Church Lauded for March Against Violence

Ministry of National Security is lauding the Kitson Town Seventh-day Adventist Church for its march and support of the Kingsland community of St. Catherine on Saturday, January 11.

The church suspended its regular Sabbath service, and marched through the area that is grieving for two community members slain by gunmen on January 4.

Head of the Ministry’s Unite for Change programme, Patricia Sutherland, said it is welcoming when churches move to get involved, and to help the community to take a stand against violence. “This is part of what we are encouraging amongst communities,” she told JIS News.

“The more the church comes out of its doors and pulls members of the community to work together against violence in their community is the greater chance we have of having a less violent country. We want to encourage them to continue to take charge, and bring people together,” she said.

Director of Family Life at the Central Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Roy Dennis, told the community that despite their tragic loss, the way forward is for “love and righteousness to reign in Kingsland and Jamaica.”

“What we need to do is to learn how to adjust and to cope, and to pray that nothing like that ever happens in Kingsland again. We need to be agents of righteousness,” he encouraged.

Pastor Dennis told JIS News that the persons most affected by the killings should not stay away from normal activities, as that will prevent them from coming out of the grieving period. He said special attention must be paid to the children, and if certain signs are observed, professional help must be immediately sought for them.

“Look out if the children are suffering from trauma. If they were doing well at school, and they are not doing well anymore, these are signs that the children are not coping,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Pastor of the Kitson Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, Christopher Mighty, said he was pleased that five churches in the District participated.

“We want to see crime down and we want to see people change from their wicked ways,” he said.

Pastor Mighty urged his congregation to continue praying and lending support to the community.