Win or lose, Reverend Ranford Patterson, the new Bahamas Christian Council president, encouraged the contestants in the 16th Annual Miss Gospel Bahamas to make a difference in their own way.
"Don't settle," he told the nine contestants who visited him at his church, Cousin McPhee Cathedral on Carmichael Road.  "Don't worry about what people are doing now, just worry about what you will do later."
The contestants visit was to officially introduce the young women competing in the pageant organized by Great Commission Ministries International to the religious leader, and brief the new president about the event, which is being held this year under the theme: "Empowered For Action: Changing A Generation" and its related activities.
One of the queen's most important tasks during her reign will be to highlight the work of Great Commission, a non-profit mission organization which reaches out to high risk youths, the homeless and the poor through its Wulff Road headquarters.
The contestants said they hoped to make a positive change in the wider community.
Pastor Patterson said he shared a similar passion and took the opportunity to discuss his "10-Point Plan." Among other things, it aims to empower youth, bring them closer to Christ, in addition to highlighting the positive impact of women's groups and the role of men in the family.
"So many young men are in jail because they have no positive male influences," he told the contestants. "We don't train our children anymore.  The generation after ours is worse. They don't know how to pray."
One contestant, pre-school teacher Cedrica Williamson, admits that her appreciation of the church came after she got saved.
"I never liked going. I just went because my mother told me to," said the 22-year-old.  "After being saved I thanked God. I think that people must find God for themselves."
That very lesson Dr Patterson learnt early on in life.
"I was a failure in school. I never passed any GCE's [General Certificate of Education]. I left high school with a leaving certificate. I wasn't accepted into the College of The Bahamas, but I knew this was not the life for me, so I decided to make a change," he shared.  "I went abroad, gained two masters [degrees] in Christian education and human resource management, a bachelor's degree in Christian education and a doctorate in Christian education.  After that, COB accepted me as a teacher.  I wasn't able to be a student there, but I was lucky enough to be a lecturer."
Win or lose, Rev. Patterson encouraged the women to make a difference "in their own way."
The nine contestants are Shirlene Jean Baptiste, Aimee Ferguson, Dianthus Johnson, Nehemie Louis, Garissa Maurice, Candace Rolle, Lavette Smith, Andreace Strachan and Cedrica Williamson.
The Miss Gospel Bahamas pageant will be held Sunday, July 31, at 7 p.m. at the Wyndham Nassau Resort's Rainforest Theatre.
 
 
 

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