By Simon Lewis

Bahamas Information Services

Senator Katherine Smith issued a clarion call this past weekend for the young people of this nation to become agents of change.

Likewise she called on Bahamians everywhere to become proactive people as we move about trying to arrest some of the social ills facing this nation, and rescue those young men and women who find themselves trapped in destructive lifestyles.

Senator Smith, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of The Prime Minister was addressing a Youth Ministry Jam-boree at Life Community Church on Friday past.

The church, headed by Pastor Cedric J. Beckles was also celebrating their sixth anniversary and dedication.

Last Friday they invited the Youth Department of churches across Grand Bahama to attend the Youth Music Jamboree.

Senator Smith used the occasion to challenge Bahamians to return to the ways of the old church and build communities where sharing, caring and compassion are natural expressions.

She said that today, despite the struggles of some, we seem far removed from the early model and that we must once again in our communities become our brother's keeper.

Smith also told members of Life Community Church that their efforts in concentrating on our young people sends a strong message that they are one of those Christian churches committed to reaching out to those group of Bahamians who seem so impressionable and vulnerable.

Also, she told the gathering that times have changed and that what worked many years ago does not work today.

"We have lost those family values that we once cherished as integral elements of our culture and boasted of contributing to our upbringing.

"We have lost those days when Church was an invaluable aspect of youth development, and we have lost those days when the entire community assumed responsibility for raising all of the children in that community," she stated.

Continuing she said that sadly we no longer believe in the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" and that we appear to be living in an age where young people seem to be setting their own agendas,

determining what is best for them or not, having little or no regard for those traditional values and institutions that help shaped today's leaders.

Stating that we are indeed challenged as a nation, Senator Smith added that oftentimes it appears as though we live in an age where the church is no longer sacred and anti-social behaviour, violence and crime appear to be commonplace.

Also she said we are in an age "where education seems secondary to the average student and the national grade continues to hover around 'D', we are challenged! The challenge is for us to stop the talk and begin to act.

Also, she said that we must find wholesome, positive activities and programs that will become lifestyles and help to steer our young people away from the negative alternatives that seem so attractive.

Applauding Pastor Beckles and his church members for their efforts in reaching out to the young people, Senator Smith also told those young men and women assembled that the time has also come for them to become agents of change.

"Peer pressure is a common alibi for some young people who find themselves engaged in negative activities. They blame a friend for leading them astray. I challenge you tonight to reverse the impact of peer pressure! You apply the pressure to your friends to become a part of a positive gang," she told the gathering.

Also she told the young people to commit themselves to gangs that are involved in the church and committed to ensuring it recruit members for the sole purpose of helping to transform the nation's youth. Likewise she encouraged them to be gangs which participate in organized sporting activities.

"You must create that positive gang that is willing to stand against the negatives and know that with God's help we are going to win our country back," she stated.