On Saturday a large number of Christians from various denominations in the country converged at the Independence Stadium in Bakau to offer prayers for the nation and the leadership of the country.
Speaking to this paper on the significance of the gathering, sources said following the 10th December 2015 pronouncement that The Gambia is now an Islamic state, by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, “the Gambia Christian Council has made a lot of efforts in trying to seek clarity and reassurance that this pronouncement will not adversely affect the practice of their faith”.
According to our sources, the Council had engaged in a series of communications seeking clarity and an audience with the Head of State.
As a result a letter from the Office of the President was sent to Council assuring them of the Government’s resolve to maintain the peace and guarantee freedom of practice of all religious persuasions.
Our sources added that an audience with the Vice President was granted during which government officials and a cross section of the Christian community did open frank discussions on the matter at hand.
The government officials present, promised to convey the concerns of the Christian community to the President, the sources said, adding:
“Following these developments, the Christian Council deemed it apt to do what it has been mandated to do in the Bible; that is to PRAY,” the source said, quoting 1 Timothy 2:1-2, which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Furthermore, our source said that 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
It is in response to the pray mandate, our source noted, that the Council decided to convene a National Day of Prayer “to bring the issue at hand and moreover the nation as a whole, before the Almighty God for His will to be done in The Gambia, our Homeland”.
The prayer service was laced with worship, praise and scripture readings, encouraging the people of God to walk in faith to please God. Prayers were made for the leadership and the entire nation.
The Leadership of the Council expressed “great satisfaction in the cordial relationship that has thus far existed between Christians and Muslims”, based on mutual understanding and respect for “our different religious persuasions”.
The leaders expressed hope that this relationship will be further strengthened and not jeopardised by anything.
They appealed to all and sundry to ensure that “the peace we have enjoyed all these years will remain and flourish”.
The event was well attended, as Christians convened to pray and give thanks to their God.