For the Church of the Nazarene in Trinidad and Tobago to grow, Local Churches must become relevant to their communities ~ District superintendent Rev Dr. Victor George
When last have you wept over the city? ~ Nazarene Professor Dr. Fletcher Tink
One of the initiatives mandated by the Church of the Nazarene Trinidad and Tobago District, as part of the church’s refocusing for a stronger, more relevant church, is to have prayer walks through the Nation’s communities. The prayer walks are to be generally silent, with participants sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in stopping to pray at a few areas to confront discerned strongholds of evil.
The Church of the Nazarene (COTN) Trinidad and Tobago District mandated that on June 7, 2015 four Prayer Walks be held in the following communities: EAST Trinidad leaving the D’Abadie COTN walking through the Maloney community; in SOUTH Trinidad leaving the El Bethel COTN walking through the Tarodale Hills community; in TOBAGO leaving the Canaan COTN walking through Guy Street; and in North Trinidad, leaving the Cocorite Church of the Nazarene and walking through the streets of Cocorite.
Cocorite is located in the northern part of Trinidad, North West of downtown Port-of-Spain, the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago. The community has been designated a high risk crime area by the local governing authorities as rival gangs have battled for drugs and illegal guns turf. In June 2015, the USA issued a travel advisory to warn US citizens about going into the Cocorite area. The question on the lips of many people is, “Where is the Church?”
Providentially, North Zone Superintendent Rev. Arnold Hargreaves, Rev. Cheryl Ann Cardinez the NMI North Zone Prayer Co-ordinator, and the Rev. Carlyle George Senior Pastor of the Cocorite Church of the Nazarene led 75 church members, including their Pastors, on this zone through the streets of the Cocorite community in one such ‘Jericho’ Prayer Walk on the planned day.
In the planning for this outreach several persons had expressed concerns over their safety; however, participants were reminded by Rev. Cardinez that God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control!!! Some of the petitions that were identified included prayer request for:
- For parents who do not teach their children about the things of God.
- A transformed Church where Souls are saved.
- The recommitment of believers in the Church.
- The Spiritual leaders in the community that they would lead as directed by Almighty God.
- An outpouring of Praise and Thanksgiving to God for all His blessings throughout our Nation.
The Prayer Walk convened at 5:30 a.m. at the Cocorite Church of the Nazarene premises just before the rising of the sun, with a short briefing and prayer for the safety of participants, and for God to move in a mighty way to break the chains that bind the community. A little after 6:00 a.m. participants began the ‘silent’ prayer walk through the streets of Cocorite, starting in Harding Place, proceeding through the risky Water hole community, along the streets of the Cocorite community, and ending two hours later back at the church premises.
Following the prayer walk the group assembled for a short time of praise and thanksgiving, and to share what God had revealed to them during the walk. A number of Participants shared what God had revealed to them and pledged to support the Pastor and members of the Cocorite Church of the Nazarene in their efforts to establish the gospel of Jesus Christ in the community, particularly among the young people and the disadvantaged. Rev. Hargreaves thanked all participants for their support and closed the outreach at 8:30 a.m.
Without doubt, change has begun in Cocorite! Although the adversary might seek to withstand God’s ministering angel who delivers God’s answers to prayer, the blood of Jesus Christ will prevail. The answers to the prayers of God’s people will come!
Let God be magnified!
Rev. Kwame Payne, District Communication Team
