The rain did not deter hundreds of Jamaicans from gathering in the Mandela Park, Half Way Tree, on Labour Day to push back against pagan ideologies, which they believe have been disguised as progress.
The strong contingent of Christians were militant as they echoed their disapproval of some of the governments’ decisions in recent months, which they believe have blatantly disregarded the sufferings and cultural views of a wide cross-section of the population.
The event, which was dubbed “A call to action! Let us not be silent! was the collaborative effort of several Christian organisations and movements. With placards mounted, those in attendance protested against the recently announced massive salary hike for politicians, the mounting pressure to have Jamaica’s buggery law repealed, the contentious gender policy to be implemented at the University of the West Indies, and the ACP-EU Treaty, which if signed, will subject the country to policies that will expose children to comprehensive sexuality education.
Dr. Doreen Brady-West, one of the presenters at the event, urged Jamaicans to repent, as the country has allowed itself to be vulnerable to foreign powers that have made unGodly demands as they pumped money into the country.
“In the name of progress, some people want to take us back—back to the caveman ideas and practices. The whole of nature is God’s handiwork, and yet you have people who want to come and bring in unnatural practices and ideology against God,” she said.
“Confess before God that we have been careless, because if we were keeping to his principles, if we were having good family lives, we wouldn’t have the poverty that would make rich nations like Canada and those other EU nations come to impose their ungodly things on us. We would be able to say, ‘tek you money and go,” she said.
“Woe unto those who call good evil and evil good,” cautioned Dr. Brady-West.
Pastor Joseph Buckland, another of the presenters, is concerned that many of the country’s policymakers have neglected the teachings of the Bible, and this has resulted in a lack of integrity.
“Unfortunately, many governments do not check the Bible; they do not read the Bible, and instead of being in subjection to what God said in the Bible, they think they are a law unto themselves. They think that they are an autonomous institution; that they are independent of God; that they have the right to make their own constitution and their own laws and put in there what is contradictory to what God says in the Bible,” said Pastor Buckland, a Church of Christ minister.
In addressing some of the issues confronting the country, including the outrageous pay hike for government officials, Pastor Buckland pointed to Ezekiel 34 verses 1–4.
Meanwhile, Bishop Omar Ricketts prayed that Prime Minister Andrew Holness would allow God to speak to his heart as he lifted up him and his family before God.
“Speak to him today. I pray that you speak to him in the day, in the night, when he eats, when he wakes up, in his private chamber, and when he is in Parliament. Let him understand the people’s cry. Let him know that we come before you today with dust on our face, with tears in our eyes, with disappointment. Speak to PM Holness, speak in his 13 ministries, wave your hands over it,” the clergyman beseeched God.
Portmore resident Sharon Martin Rowe said she decided to join the protest after hearing the Prime Minister’s reasoning for the increase in the salary of government officials during a press conference Monday evening. Salaries have been increased by as much as 300 percent in some cases, but Holness has since indicated that he will not accept his increase at this time.
“The situation in Jamaica looks dismal, but there is hope. We know that God is in control and there is hope and so we cry out to him. He will deliver,” she said.
The Freedom Come Ministries International was the main organiser of the event, along with the Association of Christian Communicators and Media.
Executive director of Freedom Come Apostle Dr. Jeffrey Shuttleworth, announced that five days of silent protest would commence on Wednesday, May 24, at the main gate of Emancipation Park between 7 a.m. and noon. People were encouraged to stop by for even 15 minutes on their way to work.
“It will be peaceful. We believe that if we take this stance, God will move the hearts of the people across the metropolitan and across the nation,” said Apostle Shuttleworth.
“If the authorities do not respond to our request, then God will cause a sea of people to build up, numbering in the hundreds. I believe that this nation will not bow to unrighteousness, and as long as the remnant stands, no group can force this nation of Jamaica to bow to Baal,” he asserted.
