Statement of Purpose 

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                                                  Motto    ‘If God’s People Do not Get Involved, Then God’s principles Will Not Be Involved.’

The Josiah Institute is named in memory of the reform efforts of the ancient King of Israel, King Josiah, who became the Head of State at the tender age of eight, after the deaths of his father Amon and grand-father Manasseh.  These two former kings had previously reigned as wicked tyrants for decades.  
 
When King Josiah reached the age of sixteen, in the eight year of his reign, he began to seek after the Almighty God, the God of Israel - Yahweh-Elohim, for the ability and wisdom to govern the nation.  When he reached the age of twenty (20), in the twelve year of his reign, he began eliminating the systemic practices of idolatry that oppressed the people in the nation under his father and grandfather’s reign;  and began to reshape public policy, by re-establishing the godly principles in the governance of the nation, that his great-grandfather, King Hezekiah had put in place.  However, in the 18th year of his reign, when he had finished the purge of the nation, he began to rebuild the temple, and establish pure worship in the nation.  His story is articulated in the book of II Chronicles, Chapters 34 and 35, which describe his desire and efforts to see good governance and pure worship return to the nation; thereby giving the people the freedom to both serve the nation and worship God without fear. 
 
As the courageous and energetic reforms of King Josiah imply, the Josiah Institute will bring together both qualified personnel and authentic information in order to make available good counsel and genuine actions of public policy reform.  Simultaneously, it will encourage and recommend virtuous and good governance in the ruler-ship of any nation, particularly that of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.  For countries, other than the Bahamas, we shall make available our presence and personnel, the same endeavour, fellowship and teaching, for those seeking to govern using this godly concept for a righteous agenda. 
 
 
Righteous Governance  -  What Does It Mean? 
Righteous Governance is Doing the right thing in governance!                                                           
(Providing equal opportunities for all citizens)
 
Righteous Governance is Doing things the right way!                                                                                 
(The behaviour of leaders must be held up to Christian standards and Biblical morality. 
There must be a commitment by leaders to uphold the Rule of Law in all circumstances!)
 
Righteousness Governance is Doing things for the right people!                                                                      
(All citizens must be afforded equal privilege, opportunity and protection under the law,
not just the Family and Friends of those in authority!)
 
 
The United States of America and the International Arena
The question is often asked, ‘Should the United States of America, or any nation observe Biblical morality in its governance?’ 
This is the question on the minds of many people regarding the governance of their nation, in the wake of a 21st Century mindset, influenced by the doctrines of New Age, Agnosticism, Humanism and Secularism.  
 
It appears that anytime religion is mentioned regarding the parameters of government today, people often cry for the ‘Separation of Church and State’.  Many persons in America believe that this statement and its sentiment appear in the first amendment of the United States Constitution and therefore must be strictly enforced. 
 
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."(1st Amendment of United States Constitution)

"However, a letter from Thomas Jefferson (the United States President), in January 1801 was sent to clarify the notion and rumors, that a particular denomination would become the national religion.  The reason Jefferson chose the expression "separation of church and state" was because he was addressing a Baptist congregation; a denomination of which he was not a member. "

"Thomas Jefferson wanted to remove all fears that the government of the United States would make dictates to the church.  He wanted to establish that the government would not establish a national religion or dictate to men how to worship God.  The ‘wall’ built by the statement was understood as one-directional.  Its purpose was to protect the Church from the State.  The world was not to corrupt the Church, yet the Church was free to teach the people Biblical values.  The people, who came looking to the new America for leadership and solace, did not want Freedom ‘FROM’ Religion, but Freedom ‘OF’ Religion."
  
“The founding fathers of the United States of America were God-fearing men who understood that for a country to stand, it must have a solid foundation.  The Bible was the source of this foundation.  They believed that God's ways were much higher than man's ways, and held firmly that the Bible was the absolute standard of truth, and used the Bible as an intellectual source to form our government."      Taken from the article Myth of Separation of State and Church - www.tgm.org) 

The founders of the modern Bahamas in 1973, declared in the Preamble of the Bahamian Constitution, that the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was founded on Spiritual Values, giving high regard and respect for the Christian Church, the Virtues it taught and the Influence it gives.  It was their intent, as was the founding fathers of the United States of America, to build a nation, as a ‘Light on a Hill’ and a ‘Beacon of Hope’ in troublous times.     

​This is the mandate of the Josiah Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, in the Bahamas,  and JILPP (USA).
 
‘Individual cultures and ideologies have their appropriate uses but none of them can replace or erase the Universal experience of Love, that is common to all human beings.’ 

Therefore with Love and Patience, the Josiah Institute will invite all who desire, to draw from this Well of divine water, and change the culture of politics in their nation.   

May God Prosper Our Work & Defend us! 
                                                                                                                                                                              
​ S. Ali McIntosh
​Chairman of The Board of Directors & Governance