Join our Senior Pastor as he prays for the House of Assembly and the wider Virgin Islands Community Heavenly Father, we are so thankful to be alive in this century at this time. We are indeed grateful for the shoulders of great men and woman of years gone by upon whose shoulders we stand today. They have paved the way for us to be able to fellowship in freedom, bask in beauty, prevail in peace and have the hope we do. Remind us, Heavenly Father, that it is NOT our intelligence, brilliance, nor might that brought us this far, but rather, your grace and mercy which you have so richly bestow upon us. WE THANK YOU! We pray for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, The Premier and Deputy Premier, The Ministers and Junior Ministers, The Leader of the Opposition, The Attorney General, All the Members of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands – ALL who work and serve in whatever capacity in this House. Remind the Leaders – that through the democratic process – they were elected as representatives of the people. Remind us that you are the same God who sets up and who pulls down. Remind us of how important it is to belong to something much bigger than ourselves. Father, in the name of Jesus, we refuse to be wise in our own eyes; but we choose to fear You and shun evil. This will bring health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones.
Father, we humble ourselves and submit to your Word that speaks… exposes, sifts, analyses and judges the very thoughts and purposes of our hearts. Father, help us to test our own actions, so that we might have appropriate self-esteem, without comparing ourselves with others. May the security of your guidance allow each of us to carry our own responsibility with energy and confidence. Now, Heavenly Father, we pray for the business that will be conducted in this House on today – may it be commensurate with the honour of this House. May our practice be in synergy with our profession. We pray that only what is in the best interest of your kingdom, and all the people of the Virgin Islands will be promoted, promulgated in, and by this august body. And Heavenly Father, while morality cannot be legislated, may it be modeled in the lives of the men and women of this Honourable House – for it is still true that: “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people… Help us to avoid sin – for sin will hinder our hope, prevent our progress, crush our courage, veil our vision, miss our mission, destroy our dream, weaken our witness, and cause us to lose our legacy. Teach us, Heavenly Father that when we sin, we hurt ourselves, others and God; because sin separates, isolates and nullifies (S.I.N.). Remind the leaders of our territory that their being in this house is by divine appointment regardless of the process and their position. May they not use their position as an opportunity to oppress, a platform to pretend, a cause to condemn, a venue to victimize, nor a place to persecute, but rather to be a voice for the voiceless, hope for the hopeless, and light to the lost.
We pray that healthy debates will be the order of this house – that no one in this house would be so self-serving as to belittle another to make themselves look good – that issues will take precedence over insults, principle ahead of personality, truth instead of trickery, and the people before politics. So Heavenly Father, we pray that justice, mercy and humility will be the hallmark of this house – for as the prophet Micah reported that You Oh LORD require that “we do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly before our God.” Father, bless this honourable House and its proceedings. Bless all the people of these beautiful Virgin Islands – in the Name that is above every name, and the Name at which every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord – to the glory of God the Father, and the people of God said, Amen! Amen!! and Amen!!!
Prepared and prayer by Rev. Dr. Melvin A. Turnbull, Senior Pastor CANE GARDEN BAY BAPTIST CHURCH