Faith
Jamaican Christians Respond to Hurricane Melissa
Faith Facts
- Hurricane Melissa is the first Category 5 storm to strike Jamaica, bringing winds of 185 mph and widespread devastation.
- Church leaders like Carlton Graham and Gladwyn Kiddoe are leading prayer and relief efforts for storm-impacted communities.
- Ministries and church members are uniting to serve, rebuild, and demonstrate Christ’s love in the aftermath.
On a calm day in Barbados, minister Carlton Graham’s heart remained with his native Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa brought destruction and uncertainty to his homeland.
This powerful storm made history as Jamaica’s first Category 5 hurricane, prompting believers across the Caribbean to lift up urgent prayers for mercy and protection.
“They are going to be battered. There’s going to be devastation,”
Graham shared, placing his trust in prayer that God would spare lives and diminish the storm’s blow.
Graham’s family in Faith’s Pen, including his 90-year-old father, braced for the impact.
He knows the ache of being separated from home as disaster strikes, yet remains steadfast in his calling to serve from afar, standing in faith for his loved ones and all Jamaicans.
In Kingston and across Jamaica, believers—including Gladwyn Kiddoe and Francis Yorke—mobilized to fortify churches and homes, then to lead recovery efforts.
Heavy winds, flash floods, and tragedy swept the island.
The faithful pressed on, embodying the call to love their neighbors in crisis.
“Heavy winds, heavy rains, flooded roads, some deaths … and Melissa arrives later today!”
Kiddoe wrote from the capital, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Drawing from their experience after recent hurricanes like Beryl, church teams rushed to serve hard-hit areas such as Bull Savanna.
They were determined to build back better and shine the light of Christ in dark times.
Christopher Fong, a native Jamaican now studying in the U.S., voiced a conviction shared by many:
“We should be there. The first thing they should see is us.”
In the face of disaster, Jamaican Christians are proving that steadfast faith, compassion, and unity can overcome life’s fiercest storms.
Let us continue to lift them up in prayer and support, and remember the words of Scripture:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Faith Facts
- Pastor Bill Devlin, a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, is stranded in Jamaica amid Hurricane Melissa and is observing a 15-day water-only fast.
- He is urging believers worldwide to pray and fast for the people affected by the hurricane, which has caused significant destruction and loss across the Caribbean.
- Devlin’s ministries, REDEEM! and Widows and Orphans, intend to provide both financial aid and hands-on support to those devastated by the storm.
Pastor Devlin traveled to Jamaica to speak at a pro-life Christian conference and officiate a wedding before Hurricane Melissa forced airport closures and flight cancellations.
After finding himself unable to leave, he believes his extended stay is part of God’s plan.
“I was providentially hindered here for a reason,” Devlin declared. “I’m just waiting on God to direct my steps at this point.”
The hurricane struck Jamaica with great force, leaving destruction, power outages, and tragic loss of life in multiple countries, especially Haiti.
Devlin began his water-only fast and prayer commitment upon arrival, encouraging others to join him in intercession for those suffering from the aftermath of the disaster.
He continues his mission in Kingston and plans to assist in the hardest-hit Western Jamaica, working alongside relief organizations where possible.
“We just need to appeal to Heaven,” he said. “God has called me to a life of fasting and prayer.”
Devlin called on Christians to renew the Biblical practice of fasting and prayer, reminding believers of Jesus’ teaching that some breakthroughs come only through dedicated spiritual discipline.
“I say prayer is knocking on the door of Heaven, but fasting is banging on the door of Heaven,” he expressed, urging the Western Church to intercede fervently for those in crisis.
Christian friends, let us unite in prayer and consider fasting for the people of the Caribbean as they rebuild. Stand together in faith, hope, and love—trusting in God’s provision and mercy for our neighbors in need.
Faith Facts
- Christian unity calls for prayer and reconciliation, not division.
- Jesus teaches us to be on the Lord’s side, above earthly conflicts.
- Standing for truth means condemning hatred and seeking peace for all.
Amidst rising societal division, believers are called to resist pressure to pick sides and instead follow Christ’s example of prayer and reconciliation.
True Christian living means choosing God’s way over polarized demands, showing compassion and seeking healing in our communities.
“I’m not on your side. I’m not on your adversaries’ side.”
“I’m on the Lord’s side.”
By praying for everyone and listening to all, Christians can foster understanding where there is mistrust and brokenness.
Living distinctively by rejecting hatred and violence demonstrates the light of Christ to a divided world.
Let us stand firm in faith, act as peacemakers, and boldly declare Jesus in every circumstance, trusting that His way leads to true freedom and unity.
Faith Facts
- Finnish parliamentarian Päivi Räsänen faced the Supreme Court of Finland over a tweet quoting the Bible.
- She was previously acquitted twice by lower courts, along with Bishop Juhana Pohjola, but both were retried for alleged “agitation against a minority group.”
- The case could set a precedent for religious freedom and free speech across Europe.
Päivi Räsänen, a committed Christian and former interior minister, was tried again for quoting Scripture while defending biblical values on marriage and sexuality. Authorities reopened her case years after a tweet questioning her church’s support for pride events, leading to extensive investigations and charges.
Bishop Pohjola, charged for publishing a pamphlet co-authored by Räsänen in 2004, stood with her in defense of Christian teachings. The prosecution cited her tweet, the pamphlet, and an interview as grounds for the charges.
“I stand here not only to defend my own right to speak freely, but to defend the freedom of every person to express deeply held beliefs without fear of punishment,” she declared outside the court.
Räsänen has refused to retract her statements, standing firm in her conviction that her position reflects the truth of God’s Word. She warned that a guilty verdict could signal increased persecution of Christians beyond Finland.
“I said that ‘I will not apologize.’ It’s not only my view; it is what the word of God says,” she affirmed.
Räsänen expressed gratitude for the opportunity to witness to the Gospel through this trial, sharing her Christian faith publicly. Some individuals, including those from the LGBT community, came to Christ during this process.
Paul Coleman of ADF International cautioned that “Criminalizing peaceful speech through so-called ‘hate speech’ laws not only silences important conversations — it endangers democracy itself.”
The Finnish Supreme Court will announce its ruling in the coming months. A guilty verdict could lead to harsh fines and censorship, threatening not only free speech but also the ability to share biblical truth openly. Christians everywhere should pray for continued courage and stand united for faith, family, and freedom.
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