October 10, 2006

Dear Sir,

I would like to take this opportunity to offer this information to the readers of The Royal Gazette, The Rt. Rev. Bishop Ewen Ratteray, the Most Rev. Bishop Robert Kurtz, and parishioners of the Anglican and Roman Catholic dioceses, that a very important, and until now, unmentioned, precluding factor is a significant contributing factor in the cooperative effort amongst Bermuda?s faith community to culminate with a joint service this Sunday at the National Sports Centre.

That information, which has not been mentioned in earlier circulations on this topic, is that all that has precluded what will take place on Sunday, and hopefully all that will follow, is based on copying what is referred to as the ?Fiji Experiment?.

A few years ago, the island of Fiji, a country of similar size sharing common problems to those Bermuda is currently experiencing, recognised that their problems had become unmanageable, and they were in dire search for solutions.

That is, the small island, had escalating increases in the amount of youth gangs, violent crimes, teenage pregnancies, drug trade and drug dependency, absentee fathers, and general Godlessness in all facets of society. As members of that society, and as participants in all levels of Government, in all denominations of the island?s churches, and from every sector of that small island, they recognised a common deficiency in their personal and interactive lives; and that is, they as a nation, had ?pulled away from God?, and their dependency on His involvement of all aspects of their lives.

Collectively, as a nation, and starting with the Prime Minister, through all levels of government, across all denominations, through all sectors of society, they recognised ?they had all sinned , and fallen short of the glory? (?.and the direction, and the guidance, and the providence, and the blessing ) of God?. So collectively, they set aside their prejudices, their ill-advised opinions, and destructive walls of divisiveness, to come before God,

l And to ask God?s forgiveness of their sins, both individually, as families, and corporately as churches, government, and all levels of society.

l Then pledge to ask God to lead them, and guide and inspire them, in all aspects of their personal and public lives?

And lastly to ?heal their land?.

It was a very genuine and public outcry to God and was lead by the Prime Minister, and was inclusive of all races , creeds and colours.

The results were very dramatic and tangible. Drug trade and use took a dramatic drop, as did crime and violence. Families were reunited, warring neighbours and gangs laid down their weapons. All levels of government and political parties resurrected a sense of co-operative determination to resolve and build for the common good, and the Church was returning to its initial purpose.

Rivers that had dried up, and land and trees that had been given up for its uselessness, began to spring forth with fresh, sparkling clean water, and with large increases to agricultural yields. Coastal waters began producing varieties of fishes, that two generations of peoples had never witnessed.

The positive increase in the small nations economy was unprecedented. God indeed was healing the land. He had fulfilled a promise He made in 2nd Chronicles 7 : 14 ??if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sins, and will heal their land?.

A documentary film was made of the ?Fiji Experiment?, and has been circulating amongst most of the churches of this island of Bermuda for several months, and therefore thousands of God-fearing Bermudians (and expats, such as this lowly Canadian) have decided that it?s worth taking a chance on God?s promises, and following Fiji?s example!

So the initiative to pursue God collectively this Sunday, is not driven by a determination to prejudice against homosexuals, but rather by a recognition and admission of our own sinfulness, both individually and corporately, and a crying out to God to forgive us, to lead us, and to heal our land, with our pledge that we will make a renewed vow to follow His laws and precepts.

I must admit, as an observant outsider, witnessing how this very God-fearing nation is striving to seek God?s forgiveness, and His will and purpose for this land , that this coming together this coming Sunday, is a very positive move forward , for a country, that is trying to choose it?s future. And you are to be commended for it!

Hopefully, this provides the readers with more material to make their own informative decision, as how you chose to derive at an opinion, of the purpose of this Sundays service, and how you?ll choose the direction of this country.