The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

We begin with a verse from sacred Scripture found in 1st Timothy 2: 1& 2 – “I urge you then first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for the people, for Kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Bishop Delton Fernander, current President of the Bahamas Christian Council, during the recently held National Ecumenical Prayer Service, urged all clergy present to pray for the Most Honourable Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis. It was not on the programme; but a spontaneous act. It was in fact what the Scriptures encourages us to do.

Bishop Laish Boyd, Senior Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos, in a similar spirit called on Bahamians to be positive and pray for the Prime Minister, particularly in this time of national crisis left by the killer Hurricane Dorian.

Prime Minister Minnis’ administration won handsomely the confidence of the vast majority of the Bahamian populace during the last national elections. That fact cannot be debated.

The burden of leadership of the Prime Minister has been exacerbated by the destruction caused by Dorian.

All well-thinking people should pray for the Prime Minister – whether you voted for him, agree with his style of governing or like his personality.

As a mature Bahamian, indeed in the spirit of nationalism, we should pray for the Prime Minister.

The truth is if his administration succeeds, we will all benefit; and concomitantly, if they fail then the country sinks into the abyss of more hell and suffering.

When we pray for the Prime Minister, we do not deify him, like a mistake many made with the late Sir Lynden Pindling.

But we pray for the Prime Minister, as well as all our political leaders in the ruling party and the official opposition, that they may seek and embrace wisdom so that they may lead us in living peaceful, blessed and godly lives.

The prayers of the church are critical because the church recognises that with the stroke of a pen political leaders can legislate policies that advance or reverse the freedoms and work of the church.

We should pray for the Prime Minister and other politicians because the decisions they make – or refuse to make – impact the lives of the people we serve daily in our churches and communities.

We ought to pray regularly and earnestly for all our leaders because we do not want them to allow their offices to sink to the low level of corruption, lies and empty promises.

We ought to pray for every political leader so that he or she would work assiduously to make the wealth in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, more common.

We should pray that as they work for us, God in His mercy will work for each of them.

BISHOP SIMEON HALL

Nassau,

September 23, 2019.