Determined to oppose a wave of violence in their neighborhoods, Christians from 18 different denominations marched for peace in the community of Mountain View, a densely populated section that has been torn by violence in the last year.
Determined to oppose a wave of violence in their neighborhoods, Christians from 18 different denominations marched for peace in the community of Mountain View, a densely populated section that has been torn by violence in the last year. Reports indicate that 20 people have been murdered in that district of the country’s capital, Kingston, since June 19 alone.
On Sunday, August 10, the 300 marchers converged on a central point barricaded for a community church service hoping to make a two-week halt in violence more than temporary.
Religious leaders offered ten different prayers—one concerning political problems, one for the youth, one for spiritual commitment, and some for specific troubled communities. The peace management community leader and the president of the ministerial fraternity of denominations gave speeches.
Carl Cunningham, pastor of three Seventh-day Adventist churches in the area, delivered the sermon. He spoke of the need for a spiritual community which would lay the foundation for community growth.
“Violence has escalated so much that we couldn’t move freely…people are afraid to move about sections of the district,” Cunningham told the Adventist News Network.
Leaders of 13 denominations met back in July to discuss solutions to the escalating violence. “They came together initially to expand fraternity among their denominations to bring the community together spiritually first and then social projects would follow,” said Cunningham. They organized the Aug. 10 event.
Members representing a total of eighteen denominations went out to the streets Aug. 9 distributing fliers and announcing the next day’s march with public address systems in cars. People lent their sound systems and flat bed trucks for the march.
Concluding the Sunday afternoon rally, participants made smaller groups for prayer for peace in their community. “It was a high spiritual program, uplifting, fiery program,” said Cunningham.
Cunningham was assigned to pastor the Johnson Town, Rollington Town, and Roosevelt Avenue Adventist Churches eight months ago. During the last 12 months, violence has increased dramatically.
Some months ago Cunningham gathered the elders of his church together to find solutions for the community. “We realized…that we could not do it alone, so we sought the leaders of other denominations,” said Cunningham.
Members of the ministerial fraternity plan to continue meeting once a month to offer counseling services for the community. The group plans to continue its cooperation among denominational leaders.
