By Howard Walker, Staff ReporterLAST YEAR November, Jamaican-American evangelist Paul Lewis predicted that a top politician is going to die within eight to 18 months, stirring the audience into murmurs as they try to ascertain who it would be.
It was published in The Sunday Gleaner on December 7, 2003 headlined, "A Prophet's Controversial Warning". Now eight months on, former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Hugh Lawson Shearer passed away on Monday, July 5.
Was this a coincidence or was it prophecy?
Lewis was a guest of the Faith Worship Centre in Pembroke Hall where he created quite a storm with predictions and healings over two weeks.
Said Lewis: "The Lord showed me that very soon there will be weeping in the nation concerning that person, somebody who Jamaicans all know about and who is loved.
"I will not be calling any names. If I do that, tomorrow I'll be in jail. But it will happen very soon."
He went on to predict that his prophecy could take effect from eight to 18 months.
But this vision by Mr. Lewis was quickly dismissed as "nonsense" by the Rev. Ernle Gordon of the St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church.
"That's not prophecy. Any-body can predict that because a lot of them (politicians) are in their 70s," Rev. Gordon said.
According to Rev. Gordon, it was incorrect to talk about prophecy now because the prophets are gone, they have spoken already.
CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT
But this was not Lewis' only controversial statement. On Monday, November 24, while preaching, he stunned the congregation when he stopped and asked his hearers to call a number and ask for Brown. "The Lord said to me, let somebody call this number, a young man is getting ready to commit suicide."
Several persons tried in vain as the phone line was busy as everyone was trying at the same time, according to Lewis.
The following day the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported that 19-year-old Julian Brown, of Ridge Terrace, St Andrew was found hanging by a piece of cloth tied to a door at his house.
It was reported that family members went to his room to call him but did not get a response. They then forced their way in and discovered his dangling body.
Alan Lewis of LOVE FM radio was in attendance that night and testified to what had happend.
"It was amazing. It was amazing," said Allan Lewis, apparently still in awe. "He was just praying for the people when he said 'Wait a minute. Call this number. His name is Brown. He's about to commit suicide'."
According to the radio broadcaster, on Wednesday he read in his newscast that a Julian Brown died by suicide. "Then a friend called me and told me that it is the same person who Paul (Rev. Lewis) had prophesied would have committed suicide."
Mr. Lewis said his friend had called the number Rev. Lewis gave them and verified it from family members.
"I was there. This is not second-hand knowledge," said Allan Lewis then.
