National Day of Prayer needed
A National Day of Prayer may be on its way.
Government Senator and leader of the Brittons Hill, Gunsite Road, St. Michael Restoration Ministries International Church, David Durant, told The Barbados Advocate that he had spoken to persons in “high places” about the possibility of designating a day for Barbadians to focus on praying for peace in the nation and for improvement of the country’s troubled economy.
“I think it is very important for the nation to recognise that a National Day of Prayer is critical in light of all of the escalating violence we are seeing in our land.
“This day can be a time where the nation can step back and reflect on what is going on in this country. We will start from in the morning and go right throughout the day. It should be a day of fasting. In different parts of our nation, we will have prayer meetings going on,” Durant said.
The outspoken religious leader indicated that he was mindful that his suggestion may not be embraced or accepted by some sectors of society.
He said he understands the argument that the individuals in these sectors may put forward, but stressed that he was standing firm to his belief that the day of prayer is needed.
“I know once I talk about prayer, there are some out there who are going to be very cynical, sarcastic and pessimistic about anything to do with prayer and will want to know what prayer can do. So I will expect the negative criticism,” he said.
On Monday, while thousands of spectators and revellers participated in the 2017 Grand Kadooment activities, the Restoration Minis-tries church was packed to capacity as a Service of Prayer, Worship and Intercession was held there.
Durant said some of the objectives of the Day of Prayer for the Nation included: to foster a closer relationship between participating churches; to make a positive impact on the spiritual climate over the nation; to reduce the incidents of gun-related crime, violence and murders; to arrest the spate of other deviant behaviours in society; to improve the spiritual state of families; and to improve the state of the economy and the industrial and political climate. (AH)