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Hundreds Pray For The Upliftment Of The Nation

By: , January 17, 2020

The Key Point:

Hundreds of Jamaicans, including leaders of Government, its agencies and the private sector, joined hands for the 40th consecutive year and prayed for the upliftment of the nation, at the annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB), held on Thursday (January 16), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston.
Hundreds Pray For The Upliftment Of The Nation
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), joins hands in worship with (from left): Member, National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB), Rev. Dr. Peter Garth; Custos of St. James and Pastor, Faith Temple Assemblies of God, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin; Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Peter Phillips, and Chairman, NLPB, Right Rev. Stanley Clarke, at the NLPB, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on Thursday (January 16).
Hundreds Pray For The Upliftment Of The Nation
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (second left) and Lady Allen are joined by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second right) and his wife, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, and Chairman, National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB), Right Rev. Stanley Clarke, as they bow their heads in prayer, at the NLPB on Thursday (January 16), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston

The Facts

  • It was also a time for reverence and to call on the Almighty to bring forth peace among everyone living in the island.
  • Patron of the event, Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, spoke of the major impact that the NLPB has had on the nation over the past 40 years.

The Full Story

Hundreds of Jamaicans, including leaders of Government, its agencies and the private sector, joined hands for the 40th consecutive year and prayed for the upliftment of the nation, at the annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB), held on Thursday (January 16), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston.

It was also a time for reverence and to call on the Almighty to bring forth peace among everyone living in the island.

Patron of the event, Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, spoke of the major impact that the NLPB has had on the nation over the past 40 years.

“Forty years ago, Jamaica experienced turbulent times in its modern history. For many persons, peace was elusive, and the more than 1,000 lives that were lost bore stark testimony to those frightening events,” he said.

“It was out of the ashes of political violence that the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast was born. The cynical among us will say that the annual National Leadership Prayer Breakfast has since lost its purpose and significance. However, I beg to differ,” the Governor-General added.

He argued that without events such as the NLPB, Prayer Vigil, Heal the Nation, Heal the Family Day of Prayer and the sincere intercessions of persons of faith across the island, the situation in Jamaica could be worse.

The Governor-General said one major focus of the NLPB is to pray about the crimes taking place across the island.

“Through the totality of this morning’s experience, we can be inspired to earn the thanks of a grateful nation, by ensuring that we curb the lawlessness and bring this pandemic of crime and violence under control,” he said.

He continued to outline other benefits of the event.

“One significant aspect of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast is the annual donations we make to charitable projects. The donations have risen exponentially over the past 32 years and we have disbursed $122 million to deserving persons and organisations,” the Governor-General said.

“These funds have helped in medical care, construction of infrastructure for the homeless, assistance to children in State care, education, flood relief and skills training programmes,” he noted.

This year’s beneficiary from the donations collected at the event is the Child Resiliency Programme (CRP) of the Violence Prevention Alliance.

Meanwhile, Custos of St. James and Pastor of the Faith Temple Assemblies of God, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin, also reflected on the contributions the founders of the NLPB made to the society and reiterated the importance of the event in today’s society.

“I can vividly recall the turbulent period of the 1970s leading up to the 1980s. It was a period characterised by deep national conflict, disorder and confusion; a period in which our nation descended into virtual chaos and instability. It was during this period that the leaders of the Christian church, the men and women who understood the heart of God and what was required of a nation in trouble, came together. and their willingness to be obedient to God gave birth to this annual gathering,” he said.

The Custos argued that if Jamaica is to achieve its national goals for 2030 of empowerment, social security, economic prosperity and the health and well-being of all Jamaicans, corruption and crime need to come to an end.

The annual NLPB brings together leaders at all levels at the start of each year for fellowship and prayer, and to ask God’s blessings on the nation.

Last Updated: January 17, 2020

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