Dear Editor,
Last Sunday, April 6, 2007, was an evening of prayers and not politics, as a group of Guyanese and friends of Guyana in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, gathered together at the Church in Bethesda (which is in Bethesda), a rather upscale city in Montgo-mery County, Maryland, to offer prayerful petitions to God for an end to the murders, wanton shedding of blood, crime, gang activities and the drug culture that is threatening to overtake our beloved country, Guyana.
Among the prayerful group was the Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organisation of American States, Mr Bayney Karran who was accompanied by his charming wife, Donna. Dr Richard Van-West Charles, a former minister of health and now a PAHO representative was also present.
There were prayers for peace and harmony among the six races of the nation; for God’s wisdom, love and unity among all political leaders of the land; peace between Guyana and its neighbours Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil, and prayers for divine wisdom in overcoming the threats of the Atlantic, in this time of global warming.
Guyanese pastors who led the prayerful congregation were Eion Greaves, Andrew Husbands, Dr Walter Bipat, John and Ruth Goddard, Brother Ivor Yearwood and Apostle Barbara Clark from Botswana. They all came together in response to a call for an evening of prayer which was issued by Pastor Kwesi Oginga of the New Life Ministries of the Christian Life Mission.
In addressing the gathering Oginga said, “We are a wonderful people of six races and God has blessed us with an absolutely good country. We cannot live without God. He is Sovereign. He has all human solutions in His hands. We should focus less on casting blame and more on petitioning God for our survival.”
Added inspiration was provided for the crowd by the powerfully sacred and worshipful dances of the Dance Ministry of the Victory Christian Fellowship Church of Delaware. They were led by choreographer, Neil Heywood, a former member of the National School of Dance, Guyana.
Mr Forbes Skinner represented Guyanese in Texas.
It was a wonderful evening, and Guyanese left the church with feelings of hope.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Kwesi Oginga
