ON MONDAY, 28th August, Baha'is of Jamaica joined the rest of the world in observing The International Day of Prayer for World Peace called for by the Historic Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders which met at the United Nations during August 28-31.
Meeting in the Maude Gallier Hall at the National Baha'i Centre on Mountain View Avenue, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Jamaica hosted a lunch-time inter-faith prayer session. A wide range of prayer requests and supplications were offered in different languages. The inter-faith prayer session was preceded by the singing of the song: "Let there be peace on earth (and let it begin with me)"; and ended with the well known prayer-song "For the coming of the Kingdom of God on Earth," known as the Lord's Prayer.
Among the approximate 40 persons present were Dr. Lucille Buchanan, vice-president of the World Federation of United Nations Association (WFUNA) and national President of UNAJ; and Professor Dr. Ajai Mansingh, secretary of the Jamaica Council for Inter-faith Fellowship.
In her greetings, Dr. Buchanan commended the observance and referred to other activities to take place shortly in promotion of peace. The secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Jamaica, Miss Linda Roache, gave a comprehensive and enlightening background to the World Summit, its objectives and aspirations.
In commenting on the historic nature of the World Summit for World Peace, the chairman of the observance, Mr. Hopeton Fitz-Henley shared with the audience what he perceived was a prophetic convergence which begin its fulfilment on 28th August. He referred to two statements of Baha'u'llah, Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, which He made in the 1860's and which evidently links the Peace Summit with the creation of the United Nations.
The afternoon's programme ended with the saying of a specially selected Baha'is Prayer dedicated to the World Summit and World Peace.