Pastor Egnal Grant looks up at his wife, Dorothy, from his hospital bed at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James recently. Pastor Grant is recovering from injuries to his intestines after being shot by gunmen on May 10. - Contributed

Pastor Egnal Grant, who was shot and injured by gunmen last week Thursday evening, has offered forgiveness to his attackers.

Recovering well, from injuries to his small intestine, at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James, Pastor Grant is expected to be out of hospital by this weekend.

"I have forgiven them," he said as he sat up in bed. "My greatest joy will be to see them baptised and I would want to be the pastor to do so. That would be the crowning act of my ministry. I would love to get the privilege to see these guys and talk with them about the issues of life. If it is at all possible, I would love to find a job for them. That would be a joy for me."

Pastor Patrick Allen, president of the Adventist Church in West Indies Union, who visited Pastor Grant in hospital on Tuesday, said he appeared to be in good spirits.

"As I spoke with Pastor Grant, I was heartened because he was most concerned not so much for himself, but for the perpetrators of the crime," said Pastor Allen. "He has forgiven them for what they have done to him and I think that is very critical because it demonstrates what a called minister is all about. He (a minister) is in the ministry of reconciliation, healing and forgiveness."

He added: "As a church, we have to intensify our efforts and involvement in the communities, partnering with the various agencies and churches to combat this pandemic of crime and violence."

Pastor Allen, who is a member of the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) which the Government put in place to monitor the operation, policies and performance of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), was in Montego Bay, along with other members of the authority, visiting the St. James Divisional Headquarters of the JCF in light of the increased criminal activities in the parish.

Shot at home

Pastor Grant, who serves in the Granville District of Churches in West Jamaica Conference, was shot during an attempted robbery at his home in Irwindale, St. James.

According to reports, Pastor Grant arrived at home and was pounced upon by three gunmen who shot him in the abdomen and demanded money. After searching him, he told them that he was an Adventist pastor at which point they retreated. Pastor Grant, who was alone at the time of the attack, was taken to the hospital by neighbours.