Pray to bring about an end to crime and violence

Spiritual Baptists through-out the country yesterday rang the bell for peace and urged people to pray to bring about an end to the crime and violence stalking the land. As thousands celebrated Shouter Baptist Day, baptist leaders and government ministers agreed that the country was in dire need of prayer and urged people to change their lives. There were celebrations in  many parts of the country including Maloney, Port-of-Spain, McBean in Couva, San Fernando and Arima.

As the members of the National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith Archdiocese celebrated at City Hall in Port-of-Spain, Minister of Culture and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille-Williams said she believed that a “spiritual revolution” was needed in TT, before any change was going to take place. Planning and Development Min-ister Camille Robinson-Regis, who spoke on behalf of Prime Minister Patrick Manning, told members of the congregation that young people have become separated from the principles of practicing a spiritual life. “Too many of our young people are engaged in killing one another, and I ask that members of the Baptist community pray for our youths so that we can move toward freedom from crime, road rage and disrespectful actions that make us feel less than ourselves,” said Robinson-Regis.  

She noted that while  members of the Baptist community have shown great spirituality, she wondered how this can change attitudes and behaviours in TT “in order to solve the social problems of our nation so our country can be a better place.” Also present at the celebrations was Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchi-son Brown. Brown told the audience that the presence of God was needed in the country and hoped that the Baptists would continue to pray for our country. Visiting Archbishop from Cana-da, Dr Deloris Sieveright, urged parents to set high standards for their children and use the power of prayer to save our children from falling into evil ways. The power of prayer must be seen as the weapon to fight for the youths of TT, she said. 

In Tobago, the tone was no different where people were being  urged to humble themselves before God, if the current ills eroding this country were to change. During her riveting sermon  at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Rev Stephenie Washington-John said leaders must put God first in their lives.  She said, “Any country that is corrupt before God, its judicial system fails. If you want to see changes in our society, go before God. Leaders kneel before God, take the country before God and only then will there be changes.” Speaking on the theme  “Build-ing the nation through faith and prayers,” she said that in a society where morals have fallen and the law seems to have become powerless, it was imperative that the Government, churches and families embrace each other to effect change. “It is time to put your personal agendas aside, it needs every Trinidad and Tobago national to join their hands through faith and prayer to build back TT,” said Rev Washington-John.

The Shaw Park Cultural Com-plex was transformed into a multi-coloured sea of rhythmic vibrations as bells rang and melodious chants accompanied the day’s rituals. Most of the group had earlier congregated at the First Citizens car park in Scarborough and marched to Shaw Park where they joined their brothers and sisters who had opted to wait at the meeting ground as well as onlookers. Among those present were  Tobago East MP and Minister in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Eudine Job-Davis, THA Chief Secretary Orville London and Minority Leader Ashworth Jack.