Prayers for the Chibok, Nigeria kidnapping victims
Yours truly this columnist has committed himself to an unusual assignment this week covering three features, with supporting photographs in the adjoining columns.
Firstly we were among persons from all over the Island packing The Evening Light Pentecostal Church in Parson’s Road Pembroke East, Monday evening joining a prayer vigil for those 200 girls abducted from their high school in Nigeria.
The Call to Worship at Prayer Vigil was made by the Rev Marilyn Lamb, the church’s Associate Minister, where her husband Rev Harold Lamb is Pastor.
The Anglican Bishop of Bermuda, Rt Rev Nicholas Dill gave an overview of how the militant Islamist group of Boko Haram had been wreaking havoc in Nigeria’s northeast region since 2009.
The outrage became worldwide when the Islamists kidnapped 276 girls in the town of Chibok last month. About 50 of the girls escaped.
Many civic and political leaders as well as other clergy were in attendance as Bishop Dill explained the first segment would in effect be a ‘prayer concert’ in which each attendee was invited to pray in their own particular style on facets he outlined in advance.
Bishop Neville Smith invoked prayers for the president and government of Nigeria, the US, UK, France and other nations.
Pastor Veronica Outerbridge invoked for the principal, teachers and administrators of the school in Chibok; and South African-born Levidia Daba led the prayers for the kidnapped girls and those who escaped.
Rev Harold Lamb prayed for Boko Haram and the captors, bearing in mind Christs’ admonition to love your enemies.