Belizeans pray and fast against crime

After all those reports of violence, it seems more than appropriate that on Sunday, religious leaders throughout the country celebrated a National Day of Prayer with their congregations as a protest against the crime situation. Today, Belizeans in agreement with the move, abstained from food and spent most of the day praying for peace. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams reports on the religious events that took place in Belize City.

Ann-Marie Williams

The Belize Council of Churches joined in fellowship with the Belize Evangelical Association to declare today, a National Day of Prayer and Fasting in protest of that current situation. Centres were opened all over the country for citizens to pray. One such centre was St. Augustine Presbyterian on Regent Street in Belize City. Pastor in charge, Moises Chan says part of this morning’s meditation was designed specifically for religious leaders who sometimes preach only to the converted.

Moises Chan, Pastor, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian

“Sometimes we sit at the churches and preach to our own people that may not need to hear; the ones that need to hear are out there. So the outreach programme of the church, the ministry of the church to the needy, to those out there need to be touch. Many times that has not happened, so it’s a wide range, including ourselves. And even as we come, this first hour really was spent on reflection and repentance for ourselves as church leaders.

The issue of the church, we do take some responsibility, many times we expect the people to come to our churches, and we have not made enough effort to go out and do outreach and addressed the social, physical and emotional needs of the people.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“Using the concept that if Muhammed can’t come to the mountain then the mountain must go to Muhammad?”

Moises Chan

“That’s the idea. But that has been Jesus Christ himself. He did not sit in Jerusalem in the temple and wait…he did go there, but he went out to the streets, he walked the streets, he went to the multitude.”

Chan says the remainder of the day saw community and political leaders along with citizens praying for a life free of crime. He said the public was also asked to fast.

Bernard Adolphus

“If Jesus Christ, the son of the living God did it for forty days and forty nights, one day is chicken feel.”

Myrtle Flowers

“Well I heard about this service today and I said I must could dedicate fifteen or so minutes, and I found myself staying far longer than that. I think anybody living in Belize could realise that the times have changed and not for the better, apparently for the worse. So, this is a very opportune time for people to reflect on what’s going on and try to pray about it.”

Bernard Adolphus

“I think it’s very necessary, for not only me, but other male members of this community to come here and give thanks and praise and ask for divine intervention for the problems that we are seeing today.”

Violet Jones

“It’s not really our only hope, but it’s the most important thing that we can do. Cause only through prayers we can get to God to help us change the situation in Belize.”

Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.