BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS Father’s Day approaches, the Antioch Baptist Church has decided that there is no better time than now to honour fathers with the hosting of its Fatherhood Festival 2009.
The four-day event began last evening (June 18) with a discussion entitled “The Testosterone Factor”. The dialogue was led by Dr. Garfield Alexander, who enlightened the audience on the genetic and hormonal factors common to men. Today, the church will host free parenting workshops at the Ocean Terrace Inn, during which several prominent men are expected to make presentations.
Analdo Bailey will speak about “Budgeting and Finance” while Keithley Phillip will present on “Raising Boys”. Pastor Joel Morton will elucidate on “Communication in Relationships” and King Konris Maynard will round off the evening by providing live entertainment and addressing the topic - “Secrets of Happy Children”.
A health fair will be held tomorrow morning (June 20) at the bay front and will be followed by a drive-through movie in Frigate Bay at the plaza next to the third roundabout. The festival will conclude on the following with a Father’s Day Service at the church and a picnic and open air concert at the same venue of the movie.
SKNVibes contacted Antioch Baptist Pastor, the Rev. Lincoln Connor, who informed the Festival is designed to bring attention and awareness to the role of men in society. He revealed the event would become a staple on the church’s annual agenda, as he believes it was important for society and the church community to emphasise the role of men.
“The Festival is about highlighting men and bringing attention to the contribution they’ve made to society. We want fathers to recognise and appreciate their role in the wider community in relation to family life. We do not believe all men neglect their duties and responsibilities as fathers. But while celebrating those men, we want to touch those who are lax in their duties so they would take the responsibility seriously,” he explained.
Although the Festival is marketed around fathers, Connor stressed the event was also meant to bring persons together and to reach out to the wider community. He encouraged families to participate in the “celebration of fatherhood, the community and family life”.
