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
- The Lausanne Movement’s LIGHT research division is exploring how artificial intelligence affects the work of fulfilling the Great Commission.
- The LIGHT Briefing calls the Church to ensure AI is used with discernment, prioritizing Christ-centered mission and authentic human relationships.
- Researchers emphasize biblical values by offering an ethical framework that keeps technology aligned with justice, truth, mercy, and love.
Christian leaders are seeking wisdom as artificial intelligence transforms communication, outreach, and discipleship. The Lausanne Movement urges the Church to govern new technologies by faith and grounding in Scripture.
The church is encouraged to reject both fear and misplaced optimism, choosing instead to prayerfully consider how AI can support—never replace—God’s call to spread the Gospel.
“AI is neither savior nor threat in itself. Rather, its value depends on how it is discerned, governed, and deployed by God’s people.”
Believers are challenged to model transparency, fairness, and accountability while recognizing that digital tools can never replace Spirit-led, personal gospel witness.
“The gospel remains unchanged. Biblical commands transcend technological innovation and demand faithful proclamation, regardless of medium.”
It remains vital that evangelism expresses Christ’s love through genuine presence, as only human ambassadors can fulfill the Great Commission’s relational call.
“While AI may augment, it must always serve, not supplant, the spirit-filled human herald in proclaiming the good news and fulfilling the Great Commission.”
The church must move forward with courage and prayer, trusting God’s mission will not falter in the digital age.
Faith Facts
- The World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed deep concern about violence and unrest following Tanzania’s recent election.
- Key opposition leaders faced arrest and exclusion from the election, raising questions about fairness and transparency.
- The WCC called for an investigation into the violence and urged protection of human rights and accountability.
Christian leaders emphasized the sanctity of human life, highlighting that every life is a gift from God and must be honored, even amid political turmoil. They denounced the use of lethal force against citizens standing for peaceful assembly and free expression.
Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC General Secretary, declared,
“Reports of widespread protests, excessive use of force by security agencies, and numerous civilian casualties are deeply distressing and call for urgent moral reflection and accountability.”
He further stated,
“The sanctity of human life — a gift from God — must be protected at all times, and no political process should ever justify the shedding of innocent blood.”
The WCC stands in solidarity with the people of Tanzania, supporting faith-driven calls for peace, dialogue, and justice, and affirming the vital contributions of Christian organizations in seeking reconciliation.
Faithful believers are called to uphold Christian values by praying for Tanzania and advocating for truth, accountability, and protection of freedoms guaranteed by God.
Faith Facts
- The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Kim Davis’s petition, leaving the 2015 ruling on same-sex marriage in place.
- Kim Davis was previously jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her Christian convictions.
- Liberty Counsel continues to support Davis, emphasizing the need to protect religious liberty for public officials.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges keeps the national legalization of same-sex marriage unchanged. The decision also leaves in place a ruling requiring Kim Davis to pay substantial legal fees related to her stand for biblical marriage.
“This cannot be right because government officials do not shed their constitutional rights upon election,” stated Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel Chairman.
Believers must remain vigilant, standing for religious freedom and biblical principles in the public square. Our faith calls us to uphold God’s design for marriage while advocating for the rights of Christians to live out their convictions.
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