Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet to Review Promotion of National Day of Prayer After Turnout
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda says it will strengthen promotion of the National Day of Prayer after this year’s observance attracted fewer participants than expected.
Cabinet spokesman Maurice Merchant acknowledged that Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his ministers were disappointed with attendance levels, noting that 2025 marked the first year the event was held as a full public holiday.
Merchant said greater involvement from churches across Antigua and Barbuda will be key to improving turnout. “Most of us only heard about it a week before,” he explained, stressing the need for earlier and more consistent engagement through the Ecclesiastical Commission, which oversees the day.
Introduced last year as a half-holiday, the National Day of Prayer is intended to encourage national reflection and thanksgiving. Government officials describe it as a moment for the people of Antigua and Barbuda to give thanks for past blessings while seeking divine guidance for the country’s future.
Merchant reaffirmed that Cabinet sees the event as an essential part of national life. He said the government will work with churches and community groups to ensure broader awareness and participation in 2026.
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Spend money to invite overseas artist like the One Nation Gospel Concert or bring a high powered preacher to dilute those in Antigua. We should be praying everyday . A special day is only a holiday for persons to go rest . Antigua need a change.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to make it a National Day of Prayer & Service? Or a Day of Prayer and National Service? That way we can pray and meditate, clean up our surroundings, visit the sick and elderly in our communities.
Just an idea. The churches are filled with young children and the elderly, most of whom are belatedly trying to ensure a flight upstairs. The ages between 14 and 50 are absent and the pews are empty. So let’s try to make the day all inclusive. You are never going to get mass participation unless you force the schools to attend. If we do that we will be lying to God and ourselves.
Antigua is a Christian society, with multiple churches in every village, why does the government, the politicians have to promote A DAY OF PRAYER? Someone please help me understand..I just don’t get it.
Could it be that the citizens of the country just believe the people who came of with the idea is a bunch of fakes and degenerates and really cannot change and therefore sent a clear and decisive they weren’t going to be part of the pappyshow. Satan just correct sin no matter how hard he tries
The challenge is that this is a Government driven issue, the only part the Government should have on this is the declaration of the holiday. That’s already been done, the activities and all the other events should be organized by the religious bodies thereafter with absolutely no politician involved. I would suggest if all the Churches open for a regular day of prayer and thanksgiving there will be more participation as people will feel more inclined to go to their regular place of worship and not as if they are participating in a festival or PR move. Let the religious bodies promote this amongst their congregations and I am sure that it will be more impactful.
The principle of a National Day of Prayer is a good one. But you need the buy in and participation of all sectors of the religious organizations and their leaders in order to make it meaningful and successful. We also need to invite leading and renowned Ministers, gospel singers and intercessors be a part of the program, just as we do when we are having One Nation Concert. We give the very best when we want to jam and whine but we take prayer and fasting like a joke thing. God is not satisfied. People seldomly jump up and participate in activities like this if they don’t have to and especially if there are no worthwhile vibles. For many it was a welcomed holiday to relax and unwind at home. Honestly, we have to be careful that we are not mocking God with our “callous once in a while “prayer offering.
Gaston Browne and his Government makes the National Day Of Prayer, appears to us the Citizens, as if it was a day for worshipping him and his Government and what it has achieved, but God knows the people has being further pauperised and are living far below the poverty line under your leadership.
The only prayer that the people must offer to God, is to get rid of you and your wicked Regime.
The crime situation in this Country, will be irredeemable as long as this Antigua Labour Party is in Government. So many things has gone wrong in this little Country, that we need to begin to change our thinking, before we call on God, perhaps Gaston Browne and his Antigua Labour Party, doesn’t know, that God only help those that helped themselves.
You need to get rid of this Gun Culture in this Country and the Criminal mind set that has set in, which you have openly invited and imported into this Country, in your quest for Foreign Votes in order to maintain Power illegally, each Elections and God will then begins to bless our land Gaston Browne.
Just look at the nature and the Culture of the peoples you have replaced Antiguans and Barbudans with and you can see where this Country is heading and no National Day of Prayer can stop this curse from happening. Successive Antigua Labour Party Administrations has used this same playbook, and the same tactics to destroy this blessed Country.
While boasting of giving over 3000 amnesties to Foreign Mercenaries, to blite young Antiguans and Barbudans and hinder the will of the people from achieving their goals, you have the galls to be calling on the Almighty for help.
The so called National Day Of Prayer in itself, should be seen and be regarded by you, as a protest action, taken by the people, against your stuardship of running this Country.
The pastors, Deacons and preachers are not in favour of how you rule Antigua and Barbuda, so most of them, were not inclined to be a part of your fallacy, and you need to understand, that’s the situation.
The churches need to start paying taxes just like any for profit business. Pay all employees who’re classified as volunteers.
@ Curious
Excellent idea, keep the politicians out of it. I for one would go to church on the day. Two Thumbs Up!
Is Faithful National #1 on a sabbatical or what. Is the political climate too hot
Satan cannot correct sin.
You will always have a low turnout.
We just happy for the day off 😉👀
WE ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN SOCIETY. That is a fallacy. The majority of our population only go to church for funerals and weddings. Young people, who make up the bulk of our population shun churches and religion. That is a fact that can be seen by all. But more importantly those that profess to be Christian do not live by the teachings of the gospel. They are all one day Christians. Check the Talk Shows. Check Social Media. And you cannot push religion down people’s throats. That is what the colonizers did and the reason why only old people now believe. Worship the white man’s God or burn in hell. People should Google who King James was and understand that the King James version was used as a control of black people document.
I don’t have ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS TOPIC….
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