Dear editor,
Some years ago, when the crime situation became overwhelming in Jamaica, I remember hearing the Prime Minister and other members of the public calling on the church to get involved in helping to stem the crime problem in our communities. Around the same time I was reading about George Muller, an evangelist in the 1800s who took thousands of orphaned children off the streets of Bristol, England.
George started his work by feeding and teaching the Word of God to a small group on their verandah. Over time the mission grew into five large orphanages and throughout his lifetime, George Muller, along with his team cared for 10,024 orphans. His work inspired many people and after his death 100,000 orphans were being cared for in England.
When George Muller died, the British Newspaper, The Daily Telegraph wrote that George Muller had “robbed the cruel streets of thousands of victims, the gaels (jails) of thousands of felons and the workhouses of thousands of helpless waifs (orphans)”.
My mind began to ponder the cruel streets of St. James, Kingston, Spanish Town and many others throughout Jamaica. What if the churches in their communities truly united for the long haul and pooled their human, financial and material resources in an effort to transform their community? What if we gathered, in Bible Clubs, as many children as we see running around the streets or those we knew were sitting in fear in their houses – children who are being targeted by gunmen, scammers, gang leaders, to be reeled in for training and young girls who are being targeted for sexual activities and abuse?
What if the churches in their communities began to make disciples of these children, teaching them the life-changing principles of God’s Word, investing and helping in their education where needed? What if we could provide opportunities for counseling, creative arts workshops, camps etc. to help mold lives for the Kingdom of God?
With faithfulness and dedication to the cause, wouldn’t it be amazing to observe the transformation of communities over the years as the children grow up to become productive and responsible citizens and as family members open up their hearts and homes to the gospel of Jesus Christ because of the miracle of God’s love that they see demonstrated by the Church.
Is all this really possible, the transformation of whole communities or is this just wishful thinking? I tell you, for the sheer unity of the church in having one heart and mind to “feed His lambs”, the Lord will surely command the blessings to supply every need for this work.
It happened with George Muller, one man who had the faith to trust God for the impossible, prayed unceasingly, and saw the miracles of God transform Britain.
Today, Jamaica is in a dark place, our communities are overwhelmed by crime and violence. Our security forces are in a battle to at least make a significant dent in criminal activity. They need much prayer. It seems like a tiresome, impossible task. It will be, unless we the church, begin to capture the hearts and minds of our little ones who are still pliable and can be molded by the transforming Word of God and the unconditional love of Christ.
Let’s rob the cruel streets of Jamaica of future criminals. Let’s rob the present criminals of the little hearts and minds they are targeting to perpetuate their evil deeds. Let’s transform Jamaica, the land we love.
I am,
Donna Werdenie