‘Put God first again’, say Clerics

Leading clerics are suggesting a need for spiritual guidance ahead of challenging economic times, with one pastor calling on Barbadians to recall the second verse of the National Anthem and allow God to remain “the people’s guide”.

The head of Mount Zion Missions International, Reverend Dr Lucille Baird, told Barbados TODAY: “My prayer for Barbados is that we become a God-fearing nation once again, that we regain that desire to seek God and put Him first in our lives the way our foreparents did.”

Reverend Dr Lucille Baird

She said younger generations were not showing reverence to God as before. “While the majority of Barbadians are still Christians, we find people are not sending their children to Sunday School anymore, which was a pre-requisite in the past, and I am also concerned about the violation of Sundays, the day most people worship, with fetes and other activities.”

Reverend Baird said she is also praying for reduced gun violence and greater policing of the minibus culture, which she claimed are destroying young people. “Every day we expose our children to violence, promiscuity and lewd music on minibuses, and when they get to school they cannot concentrate on their work. As a result, they leave school with no qualifications and then when you
put guns in their hands, it creates more problems for society. We are willing to work with the police to bring this lawlessness to an end.”

In praying for Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Cabinet, Reverend Baird called on the Government to “allow God to be your guide in any decisions you make and avoid any actions that are against His will for the nation

“Once we return to our traditional Christian values and treat God with the respect, honour and worship he deserves, this country can be healed,” said the cleric.

President of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, R. Danforth Francis, said: “I want to see the country improve especially in terms of social and moral issues, a place where people truly look out for each other. We are not there yet, and we cannot just rely on the politicians and clergy to be better; it is the responsibility of everyone.

“Since Seventh Day Adventists are considered the remnant church, we have a greater responsibility to display a higher standard, and it is not just about regular church attendance, but how we interact with others in our community is equally important.”

Like his colleagues, Monsignor Vincent Blackett of the Roman Catholic Church expects 2019 to be a challenging year for the nation’s economy, but hopes it will “bring forth a spirit of generosity” and willingness to help our fellowmen.

Monsignor Vincent Blackett

“In the same way Barbadians rallied to help Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, I want to see that spirit within the Barbadian psyche and community to come forth once again as we enter the new year,” the Catholic priest said.