Some of the nation’s spiritual leaders have voiced their disappointment after some government and other officials stayed away from the recently held Day of Prayer.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne after Senator Colin Browne said he could not attend because he took two days to rest after his mother’s funeral on Tuesday.
“Let me tell you, our spiritual leaders were not impressed. They believe it was such an important day that all senators, all cabinet ministers, should have been present. It was articulated by Reverend Jackson, in particular, and I agree with him, to the extent I gave him an undertaking, that I will mandate that all the senators, and certainly all members of parliament, of both houses, ministers, that they attend the next one God’s willing, and to ensure that we have full representation,” the Prime Minister said.
The Day of Prayer was held on Thursday to collectively seek God’s divine intervention, guidance and blessings on the twin-island nation following an upsurge in criminal activity.
Day of Prayer to become an annual event
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Browne said the Day of Prayer will be held annually going forward.
“In fact, I’ll add here that the Day of Prayer was a resounding success, and we’re now seeking to institutionalize it and to have a full holiday. This is going to be held annually, probably the second Thursday in every September every year. And the whole idea here is to strengthen the spiritual underpinnings of our nation, to bring our people closer to God,” Prime Minister Browne said.
“We have no doubt that if our country is to continue to advance socially and economically, we have to strengthen the spiritual underpinnings of our country. Now, we do accept that spirituality is a personal choice, a personal endeavor, and that each of us have a responsibility for our own spirituality, but we also believe that having that type of strong spiritual culture, that it will help to bring people closer.
“I mean, even if you are a first-time attendee, you’re engaging for the first time, you may just get a message that will help you to change your ways to realign,” the Prime Minister added.
Gang members cried while spiritual leaders prayed
Prime Minister Browne said he observed that when spiritual leaders were praying for “these gang members, some of whom are among the most uncaring, the least empathetic in the society, a couple of them were actually crying.”
A mandate to schools
The Prime Minister said there will be a mandate given to the schools that the school children should attend the Day of Prayer.
The nation’s leader said he has observed that most school children in Antigua have not been going to a church.
“They’re not getting these sound principles, moral principles, because … the laws that we pass, almost invariably, they’re based on these religious, these spiritual principles. So, the Bible tells us, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and the laws are constructed in such a way that if you steal, and you’re found to be stealing, you go to jail, if you kill, you go to jail,” he said.
“So, the Bible is actually that spiritual foundation of the laws that we have passed. I have to admit that the society is becoming quite liberal, but at the same time, we are trying to ensure that we do not become too liberal a society, to the extent that we refuse to worship, because we think that that is absolutely important.”
Prime Minister Browne said as Antigua and Barbuda seeks “to become an economic powerhouse,” it’s always important to add the economics or the social as well as the spiritual aspects of its development.
“I think too, by having this National Day of Prayer and unity … it’s not just to pray, but to come together as a nation in peace and love. We want to also ensure that we not only seek God’s guidance, God’s protection, but that each of us too will use the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with God as we seek to build a stronger spiritual nation in support of the economic and social aspects of our development,” the Prime Minister said.
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Colin brown oniel …..is it I lord
So what happens if someone that works for the government is an atheist? How can the government legally MANDATE people to attend a religious gathering? Are Antiguans systematically losing their freedoms? .
Carz, dis ah give arf dictatorship vibes.
The Kingdom Of God Is Within You!
Tune into the frequency of divinity!
Forget with the prayer.. “ACTION “ is the most important thing .. I don’t need to pray with a bunch of people. STOP TAKING ALL THE our LANDS AND BUSINESS IDEAS. In slavery, religion was given to the slaves instead of money and lands.. now tell me 🌎 boss , and I use the term loosely …HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Let’s pray about that !!!..
I did not attend the day of prayer, so are you saying that he is disappointed in me as well and that I don’t want the country to be better than this? These religious heads should stick to spreading the gospel and stop playing politics.
When I see bank machines in churches to shame poor people to give what little they have left, meanwhile I see tennis courts and pools in pastors estates. From what I know, Jesus didn’t live high on the hog like what I am witnessing from some spiritual leaders. What happen to taking care of your congregation.
When I hear things like economic power house, I ask to who’s benefit. We can’t even manage to take care of a 100,000 people with all this money flowing through this country. So spiritual leaders, I ask you, where is your disappointment for that? Or are you afraid you might loose your status with these politicians.
I commend PM Beown for his efforts with these youths and the initiatives he has undertaken. Time will tell, but at least he’s not sitting idly by. Spiritual leaders, just stick to saving one soul at a time. That’s what God wants not politics in his churches.
Now you’re speaking my language Mr. P.M. YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE NEXT ELECTION. Keep it up please. Let the nation know that we all need God in our lives. May God bless you. God is truly a prayer answering God. Thank You Jesus.
Now you’re speaking my language Mr. P.M. YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE NEXT ELECTION. Keep it up please. Let the nation know that we all need God in our lives. May God bless you. God is truly a prayer answering God. He can change the heart of anybody. Thank You Jesus.
A m e n !! This sole word sum it all. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord. Your WILL be done for Antigua and Barbuda. In return, let us ALL Love God and Love One Another. Everything stems from this two principles.
I commend Prime Gaston Browne on this talking points , and I do believe because parents no longer lead their children to church to get that moral framework which leads to better decision making why our youths are so lost.
Kudos to the PM on his words on this topic. I’m not sure that it is practical for everyone in the country to attend all at once though. Perhaps the school children can have their own event at the stadium or so?
Looking forward to seeing govt put moral & ethical principles into practice, without favouritism, to deliver a level playing field for the people of this country.
That would be prayer in action.
No words needed, your actions will show your souls.
Now that they have prayed, what is the reasonable expectation?
When things continue the same way, do we pray again or do we look into our individual lives to see what we are doing to cause the problem.
If prayer works them the gun men are also praying that they do not get caught. Let us see whose prayers get answered. The gun men or the church…
First it wasn’t a day of prayer, it was a Half day of prayer and it’s not everyone that says Lord will enter into the Kingdom of God. If you ask me it was a slap in God’s face because carnival got two days even VC Bird/heroes got a day but Half a day is the best you could’ve gave God.
I don’t know about anyone else but I will not bow to the enemy. Every day is a day of prayer to the God I serve.
Jesus Christ is Lord
@The Wire – everything you said sums up what ir’s said, written and commnted around the country. Take notice. To those that feel dessapointed fir the presence of people you expected to see I ask? Why this? even when 2 or more are gathered to pray (in the same place, public or not) it is valid in the eyes of our Lord. Many of the absentees might have prayed before or harder than the ones present and many others could not make it there for a reason. Thank God, be grateful and focus on those present at this first year massive event, called upon by the government in response to a nation in crisis. There were many disappointed that from the get-go of all the disarray, the different religious leaders and churches did not make the call for unity and collective prayer asking the Almighty to uplift and protect our people and end the fearful acts that were taking place, the government stepped-up and covered part of your responsibility as religious or spiritual leaders. 🙏
Oh please! There has always been a struggle to keep state and church separate. Guess they’re part and parcel of the same system.
Anything that pertains to God has to be voluntary to be acceptable. You can’t force anyone to pray.
How come you were so silent when our rights were being taken away to take poison? I have absolutely no confidence in these so-called preachers. Way too many are compromised. Perhaps people opted for their prayer closet. Did you ever think of that?
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