The essence of Pentecost Sunday is being lost by the church, according to Rev. Patrick Paul, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God in The Bahamas and former president of the Bahamas Christian Council.

"With regard to the significance of the day itself, I think we are losing the essence of what that day has brought for us, and what we should be doing on that particular day," Paul said.

"The church needs to open its voice, open its heart and allow our people to see and to understand that we have the freedom and we have the expression because the church has played such a tremendous role in developing society."

He made reference to the significant role the church has played in developing the wider society, government and the educational system.

Christians all over the world will observe Pentecost Sunday on May 24. The day commemorates the occasion when the apostles of Jesus Christ received the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is a significant day on the Christian calendar and in The Bahamas it is followed by a holiday.

Paul noted that Pentecost Sunday is a day of reflection. But he said it is also a time of celebration with friends and families.

"It is very, very important that the church today help the Bahamian public at large to understand what has brought us to where we are today," he said.

"The church has its work cut out for it with regard to appraising our people and reflecting on who we are and where we came from."
Dr. Lawrence D. Hardy, apostle of The House of Judah, said Pentecost is one of the most important seasons for Christians.

"It is very important that the believer not just remember our history of Pentecost, of the releasing of the fullness of the power of God," Hardy said. "But it is time for us to embrace and release what's inside of us, that the earth and the world and those who live in it can be changed."

He cited Acts 2 to explain the reason Pentecost is celebrated.

The New International Version of the Bible reads, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

Hardy said, "These two days (Pentecost Sunday and Whit Monday) I believe with the expectation and the anticipation of the believer, are going to collide with the purpose of God and the intentions of God.

"We are going to see the power of God all over the earth, not just here but all over the earth this Pentecost."

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