As is customary, the men pray before setting out.
Klao Bell, Staff Reporter
LAST week Wednesday night, while, most Jamaicans were fast asleep in bed, a group of self-appointed watchmen did the rounds on Hagley Park Road, one of Kingston's busiest thoroughfares.
The band of more than 100 men patrolled the sleeping street, not with guns, batons or dogs but with prayer.
Between the hours of 10:30 p.m., and 3 a.m., every Wednesday night, since October 2001, Christian men from more than 12 church denominations have joined hands and hearts in what they believe is a purposeful first step in effecting social change.
"A pattern has been established in the Bible where the act of walking around the city in prayer preceded several significant events. This is evident with the children of Israel and the wall of Jericho as well as the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah," explained Errington Case, an organiser of the walk and member of the Fellowship Tabernacle church, in St. Andrew.
"This we believe is a step toward restoration of our country, and tonight we have completed what we set out to do five months ago," Mr. Case said.
The plan, five months ago was to walk along the geographical borders of Kingston, praying along the way for businesses, communities, schools, churches and other social institutions within the boundaries.
"We have been to Barbican, Manor Park, Havendale, Meadowbrook, Tivoli Gardens, Arnett Gardens, Mountain View, Downtown Kingston a few weeks ago we were right outside your building(the Gleaner Company on North Street) praying for you," Mr. Case said, listing a few of the areas they have patrolled.
Dressed in purple T-shirts marked, "seek the peace of the city" car-loads of men congregated at the Hagley Park Plaza before journeying down Hagley Park Road and on to Three Miles. It was a strange sight on a road where only a few cars, security guards and daring vendors brought signs of life.
Most of the cars slowed down, their occupants wondering about the late night spectacle. A police patrol vehicle also slowed down, but sped on, possibly relieved that the only disturbance of the peace carried on by this nocturnal band, was their loud strong voices booming songs and prayer on behalf of the organisations on Hagley Park and its surrounding communities.
Ted Lee, a delivery man at a local fast food store, was on his way home on a motorbike, but he stopped to find out what was going on and ended up travelling with the men the rest of the way.
"I stopped when I heard the praying. I noticed that it's only men and this is good because they always say more women than men go to church. Plus in most demonstrations it's mostly women involved, so it's good to see men in a positive demonstration," Mr. Lee said. He said he had no church affiliation.
The group stopped for about three minutes of prayer at places they identified as significant institutions. First stop was the National Works Agency. The Reverend Dr. Al Miller of the Fellowship Tabernacle Church who conceptualised the march led the team in prayer.
"We recognise that this place is a centre of much controversy at this time, let us pray against corruption, let us pray for wisdom and truth for those in authority here..." His voice faded as the voices of them men rose up in prayer. Many of them held on to the fence of the NWA and fervently prayed, some shouted, some whispered, others rocked back and forth.
Their next stop was at the Shell gas station at 53 Hagley Park Road, which, uncharacteristic of most gas stations on major roads, was closed.
"In the past year, many gas stations have been hit by robberies, only two days ago the tanker drivers went on strike. Let us pray for the petroleum industry and the security of the persons at this, and all other gas stations across the city," Reverend Miller said.
This weekly walk has had phenomenal growth, five months ago only four men walked, reported Mr. Case; the numbers have grown to as many as 180 men at one time.
That only men have been invited to participate is an intentional act meant to elicit a sense of ownership for their nation. It is also felt that men are commonly regarded as the most irresponsible members of the society, and this is a way stirring them into accountability using the resources available to them their legs, minds, voices and will power.
"This is a great bonding experience. We are trying to see how we can help bring change in the country. The women are playing their part; we must also play our part. So many people have gotten out of their beds when they hear the singing and when they find that we are only a group of praying men they are drawn to what we are doing," said Salvan Leslie of the Wildman Street Apostolic church in Kingston.
Mr. Case said the synergy created among the men, will be harnessed and directed toward strengthening social outreach programmes in the various churches.
By 11:45 p.m. they had reached The Domes at 85 Hagley Park Road, which, in addition to 12 business places, house the offices of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.
"This place is a current bone of contention because of the proposed cess on streetlights, it could become a political football. The people of Jamaica are very cut-up about this cess," Reverend Miller said before handing over the bullhorn to a young man who prayed passionately.
The fourth stop on the first half of the journey was at The Herald newspaper, where a prayer for "truth, fearlessness and the protection of God when they uncover corruption", was offered for all media houses.
When The Sunday Gleaner left the group at 12:31 a.m., they were dancing and singing at the Esso gas station at the intersection of Hagley Park and Waltham Park road. It was near here, that gas station attendant Everett Edwards was shot and killed in December 2001. Seventeen months before, his sister, Sylvia Edwards, former owner of this gas station, was kidnapped and murdered.
About 20 men were gathered in small groups in the vicinity of the gas station, either playing dominos, selling jerk chicken, hanging out at the gas station or drinking at a bar. All ceased their activities and stared as if entranced, by the churchmen clapping and singing gleefully in the night.
At least they didn't run, like some men from the Tivoli Gardens community who were at a street dance one night when they saw the church patrol approaching.
"There have been so many incidents where communities have been raided so when they saw this group of men coming they ran away leaving the music playing. It was only when they realised that we did not come to harm them that they came back. It's unfortunate that this is the reality of our society now, where we associate bands of men with danger," Mr. Case said.
