Pastor ministers through writing

Cabbrina Lennox, Gleaner Writer

PORT MARIA, St Mary:REVEREND LEO Hall writes as another means of ministering to people. His book, Engaging the Supernatural, addresses how to pray to get the results that are expected.

"Engaging the Supernatural is a call to journey with God into the realm of the spirit world that challenges the human mind and human thinking," Hall told The Gleaner.

He believes that the principles used in the approach to prayer are wrong and need to change.

"We want Christians to develop the right attitude to praying so that they can tap into the supernatural powers that God has given us."

Hall moved to clear up any misguided use of the word 'supernatural', which, he believes, could lead to a misunderstanding about the book and its content.

"Many of us are misguided about the word supernatural, which is different from superstition. Once you are going to talk about the devil, we're entering into a superstitious area - witchcraft and the likes. However, when you are talking about supernatural, we are talking about God doing that which He alone can do; things that are not natural, but supernatural; not ordinary, but extraordinary," explained Hall.

CHALLENGING VENTURE

He said writing the book was interesting, but not without its challenges, the greatest of which was getting it published.

"We don't have publishers willing to take on religious material, and to find persons who are confident enough that these religious materials will generate any returns is difficult. So it means, as the author, I have to find the resources to publish it, and that was the challenge for me, but we did." Hall told The Gleaner.

The book was published in 2011 and is available in bookstores in St Mary and St Ann, as well as some United churches in St Mary.

"We are getting ready to do a reprint because we did 1,500 copies and they are all sold out, and we are happy about that. It means that the message is out there, and that is our intention," said Hall, who has been involved in full-time ministry since 1994.

He is the pastor for the Bethel United Charge of Churches and has made himself available to be the mentor and trainer of many budding pastors. His wife, Annette, is also active in ministry. She recently released a song, Jubilee, in celebration of Jamaica 50th anniversary of Independence.

"My wife and I want to take ministry to another level - out of the box. We minister together and we consider it to be a blessing and a privilege that God has chosen us. Whether it is to write a book, release songs, or preach a sermon, we consider it a blessing, and we accept it with humility and pride."

Hall is finishing up his second book, To Have and To Hold, which gives encouragement to pray and also reflects quotations that the readers would find motivational for their marriages. The book is expected to be completed by December and published by early January 2013.

rural@gleanerjm.com