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Home/Day of Prayer for the Nation 2009

At a time when our nation is facing serious challenges on every side, Sister Princess Lawes, Assistant to the President at West Indies Union Conference calls for a national reformation through prayer. She was speaking at the St. Ann’s Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church where Adventists across North Jamaica Mission were praying for the nation as part of the West Indies Union Conference Day of Prayer on Sabbath, August 1, 2009.

In speaking on the topic, “If My People Pray,” Sis. Lawes informed the congregation that a nation can only be reformed through prayer. She said, “Some people believe that God doesn’t hear and answer prayers, but I thank God for this demonstration of answered prayer.” She read from 2 Chronicles 7:12 & 14, which states ‘And the Lord appeared unto Solomon by night and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer…..If My people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land’.

Sis. Lawes, in explaining the scripture passage, said that there are a number of things we must do for a change. “We must humble ourselves, we must seek God’s face and this seeking means there must be a persistent application, persistent supplication to God, not a once-in-a-while prayer. Prayer must be without ceasing”.

“Does Jamaica land we love need healing?” she asked rhetorically. “Do we need God’s forgiveness of our sins? Do we want Him to hear us from heaven when we call?” “Yes we do!” she responded. “However”, she continued, “We have to humble ourselves, seek the Lord’s face and we have to turn from our wicked ways. Then He will hear, forgive and heal our land. When you want God to do something for you, you must be willing to do something for God”.

Pastor Michael H. Harvey, President of the Mission and the host pastor of the St. Ann’s Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in his opening remarks said, “We must pray always, this is vital to the sustenance of our church, community and our country. I also implore you to pray for our leaders at every level; for those who are suffering the loss of a loved one through sickness, accident or crime. Pray for those who are ailing and who are in dire need. We must never cease to pray.”

The Honourable Shahine Robinson, Minister of State and Member of Parliament for North East, St. Ann commended the church on the setting aside this day for prayer. “It is good that we have set aside this day as a special day of prayer, because if Jamaica ever needed prayer it is now. And we can, as human beings turn to this awesome God who has made us, who brought us here, to ask for His divine intervention in this land that we love so well.” The M.P. was mindful of the importance of prayer in her life as she expressed how God has been good to her and has been working miracles. She testified that, “God is an on time God who always delivers.”

With this, His Worship the Mayor of St. Ann, Ivan Anderson, called on the church not to stop praying, “It is services like these that energize me because I am in church and I am blessed. It is in deed a very good feeling,” he said.

At the close of the service, Pastor Michael Harvey along with the elders of the St. Ann’s Bay church offered a special intercessory prayer for the Honourable Shahine Robinson and His Worship the Mayor, Ivan Anderson. He also prayed for the leaders and the governance of our country; for restoration of peace and goodwill in our island, Jamaica land we love.
Article by Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher

Photos by Dyhann Buddoo-Fletcher