Brother Leeroy Campbell (left) receives the Silver Pen award for February, from The Gleaner's Editor-In-Chief, Garfield Grandison, at The Gleaner Company Ltd.'s North Street, central Kingston, offices yesterday. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

When 76-year-old Brother Leeroy Campbell wrote his award-winning letter to the editor, 'Why national breakfast prayers go unanswered', little did he know that God would answer his prayer when his letter was chosen for The Gleaner's prestigious Silver Pen award.

An author of three books, Mr. Campbell was chosen the Silver Pen awardee for the month of February. He said winning the award meant a lot to him.

"I know that I am going to go on to win the Noble Peace Prize because I am a man of peace and, when I get that award, it is not going to be like the Silver Pen," he beamed. "You know why it (the award) is so meaningful to me? Because I am passionate about Christianity and about righteousness and somebody in The Gleaner is also passionate about Christianity and righteousness. This is why I won the award, because there is a message there."

Mr. Campbell had expressed concerns in his letter about why, after 27 years of National Prayer Breakfasts, Jamaica continues to experience a high crime rate, poverty and corruption.

He theorised that perhaps the nation's prayers were going unanswered because the nation fails to give up its sins.

"For God to hear from Heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land, we must fulfil the fourth part of the agreement - we must turn from our wicked ways ... we have to give up the sins ... lies in our personal and professional lives," he said in the letter.

No reverence for life

Yesterday, Mr. Campbell reiterated that the country still goes on without any reverence for life.

"The Jamaican people know about God but they are taking him for granted," he pointed out. "They are not listening to what they should be doing. They're supposed to be doing what Jesus says - love our neighbour, looking after their families and taking care of their children and doing the right thing."

According to the former policeman, the National Prayer Breakfast is a "farce" and a mockery of God.