Pray for Jamaica

Jamaica’s mix of white-sand beaches, lush blue mountains, and world-renowned music makes it one of the most popular escapes in the Caribbean. Located south of Cuba, this mountainous island has a spirit that far exceeds its size. The streets of Jamaican towns are lively, filled with friendly citizens and the pink and yellow of painted homes. That joy turns into nationwide celebration every August, honoring the day Britain abolished slavery in 1834, freeing 250,000 enslaved people on the island. Jamaican dishes, including flavorful meats, fried plantains, and roasted yams, are heavily influenced by this African heritage. Traces of Rastafarian influence — a religious movement with roots in Africa — are found in the red, green, and yellow common in Jamaican art and fashion.

Not far from the glittering hotels, fancy restaurants, and smiling people sit crowded, impoverished communities. Widespread crime and extremely high murder rates paint a different picture of this tropical nation. Powerful cartels from South America use Jamaica as a strategic location to transport drugs to North America. Children are recruited into gangs and sent to commit deadly crimes, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Drug use is also increasing among the people. Jamaica’s tourist-dependent economy is especially vulnerable to the effects of passing hurricanes. Many Jamaicans have no place to work while the nation is battered by destructive storms.

Jamaica’s national anthem opens with the line, ‘Eternal Father, Bless Our Land,’ reflecting a culture that is largely open and accepting of the Gospel. With one of the highest numbers of churches per square mile in the world, there is no lack of spiritual resources here. Yet, the Church’s influence and the passionate character of Jamaicans create great potential for Gospel impact among the many professing Christians who do not regularly attend church or follow Christ in their daily lives. The poor social situation has opened doors for churches to partner with communities and the government. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Jamaica could become a base from which God’s Kingdom spreads throughout the Caribbean.