Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
FROM LEFT:The Rev. Dr. Alston Henry, chairman of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke, join hands in prayer at the 26th annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, yesterday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
FOR THE 26th consecutive time, leaders of the nation met, ate, communed and prayed for the nation at the annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast yesterday.
Political heads from both ends of the political pendulum, pastors, public sector bigwigs and private sector powerhouses were all present to hold hands and petition God at the event that commenced at 7:30 a.m. at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, under the stern banner, 'Choose You This Day'.
Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Prime Minister P.J. Patterson gave their farewell addresses in their respective capacities, as both will demit office later this year.
Sir Howard said that perpetual prayers to God was the tool that would give proper posture to this maimed nation. "Prayer must be the instrument of change ... Pray that God will rekindle the fire of love and compassion among us," he said.
Mr. Patterson, before reading the scripture from 1st Kings, urged the gathering to continue to pray for the current crop of political leaders and those moving on to pursue other goals.
On the other hand, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, before reading the
second lesson from St. John, jokingly told the gathering that, like the poor, he would be with them for some time and, God willing, when next they gathered he would stand in a different stead (Prime Minister).
The Reverend Earl Thames, co-founder of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast, gave a stirring testimony about the genesis of the event.
After the signing of a peace treaty in 1980, Rev. Thames said Bucky Marshall, a gang leader, met him and made it known that it was not the ministers who had made them sign the peace treaty, but rather, a mysterious man who appeared to him clothed in white. Rev. Thames deduced that the mystery man was Jesus.
The vibrant Reverend Dr. Stevenson Samuels, general secretary of the Students' Christian Fellowship and Scripture Union, delivered the main address. In the spirited sermon, Rev. Samuels questioned whether the leaders were yielding to the voices of the 'don gorgons', extortionists or scholars, who operated solely on mathematical formulas. "It is time to show who you associate with," Rev. Samuels said.
The preacher suggested that pastors and religious leaders be appointed as advisers on public and private boards for spiritual guidance.
"I propose you employ a spiritual director to serve on your staff ... a religious leader to go alongside you and to facilitate you as an executive coach as you face the challenges of your work."
He added that Jamaicans were living in a time where justice was contained by silence, as the fear of murderers had padlocked the lips of many.
He then called on all religious, political and business leaders to run to the altar and allow "the fire of God to ignite" them.
