- IAN ALLEN/Staff Photographer
Senator Delano Franklyn (left) and Bishop Herro Blair are caught in prayer at the 25th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast held yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
WITH THE nation under siege and beset by crime and violence, many of the country's leaders gathered in fellowship yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel for the 25th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast.
It was a serene event filled with hugs and handshakes, as heads of government, movers and shakers of corporate Jamaica, church leaders and other distinguished guests joined hands together in a symbolic gesture of goodwill at the New Kingston hotel.
The National Leadership Prayer Breakfast was akin to a church service and was filled with moving moments. When it was time to pray, many held hands at their tables as they petitioned God on behalf of Jamaica.
A SPIRITUAL MOMENT
It was moving. A spiritual moment in the history of the nation worthy of note as members from different sides of the political fence rubbed shoulders, bowed their heads in reverence and prayed together.
Robert Pickersgill, minister of transport and works, clasped his hands and closed his eyes for most of the proceedings.
Governor-General, Sir Howard Cooke, reminiscent of a preacher addressing his flock, greeted the gathering as he effortlessly reeled off quotations from the Bible with visible enthusiasm.
He even led the gathering into a rendition of the popular chorus, It's Coming Down. The governor-general reminded the gathering that "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" and that people ultimately reap what they sow.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, and former Opposition leader Edward Seaga, read the first and second lessons respectively. Mr. Patterson read from the book of Psalms, which was met with shouts of hallelujah, while Mr. Seaga read from the book of 1 John.
Dr. Las G. Newman, chairman of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee, in his remarks, lauded Victoria Mutual Building Society for its 20 years of sponsoring the event. Dr. Newman added that 2005 would be a year that would witness a change of many guards.
RETIREMENT
Shortly thereafter, he announced his retirement from the position of chairman.
The message was delivered by the Rev. Rennard White, pastor of the Tower Hill Missionary Church. The sermon was nothing short of stirring, as he spoke around the theme of 'Building With Love'.
The pastor spoke candidly, lauding and lambasting even the very politicians that were present. He cautioned the government not to implement the performance-based pay initiative for teachers on the premise that they should not require anything from their subordinates that they would not put in place for themselves.
