Amidst the thunderous appeal for Jamaica to build back better, there is an urgent call from the Christian community for the country to anchor its rebuilding efforts in God.
This call was amplified during the Association of Christian Communications and Media (ACCM) Zoom forum, “Overcoming Personal Crisis,” on Sunday, November 16. The group of panelists echoed the existing need for the Word of God to be generously distributed along with the truckloads of relief supplies to fill a void that food, shelter and clothing will never be able to fill.
“One of the things that I’m hoping and I’m praying to see, I really am praying to see, is a return. You remember back in the days when church used to have crusade, tent meetings, open air meetings? I would love for churches to go down with some cooked food and some soup and share. Just sing, and preach the Word and share. I want to see people getting the gospel and getting the Word and getting hope in this process. This is an opportune time for us to share that, and I hope it’s happening, but I’m not seeing it, and this is what is needed,” said Christian speaker and consultant Kari Heron.
She said the church cannot afford to be absent at a time like this from the communities badly affected by the hurricane, as this will leave room for persons from other religions to fill the void.
“You know, one of the things about Islam as well is that they’re very keen to respond to needs, and they do that very well. And that has always been the thing that Christ has called us to. And in fact, what the Bible says is when you give to the poor, you give to God. So maybe it’s time for us to really just spend our time and to bring that, the Word. Go into the communities, sing the songs, share testimonies, have fellowship with them, have fellowship with the kids and allow people to talk as well. But let’s bring our churches into these communities and bring food and support as well. Let’s bring that spiritual help,” she appealed.
The panelists agreed that as people contemplate the loss of items they have accumulated in their lifetime, the Word is a balm that will soothe the emotional pain and will be a timely reminder that once they are anchored in God, all is not lost.
“I remember driving up to Darliston in Westmoreland, and this was about two weeks since the hurricane, and there are some people that have not touched a single zinc or anything yet. They are still coming to terms with the fact that they have lost everything. And so I’m telling you, like, if you just take a moment and hug some of these people that you see, they will just break down, and it has happened a few times. And so when we are approaching, especially as the church, I just want to encourage us to do it in a holistic way. We bring some stuff ennuh; we bring some essentials and stuff, but we sit and we listen, and when the Holy Spirit leads us to share and to encourage, we do that. But I’m telling you, there’s so much pain,” said Pastor Luke Smith.
Suicidologist Dr. Donovan Thomas, said it is important that focus be placed on not just rebuilding structures, but spirits as well that are currently broken.
“People are hungry. People need water, but they also need validation. Some of them have lost their sense of personhood. All that they had—their food, their clothes and everything—just gone. How are we going to help to do that? I would say to us, we have got to listen to them, listen to their stories, and help them to be able to talk about the emotions that they are feeling. We want to help them grieve in a healthy way,” he asserted, while hammering home the need for what he calls the “bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of intervention.”
“When people are in crisis, they are most open to spiritual intervention, but we want to connect with them where they are at. The woman at the well is a model of ministry. Jesus started at her starting point; she needed water– many of our people need water. So we can touch her at her point of need, and then we can help her to see the Messiah,” Dr. Thomas added.
Despite the multiplicity of problems brought on by Hurricane Melissa, counselling psychologist Dr. Calvin Isaacs said the church cannot afford to retreat. Instead, every effort should be made to get down in the trenches and work with those affected. This, he believes, will make a big difference as the nation rebuilds.