MILLER

For the Church community, 2007 brought mixed blessings, as church leaders admit that despite some achievements, there was much more that could have been done in its approach to various social issues, particularly crime, illiteracy and poverty.

According to Rev. Al Miller, of Whole Life Ministries, the Church failed the people of Jamaica in 2007, to some degree, by not being more visible and outspoken when it came to issues of injustice and criminality.

He hopes that, in the New Year, the Church will play a more proactive and visible role in the wider community.

Get a grip on crime

Pastor Michael McIntosh, of Fellowship Tabernacle, Half-Way Tree Road, said it was important for the Church to join forces with the policy makers and the leaders of the country to get a grip on crime in the coming year.

"I really hope that our political leaders will be willing to get more insight from our Church leaders and that more Church leaders will be willing to step out and begin to speak openly on the different issues affecting our nation," he said.

The Church as an institution was also the centre of much controversy in 2007 in several respects. Foremost for many were the issues of prophecy and high-risk investment schemes.

The prophetic movement in Jamaica climbed to grea last year, heralded by Rev. Dr. Phillip Phinn, of Word of Life Ministries International.

Early 2007, the self-proclaimed prophet revealed a list of prophesies he said would be fulfilled by the year's end. Among them was the prediction that then Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller would be victorious at the polls, securing her own mandate from the people of Jamaica.

Unfulfilled prophecy

The prophesy, however, failed to materialise and the Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party came away victorious, placing a dent in the prophetic movement and a cloud of doubt over the various other predictions of Rev. Dr. Phinn and his school of prophets.

The prophetic movement, through Bishop Peter Morgan, later released a statement apologising on behalf of Rev. Dr. Phinn and the other members of the movement. The self-proclaimed prophet has since taken a backseat, but what for the prophetic movement come 2008?

Bishop Morgan yesterday told The Gleaner that the movement has learnt a lot and has gained a great sense of maturity in the past year, which it hopes will mark its efforts in the coming year. He, however, said the group will be putting out a statement in a few weeks, which will highlight its path for the year.