Jamaica declares National Days of Prayer as faith leaders unite

Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture has announced that National Days of Prayer will be observed on Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, as the nation continues to recover from the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement follows a high-level meeting between Culture Minister Olivia Grange and religious leaders, which led to the creation of a National Religious and Faith-based Hurricane Task Force. The new body will coordinate hurricane relief efforts and identify the needs of faith-based organisations and their members across the country.

The task force will be chaired by Dr. Bishop Herro Blair, President and Founder of the Deliverance Evangelistic Association Inc., and will work in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

Minister Grange said the observance will include an Hour of Lament, providing a moment for national mourning and reflection. “It will be a time to acknowledge the lives lost, the devastation endured, and the resilience of our people,” she said.

The initiative brings together a wide cross-section of Jamaica’s faith community, including the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC) — which represents the Jamaica Council of Churches, Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches, Jamaica Pentecostal Union (Apostolic), Independent Churches of Jamaica, Jamaica Evangelical Alliance, Jamaica Union of Seventh-day Adventists, and the Church of God in Jamaica. They will be joined by representatives of the Revival Churches, Mansions of Rastafari, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Seventh-day Adventists, and the United Congregation of Israelites.

Grange noted that the task force has already begun coordinating support requests from individuals and groups, particularly in the five hardest-hit parishes — St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. Ann, and St. James — and aligning them with ODPEM and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for efficient distribution.

In addition to spiritual mobilization, the Ministry of Culture, through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), will spearhead national fundraising initiatives, including an “I Love Jamaica” Telethon and Concert Series, featuring a special gospel concert to aid recovery efforts.

Grange emphasized that all requests for relief from religious and faith-based organisations will be channelled through her ministry to ensure transparency and proper coordination. “This is a moment for unity, compassion, and collective action,” she said. “Together, we will pray, rebuild, and restore hope.”