The New Year is often greeted with great expectations with persons making resolutions as they seek to bring about positive changes in their lives.

As such, it has been a tradition for Jamaicans to attend church on the eve of the New Year as they seek this positive change. 'Called to the Kingdom' watch night service, in Mandela Park on New Year's Eve, was one such place where hundreds of Jamaicans went to travel into the New Year with God.

Called to the Kingdom, which is an initiative of the Pentecostal Gospel Showers in Riverton Meadows, saw various persons turning out to the event.

"Me a wait on two of my brethren and me see the service and even though me a sinner, me haffi take in the word of God," said Clayon Williams.

Many stood and listened while some clapped and raised their hands to the air as different speakers brought messages of hope, warning and deliverance. Prayers were offered for different sectors of society as Jamaica was called to repentance.

Repentance

"Called to the Kingdom has been about repentance. That's really the message behind it, calling Jamaica to repentance, because if we do not repent we are going to be faced with serious consequences," said Carone Gordon, the visionary of the Called to the Kingdom initiative.

Ms. Gordon said she began the project as a response to the crime wave that has gripped the island and she added that Called to the Kingdom introduced a spiritual dimension to aid crime fighting. "Crime fighting is everybody's business and I believe everybody should get involved. We would also like to help the Jamaica Constabulary Force and their crime-fighting efforts for 2007."

As such, the ministry has set up an account at Jamaica National 10543331 for persons to make a contribution until January 19.