A growing economic crisis coupled with a spike in crime and violence is motivating Jamaican Seventh-day Adventists to turn an annual day of prayer into community outreach, including home visits and distribution of religious materials.

Many church members will focus their August 1 efforts in Central Village near Spanish Town, a region that has seen an increase in gang-related violence in the last week. Church members plan to visit and pray with families in the area and pass out "Hope Packages" containing a Bible and Christian literature. The groups will also head to local clubs and bars to pass out religious music to the venues.

"We hope that through this special outreach, the faith of members of the community will be strengthened in this time of fear," said Levi Johnson, secretary for the Adventist church in Central Jamaica.

The "Day of Prayer" is an annual event celebrated by Christian denominations in the West Indies region.