Church leaders prepare to approach throne of grace in Nat’l Prayer Vigil

Stressing the importance of spiritual intervention from the Almighty heading into a new year as the island seeks to overcome the challenges it faces, the National Prayer Vigil Committee launched its 2023 event on Thursday.

Now in its 31st year, the National Prayer Vigil will take place on Sunday, December 10 at the East Queen Street Baptist Church in downtown Kingston, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Addressing Thursday’s launch of the 2023 staging at the East Queen Street Baptist Church, Evangelist Errol Rattray, chairman of the National Prayer Vigil Committee, said the event will have a national impact.

“Although we are [having] the vigil in Kingston, it is a national vigil, so therefore, it carries a national reach. The National Prayer Vigil has made a serious dent upon this nation … . It is to say, ‘let us have a peaceful society; let us have a just society; be honest’, among other things,” Rattray said.

He said that the committee has been very prayerful and has taken a lot of time in order to plan what will be a most important vigil.

Rattray acknowledged the work of the late Reverend Dr Roy Henry, the first chairman of the National Prayer Vigil, who led the event for 29 years from its inception until his passing in March 2022. He also saluted two other members who died in office. Also, the passing of a secretary and treasurer while in office.

“For those who have heard that we have lost chairman and lost secretary and lost treasurer, that God has been kind to us that He has always had persons in order to fill the gaps,” Rattray said.

Henry was awarded with the Order of Distinction before his death, for his contribution to the annual event.

The National Prayer Vigil was initiated by a group of ministers in Kingston, under the patronage of former Governor General Sir Howard Cooke. It was originally held at King’s House, but was subsequently moved to different parishes annually.

Parish ministers’ fraternals have traditionally helped to plan and execute the event near the end of each year; usually on the second Sunday in the month of December.

The vigil represents a united effort aimed at interceding for the healing of the nation.

This theme for this year’s staging of the vigil, which now falls under the patronage of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, is ‘Justice, Unity, Peace and Healing’.

An integral component of the vigil is a project that will serve to improve the community and make a lasting impact. This year’s special project will be undertaken in Kingston.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com