PHILIPSBURG--“A family that prays together, stays together, that is why we gather here as a St. Maarten family, regardless of where we come from, who we are for or where we live,” said Prime Minister William Marlin at the annual National Day of Prayer service on Sunday under the theme “Repentance through Prayer.”
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the second Sunday of January, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. Minister of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Silveria Jacobs wished for continued blessings for the country. Several churches made presentations praying for Government, economic stability, the Justice Department and the population.
The ecumenical service took place in front of the Government Administration building at Clem Labega Square and started at 6:00pm.
Organized by Government, St. Maarten Christian Council, St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the service was in line with the mission to communicate to every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for St. Maarten and its leadership in the seven centres of power: government, law enforcement, media, business, education, church and family.
Governor Eugene Holiday, the Council of Ministers and dignitaries attended the service in full force.
In his address, Prime Minister Marlin spoke firstly about the notion of separation of church and state. “In my humble opinion, nothing can be further from the truth. The separation of church and state is, in fact, based on the biblical injunction to give onto Caesar what is Caesar's and onto God what belongs to God. That is exactly what we are doing here. We are giving to God what belongs to him: our very lives.
“The idea of the separation of church and state does not mean that those who run the state shouldn't go to church, or that those who run the church should not get involved in the affairs of the state.”
Marlin stated that the President of the United States, at the start of each year, organizes a breakfast prayer meeting to which political leaders and the clergy are invited.
“Growing up, my mother would wake me up for morning devotion. Nothing happened at home before that. I’m sure some of you grew up with a praying mother who would say to you or to any of your friends. ‘I praying for you child,’ or advise you when you’re facing any particular challenge to ‘take it to the Lord in prayer.’
“But, prayer is not something we do only when we are in distress or in danger or when we don’t know what else to do. It is not a shopping list that we send up to God. It is an attitude of humility; a realization that we can achieve nothing on our own strength, that we need divine intervention for things to fall into place for us,” said the prime minister.
Marlin said a “thank you” was in order. “Thank you, Lord, for all your mercies upon our island, St. Maarten and upon its people. Thank you for life; thank you for health; thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for us throughout this New Year. Thank you for our respective families, for our children and for their teachers.
“Thank you especially for our police men and women, who risk their lives daily to protect us. We ask that you uphold and protect them as they go about their duties. Thank you for Officer Gamali Benjamin who was killed in the line of duty’ thank you for his exemplary service and sacrifice and we ask that you grant his family and loved ones the strength to bear his loss.
“Thank you for Officer Moceda Egen, whom you also called home to rest. May you continue to comfort her family. Thank you for Officer Anselmo Boasman who is now out of coma and recovering well in the Dominican Republic. We ask you Lord for his complete healing.
“Thank you for Immigration Officer Jason Juliet, son of retired police officer Geronimo Juliet, who was recently shot in the leg; and, for Police Officer Vernon Ranis, who lost part of his foot in a ghastly accident. We pray that you grant him full recovery.
“Thank you for all the members of government, the civil servants, the members of the Council of Ministers and of Parliament, as well as those members of the clergy who are in your service to bring us spiritual prayer. Thank you for our business sector and for all the tourists who visit us yearly,” Prime Minister William Marlin concluded.
