Leonardo Blair, Enterprise Reporter
A woman in deep emotion weeps at the 'Heal the Family - Heal the Nation' fasting service at the National Arena, yesterday. Thousands of Jamaicans filled the arena for the special service which was organised by the Power of Faith Ministries in Portmore, St. Catherine, and the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THOUSANDS OF Christian men, women and children thronged the National Arena in Kingston, yesterday, for a day of prayer and fasting which saw head of the Portmore-based Power of Faith Ministries, Bishop Delford Davis, prophesying that there will be fewer murders in 2006.
If it doesn't happen, he says, he will hang up his microphone.
Just as a fresh British Broadcasting Corporation report billed the island the 'murder capital of the world', several pastors from the Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches, the Power of Faith Ministries, Government officials and their members decided to tackle the crisis with spiritual weapons.
And yesterday, Bishop Davis, backed by several other popular pastors such as Bishop Herro Blair and Bishop V.T. Williams, was not short on inspiration and laced the spiritual crowd with Bible-backed seeds of hope.
SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION
"We believe that there is one God who can intervene in the affairs of our lives. We have come together to pray for supernatural intervention ... people are seeking a way out of their problems," said Bishop Davis in his run-up.
Then it was as if time slammed into a thick iron wall and stayed stunned when he made the prophetic declaration and the mourning crowd caught the words like a lit match on gasolene. "We will not have another historic year where murder is concerned," screamed the bishop. "This is a prophecy. If the number (murder figure) is not stopped, I stop preach."
The fiery preacher urged Jamaicans of faith to fear not and even though the nation may be washed with the blood of murder victims, the future can be changed by pleading the blood of Jesus.
Thousands of hands combed the air of the National Arena like troubled confetti, including those of Sharon Haye-Webster, Member of Parliament for the troubled South Central St. Catherine. "All is not lost, keep hope alive!" encouraged Bishop Davis who also urged Christians and pastors to put away their differences for the good of the nation and remain faithful to God.
