Dear Editor,
I just received a prayer request from someone who said, “My brother-in-law did not take the COVID vaccine and is now in the hospital on a ventilator. Two things: we would appreciate prayers for him and if you haven’t been vaccinated, please reconsider.” The previous President of the USA – who was one of the first to be vaccinated spawned a worldwide movement mocking the vaccine and wearing of masks and making it a political issue, placing the lives of many in danger. Many are pawns of such thinking, including Guyanese. This illustrates our “unvaccinated” problem in Guyana. The Government has Sputnik, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Vaccine Maitri/Bharat biotech. Nation, don’t refuse help. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Preachers who themselves are fully vaccinated, like to say, “God is your healer, don’t put your faith in vaccines,” and everybody yells “amen.” There is one Pastor Vlad on YouTube misleading people about the vaccine and when you look at his website there is a running counter announcing people who made donations to his ministry. Don’t listen to these fully vaccinated “money” preachers (especially those who call themselves apostles, bishops and prophets). Follow those with more “balanced” thinking. Be wise and think about your children and family and get the vaccine. It’s hypocrisy for preachers to be fully vaccinated and telling you to “have faith,” you don’t need the vaccine.
When you and loved ones are going through your trials and tribulations if a family member is infected with the virus, your church will say they will “pray” for you, and the pastor will preach “free” at your funeral. Don’t expect tons of money support for funerals, medical expenses, and ongoing needs, especially if the breadwinner dies. I call on our preachers to step up and be a part of the solution to the high numbers of unvaccinated among us. “To them that knoweth to do good, and doeth not, shall be beaten with many stripes (Luke 12:47).” Preachers usually preach to people to take a specific course of action to live right, and that if you don’t, you will go to hell. They tell you don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t do drugs, and don’t fornicate. They don’t tell you, “your body, your choice.” They will cast demons out of you.
Churches are clear that you must pay 10% of your income as tithes, plus you must give offerings, special offerings, building fund offerings, pastoral anniversary offerings, and contribute to causes. They are clear about that. They don’t tell you “your money, your choice.” They take a clear position on holiness, honesty, prostitution, abortion, sexual deviance, goodness, sin, etc. They don’t preach it’s “your body, your choice.” They tell you what the “right” choice is. Similarly, when it comes to vaccination, there is no neutrality. The Church must come down on the side of vaccination. As the song says, “If you see your brother going the wrong way, just stop and say, ‘You’re going the wrong way.’”
I empathize with the Government whose pure intention is to help the country and balance all interests. They can probably say like Jesus who upbraided cities saying, “We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented (Matt 11: 17). Hopefully, our people would understand that the unvaccinated is driving the new wave of the deadly delta variant, and would take advantage of the vaccine. We are eager to open up Guyana! Much praise to those churches, mosques, and temples who hosted vaccination drives. Please continue the good work.
Sincerely,
Dr Jerry Jailall
