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Members of Jamaica’s diplomatic corp will join forces with the church community in their jurisdiction to present the annual staging of the Jamaica Diaspora Day of Prayer and Fasting for the nation on Emancipation Day, Thursday, August 1, 2013.

Already, more than forty places of worship have signed on to host the special service for Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica in their ‘parish’. The event was established nine years ago by a consortium of New York area clergy and continues to enjoy popular support, worldwide.

“Intercessory Prayer Ministry International (IPMI), is once again delighted to join with members of the clergy from the Jamaican Diaspora and other interested parties in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America to host the 9th Jamaican Diaspora Day of Prayer and Fasting (JDOP), for spiritual renewal and transformation in Jamaica, on August 1, 2013,” according to a posting on the IMPI website.

The Jamaican Diaspora Day of Prayer and Fasting ‘proclamation’ was conceived, as a special project, in March 2004 at a meeting in the Bronx, New York, by Rev. Newton Gabbidon (IPMI President), Rev. Dr. H. Dennis Campbell, Senior Pastor of Rehoboth Open Bible Church and IPMI Advisory Board Member and Rev. Dr. Samuel Vassel, Senior Pastor of Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene.

In offering his blessings for a successful staging this year, Governor General, His Excellency, The Most Honorable Sir Patrick Allen said that prayer and fasting is essential in the discovery of God’s will.

“I believe in the capacity of Jamaicans at home and abroad to resolve our challenges by using our God-given potential to the best advantage, under His guidance. Prayer and fasting are essential to the discovery of God’s will for us as individuals and as a nation. They are also essential in our armory for the breakthrough to national transformation.”

The GG said that he was therefore urging all Jamaicans at this time to, “hold fast the vision of a Jamaica which will, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race”.

In the shadow of the bi-ennial conference of the Jamaican Diaspora, the vision for the day of prayer and fasting was born out of a concern commonly shared among Jamaicans in the Diaspora about the growing moral decline on the island of Jamaica, marked by an escalating murder rate, which places Jamaica in an unfavorable light in the global community.

“The hosting of this day of prayer and fasting for Jamaica is quite significant, as the event, no doubt, will serve as a powerful reminder to Jamaicans at home and here in the Diaspora, of the nation’s Godly heritage as well as a wonderful opportunity to seek God’s blessings on the nation, as it celebrates another year of Independence” according to Rev. Gabbidon, who noted that with a new chairman in place, plans were on track for this year’s observance.

Rev. Christopher Neilson of Philadelphia, takes over the reins of the Steering Committee from Rev. Dr. Samuel Vassel, New York City.

Church leaders wishing to participate in the event this year may contact Rev. Neilson at 215.924.0406 or Rev. Newton Gabbidon, IPMI at, 718.241.2162.

By Aubrey Campbell