Dear Christine,
I hope my letter will somehow bring a measure of hope to people out there who are facing tough situations. I have been led to use your column to spread my message because I know it is widely read.
I took up the NATION newspaper on Monday and saw that we have had quite a number of suicides in the past five week. This hurts my heart so much as a Christian that I had to repent and pray.
As I did, God reminded me that many years ago, when suicide was so rampant in our society that even a young secondary student took his life, His hands were tied because Christians were not praying.
Christine, it is so easy to get caught up with the cares of the world and not pay attention to the really important things, like another person’s life; being our brother’s keeper and generally looking out for each other.
I am hurting because of the pain and hurt my people are going through.
I am hurt because we can no longer sit back and be comfortable in our own little corner.
I am not saying that Christians are not doing enough; many are. However, there are those who are not doing enough to change the climate of our nation. This suicide spirit has to be dealt with by the church.
In my 45 years of living on this rock I have never seen my country in so much crisis. Yes, Christine, we are in crisis. I am not pointing at the men, but many men are not taking up their responsibilities as leaders of the homes. They need to be what God has called them to be. They are fathering children and refusing to support them.
Many mothers and wives are carrying burdens which they were never meant to carry. Then there are women who are lying down with every Tom, Dick and Harry, getting children like rain falling on the ground, then calling on society for help. Yes, society should help, for the children’s sake.
We need to educate our women about how to care for their bodies. We need to teach them how to respect themselves if they are to gain the respect of our men. We have to teach them that they, too, have a role to play in society – other than increasing the poverty level.
We have some church ministers who are not lifting up the name of Jesus and many in society choose to use these wolves in sheep’s clothing as reasons not to enter God’s sanctuary. But God is not mock. Whatever a man sows, he will surely reap.
Christine, we who are true men and women of God must rise to the occasion and pray for our nation. This is the season when the church of God must take its rightful place and establish God’s kingdom on Earth.
No longer can we wait until this spirit of suicide, murder and lawlessness continues to take victim after victim, then sit back and pray for the families that are left behind. We have to be proactive, get on our knees and cry out to God for this nation.
So my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, stand up for Jesus. More so, stand up for those who need to know Him. Stand in the gap for those who are spiritually dead, for the harvest is ripe but the labourers are few.
Fellow Christians, I implore you to get on your knees and cry out. That’s where God says the victory lies. Cry out, Christians, cry out.
– Heart of Concern
Dear Heart of Concern,
Your letter is timely and I have done as you’ve requested and printed it. I agree with you that we need to pray for our country like never before. I hope you get your desired response.
– CHRISTINE
