with the local children as you host Vacation Bible School.
Reach out through beach ministry and park evangelism, sharing the hope of Jesus to the underprivileged who feel left behind. Show them that the love of Jesus is more than just words for the rich.
Of course, no visit to the Bahamas is complete without downtime on the beach. Relax with a book or snorkel in the crystal-clear water, and enjoy the beauty that only God can create. The lost and needy in the Bahamas are waiting. Will you answer their call?
