By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

WOMEN leaders are coming together tonight at the British Colonial Hilton for the official launch of “ Avenue of Hope Bahamas.” Beginning at 7pm, attendees can look forward to speakers such as Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, Former Deputy Prime Minister, Rev Pamela Livingston, Missionary to Bahamas President, Dr Sandra Dean Patterson, Bahamas Crisis Centre President, and Melanie Griffin, Minister of Social Services.

Avenue of Hope is a Christian faith based residential recovery program designed to reach women who have been isolated by substance abuse, poverty, and neglect. As the rate of suicide, substance and sexual abuse continue to rise in the country; it is the vision of Avenue of Hope to reach women of all ages in the community who have fallen prey to these hardships.

Rev Livingston told Tribune Religion, Avenue of Hope is in partnership with Global Teen Challenge, which is an international faith-based ministry with an 86 per cent success rate in transforming the lives of men and women worldwide to live substance free, and to be gainfully employed.

“The Ministry of Global Teen Challenge for Men was welcomed in the Bahamas more than twenty years ago, at a time when our country was being haunted by the drug era. This plague of alcohol and drug addiction has seriously affected our young men,” said Rev Livingston.
She said the Bahamas is at another crossroad, as people are witnessing the women in the country being paralysed by the vicious cycle of addiction.

“It is no secret that the past five years has been extremely difficult for Bahamians with more than 50 per cent of the homes headed by single Bahamian mothers. More than twenty years later, after hearing and addressing the need for a Teen Challenge for Women, Avenue of Hope Bahamas has answered the call,” said Rev Livingston.

The organisation is also currently partnering with local churches to come alongside persons with life challenges in small groups though Christ-centered discipleship studies.

“We are also meeting with persons at Sandilands Detox Centre assisting them in the recovery process. We have spoken to students challenging them to strive for Godly character traits in all they do, but there is still much that can be done to impact the next generation. Global Teen Challenge offers a Stay Sharp Program which educates youth to the dangers and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, and empowers youth with truth to make healthy choices. We plan in the near future to bring this program to our schools and churches,” said Rev Livingston.

At this time of the year, when the organisation is reflecting on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the one who gave his all so that people may experience the gift of eternal life, Rev Livingston said they are asking that Bahamians continue this act of unselfish giving.

Help us, help others, she said. “We ask that you join hands with us to help these women as they reclaim their identity, recover their relationships and reconnect with their God given talents to become industrious and productive Bahamian citizens. Know that together we can provide an “Avenue of Hope Bahamas” for those who need us most,” said Rev Livingston.