Dear Editor,

In the midst of all that is happening in our country, where are the men and women of God? Where are the Pastors, Preachers, Priests, Evangelists, and Prayer Warriors? The worldly elements have successfully penetrated our society, and they have a grip on our nation. We have embraced music where artists openly speak about practicing witchcraft, promoting violent crime, lewd sexual behavior and dress, and an overall immoral lifestyle. Alternative lifestyles, in their many forms, from devil worship to sexual deviance, have become normalized and accepted.

We must vehemently reject it!

Growing up, there was never a shortage of crusades, marches of witness, community outreach, and a genuine effort to keep God in our society. We had morning worship in schools; daily in our classrooms, and at least once per week we had general assembly where we worshiped first before addressing school concerns. We taught our children the right from young from a tender age. We lived on an island where we could leave our doors unlocked and leave home without a worry. We could listen to the radio without hearing, in graphic detail, how certain intimate acts are to be carried out, or listen to the rhythmic audio playbook of how to commit violent crimes, what skulls, duppies, protection amulets, or whatever other practices are being used to gain riches. Other times, we are subjected to the accompanying graphic music videos. It was unheard of to hear profanity or music of a certain level of explicitness played over the radio waves.

As a nation that welcomes everyone, we have allowed people to migrate here without prejudice. However, instead of making a firm effort to ensure that our culture and way of life are preserved, we have taken a different approach: adopting other people’s cultures and ways of life, and in the process, losing our own. It is this very mechanism that has contributed to the importation of criminal elements. It is not to say that we never had crime. It is to say that the mass influx of migrants has also brought criminal elements to our shores. From official reports, an alarming percentage of persons committing crimes are non-nationals. This should never be. If we allow you here, you are expected to abide by our laws, or face the consequences, including removal where the law permits.

Let us drive the message home:

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

If you come to Antigua, you must follow our laws and respect the Antiguan way of life. On weekends, especially Sundays, radio stations once respected a day of rest and worship, often playing gospel or softer music out of reverence and respect. Establishments, especially bars located within communities, could not have been blasting loud music until sunrise, disturbing the peace and sanctity of our communities and preventing people from getting proper rest.

This must be addressed.

I am calling on all the churches to join forces and go community to community to reach our lost souls. Invoke the presence of God and make it a weekly or monthly initiative to hold joint intercessory prayer sessions on behalf of this nation, until we can see God move in and throughout Antigua and Barbuda.

Let us see the Baptist, Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Anglican, Moravian, Red, Blue, and Orange all join forces on their knees on behalf of this nation.

Do not wait until a single day each year to put on a display. Reach out to the Government, seek permission to use the Antigua Recreation Ground or Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and gather in your numbers to pray for our nation.

This is not a call for another ceremony. It is a call for action. Our churches must once again become a visible and consistent force for righteousness, family, community, and peace. If we truly believe in the power of prayer, then now is the time to demonstrate it – not individually, not once a year, but collectively and consistently.

Antigua and Barbuda needs its churches to stand up, speak up, and pray up. Let us return to God, reclaim our communities, and fight for the soul of our nation.

Respectfully,

Antiguan

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Where Are The Men And Women Of God? Antigua And Barbuda Needs Its Churches To Rise, Unite, And Pray.