Philipsburg: --- The island government of St. Maarten will be holding a day of prayer this Sunday at the Emilio Wilson Park said organizers of the event on Monday. Even though the event this Sunday will not be replacing the National Day of Prayer which is normally held at the end of the year, the St. Maarten Council of Churches and the St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation are the organizers of Sunday’s event.
The idea of holding the day of prayer was announced by Commissioner Frans Richardson on day he sworn in as a commissioner June 8th. Commissioner Richardson said they have decided to add the day of prayer to the week long events to commemorate emancipation day. Richardson said the day of prayer would be the grand finale for the week long events which is presently ongoing.
Richardson said St. Maarten needed an event such as this to bring the community together but more so he believes the task that the new government is undertaking requires them to look to God. He said he called for the day of prayer for government and its people of the island.
Richardson said he believe this day is really needed because of all that is taking place within the communities. He said several people are frustrated due to the down turn in the economy. The commissioner called on the community to come out to Sunday’s event because he believed everyone needs to come together to put the island where she needs to be. He said the island should be the first priority however, without prayers and God no one would get anywhere.
Also urging the community to come out on Sunday was commissioner of Culture Hyacinth Richardson. Richardson said the day’s effectiveness will reflect culture as well as the ideology of the new coalition of government. He said even though this is not the national day of prayer, which is held annually, but Sunday’s event can be considered a national day of prayer since the entire community is invited to participate. Sunday’s program will have live broadcast both on television and radio.
Pastor Wycliffe Smith President of the SMUF said St. Maarten is truly blessed to have a nation that acknowledges the sovereignty of God. Smith congratulated the new government for taking the initiative to start their tenure of government with prayers.
Pastor Smith said the Christian community was recruited to organize the event of July 12 who also put the day’s program together. Pastor Smith called on all churches who would be participating should send out at least two members of their choir to begin practicing. Choir practice will be held at the Seventh Adventist Church in Cole Bay. Also scheduled to participate are the youths of St. Maarten in several aspects. Smith said that there are number situations that need to be placed before God. Some of those are the constitutional process, the low morale on the island including violence and senseless killings.
Also expressing gratitude is Wally Haverthong from the St. Martin Council of Churches. Haverthong said he is extremely happy that to know that the members of government has taken on the challenge to pray with its people and the churches. He said when the St. Martin Council of Churches were contacted they embraced the opportunity since it has been years now they have been pleading in praying and asking government to pray with them. He said this is very important since no one can function without the help of God.
