The International Christian Chamber of Commerce (I CCC ) hosted “Pray Trinidad and Tobago ” at the Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain , on Sunday, May 15.

A Tobago version of the event was held simultaneously at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex.

These events comprised the local observance of the Global Day of Prayer 2005, in which 150 nations were said to have participated.

Starting at 2 p.m. , the crowd at the Savannah was led in songs of praise and worship by the Inter-denominational Choir for about half an hour.

Cross-section of crowd in meditative prayer for T&T.

Colin Ferreira, of the I CCC , gave the welcome and opening address. He spoke about uniting all Christians in prayer, regardless of denomination or doctrinal beliefs.

“There must be a body for him (Jesus) to connect with, not scattered body parts,” Ferreira said.

He explained that the format of the afternoon's event would entail representatives of different denominations leading a series of prayers. They would not be introduced using religious titles, he said, and would all be dressed in Pray T&T t-shirts so there would be no distinctions.

He went on to thank everyone who gave up time and resources to make the event successful, as he officially opened the activity.

Annabella Ramkelawan led congregational prayer, the words for which had been handed out to everyone as they made their way into the Grand Stand. The congregational prayer was based on the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, the Our Father.

Each line was used as a starting theme for a separate, more detailed and nation-specific prayer, which was printed on the programme for the event.

Fredrick Hinkson, dressed in red, white and black, was a fixture on the Pray T&T stage. He stood still, bound in ‘chains' that had been cleverly crafted from Bristol board. From a distance, these ‘chains' looked heavy and almost real, and represented the ills that were keeping our country in bondage.

Praying for repentance was next on the programme. The thousands in the packed Grand Stand asked forgiveness for denominational disunity, ethnic disunity, social delinquency and injustice, gender inequality, parental neglect and abuse, rebellion, corruption, lawlessness, and sexual immorality.

Fr Michael Moses represented Roman Catholics in this segment with a very stirring prayer of repentance for sexual immorality.

T&T in bondage. Tricia Diaz photos

At the end of each prayer, the prayer leader would remove one of the ‘chains' from around Hinkson and toss it aside.

After repenting for the sins of the nation, the participants engaged in worship as Erickson Ramkelawan sang Great is Thy Faithfulness .

Then came the prayers for the country. Louis Thompson, of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies , said a prayer for our national leaders.

He was followed by Fr Allan Ventour, Administrator of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, who prayed for families. Frank Porter, of Youth For Christ, made a powerful entreaty on behalf of young people, and Albert Bailey, of the Presbyterian Church, prayed for schools.

At this point, Peter Regis blessed the Savannah with his moving rendition of the song, My Heart's Desire .

The pleas continued as Suresh Ramjattan, of the I CCC , prayed for the business community. Marshal Braithwaite, of the Methodist Church , said a prayer for unity, and Cyril Horrell, of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, called upon God to heal the problems of crime and AIDS in the country. The final prayer was by Patricia Roberts, of Lawyers for Jesus, on proposed gender and abortion legislation.

With this last prayer, the final ‘chain' was removed from Hinkson and the crowd gave a standing ovation as he stepped forward in triumph.

Ferreira then came forward to lead the gathering in reciting a pledge to continue praying for Trinidad and Tobago and to do their part to make the country a better place.

After he gave the closing remarks, the Inter-denominational Choir saw the crowd off with an energising song of praise.