Hurricane was a call to repentance - Woman wants more than two days of prayer following Melissa’s destruction

Despite the announcement of two days of prayer to mourn the lives lost and damage suffered during the passage of Hurricane Melissa, one woman thinks the Government must do more.

In a four-page proposal sent to the Office of the Prime Minister, Ramona O'Meally had called for a three-day prayer and fasting event at the National Stadium, urging citizens to "humble ourselves before God" and seek healing after the recent hurricane and growing social unrest. Last week, Culture Minister Olivia Grange, who was assigned responsibilities to mobilise the religious and faith-based communities to support relief activities, announced that National Days of Prayer will be held on November 15 and 16. During these days, an Hour of Lament will be observed to mourn the loss of lives and acknowledge the devastation and suffering. While honouring the government's call to prayer, O'Meally said her heart remains burdened for true repentance before God.

"While mourning the loss of lives is right and compassionate, this is also a time for turning our hearts back to Him," she said. O'Meally said the number three is not random, as it carries deep biblical meaning.

"In Scripture, three days often mark a time of transformation and divine intervention. Esther fasted three days before deliverance. Jonah was in the fish three days before restoration. Jesus rose on the third day in victory. Three days represent a full cycle of surrender, cleansing and renewal, a death to the old and rising into the new," she explained.

O'Meally said she sent her proposal before the hurricane, but feels that the call is "even more pertinent" given what the country has endured.

"We have time to recollect as a nation, come together, and really call out to God because this is a time to reflect on what is happening as a society," she said. O'Meally opined that Jamaica is spiritually and emotionally shaken.

"A lot of persons right now are pretty traumatised from the storm. Even if they weren't in the direct path, they're affected mentally. We need a time to calm down, be in silence, collect our thoughts even just cry together as a nation."

The proposed three days of fasting and prayer would go from Friday to Sunday, with live broadcasts and community participation islandwide.

When asked how prayer could make a tangible difference, O'Meally pointed to Jamaica's Christian heritage.

"Remember, even our National Anthem is a prayer, that's the foundation of our country. When we humble ourselves before God, we believe He answers. If we call out to Him, we'll start looking within ourselves to help our brothers and sisters around us."

"We believe in a living God who moves when His people cry out. But we also have to serve. Pray, but act too," she added. O'Meally also addressed claims that the storm was man-made.

"I don't know how far technology has gone in terms of geo-engineering, but even if it was man-made, God allowed it to happen to wake up the country," she said. O'Meally also suggested that despite the destruction, prayer stopped the impact from being much worse.

"I know persons were up praying and then it came in during the day and then left quickly, so it could have been much worse. We were spared because of the prayer. He was giving us time to really repent. Look how long it out there until people were really anxious that it nuh come yet, but that time others were interceding," she said. "So imagine how much worse it would have been if they weren't interceding on behalf of the nation."

She added that the hurricane was a "wake-up call for the nation to stop what we're doing".

"People are so wrapped up in social media. Nobody talks about being nation builders anymore. Teachers are being assaulted, children are being killed, parents turning on their own. We've strayed so far," she said.

"The three days should be devoted fully to repentance, not just prayer in general, but humbling ourselves before God as a nation," she said. "Once true repentance happens, everything else, including healing and restoration, will naturally follow."