We must take all our problems to God in prayer, says well-known Spiritan priest Fr John Theodore, and pray even more if they worsen.

“Prayer is God’s solution to everything. If our nation is falling apart, prayer is the solution. Our prayers release the blessings God has for the nation.”

Performing a spiritual dance to It’s raining by Israel Breed, Saturday, October 6, day two of the Sound the Trumpet 2 Praise and Worship conference. Raymond Syms photos

Laverne Reyes of the People of Praise Music Ministry has a serene look on her face as she sings in the choir

Fr Theodore celebrated the closing Mass at the People of Praise (PoP) Community’s second annual Praise and Worship conference titled “Sound the Trumpet 2: Favour is Falling!” Venue was the Community’s House of Praise.

Preaching the homily, Fr “John T” used personal experiences, scripture, and the writings of Church and Christian scholars to support his statements.

He said while things may seem hopeless, we must not run away but confront our problems in the victory of God.

“A busy Christian doesn’t bother Satan, but a Christian on his or her knees does,” he remarked.

He believed that the most important people in a nation were not those with power – political, financial or otherwise - but those who prayed.

He said no matter the size of the problem, God can resolve it. “Doesn’t matter the size of the problem. Big problem, small problem - No problem.”

Using scripture texts he said God complains when we don’t pray. “When your family is in problem, when the nation is falling apart, God wants to hear your voice.”

He added that God always respects our freedom to choose and waits for our invitation.

He said to laughter that if a situation worsens - “like if yuh kill priest, as if priest stupid” - the challenge is not to give up but to pray more. “A decision to pray more can decide what happens to our family and our nation.”

Keynote speaker at Sound the Trumpet 2 was Philippine-born, US-based Robert “Brother Bob” Canton, council member of the Vatican-based International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services.

The other main speakers were PoP leader/founder Winston Garcia, and last year’s keynote speaker, Cindy Erivez, an American lay evangelist, music minister and a member of the US National Council of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Workshop sessions had as their themes The Power of Praise; Worship is a Lifestyle; Music for Mass and Prayer Meetings; The Favour Factor; and No Prayer, No Power. – RS