KENDAL, Manchester — Arguing that Jamaica needs repentance Governor General Sir Patrick Allen described a recent ‘all-night, all-parish’ prayer session in Manchester as a “noble” venture on behalf of the nation.

“For some Jamaica is a terrible place, for some Jamaica is a good place, for some Jamaica is a place to run from and for others Jamaica is a place that they would never leave,” Sir Patrick told fellow worshippers.

“We have come tonight because of the healing that we need in our lives. We acknowledge the need for repentance at the individual and the national levels, because the word makes it clear that unrepented sins block our communion with God,” he said.

The prayer session was held by the group Prayer2000 — a partnership ministry of a wide cross-section of Christians representing numerous denominations and churches.

Sir Patrick, who has experience and training in theology and education, is one of its advisors.

Prayer2000 is host to an Annual National Prayer Conference held in over forty-eight different locations across the country during the month of January, the group says.

A senior member, Reverend Dr Naila Ricketts told Observer Central that the event is in its fifteenth year and the prayer session at the Kendal Camp and Conference Centre was the largest and a culmination of the series of prayer sessions for January.

“Overall we had a full house. It was a good representation from all the parishes except Portland ,” he said.

However, the aim to have an attendance of approximately 4,000 persons did not materialise; which Ricketts attributed in part to rain in some places.

The Governor General said prayer could help Jamaicans in every aspect of life.

“When you walk out of here tomorrow morning, you must walk purposefully; with clarity in your mind as to what you are going to do because you are God’s instrument. We are the hands of God, we are the feet of God….,” he told the audience.

Economy and business with particular focus on “grain sufficiency” in the agriculture sector was a major highlight this year for the Prayer2000 team.

” Jamaica is still the best place for farming,” said Ricketts.

He said that he believes, “without a doubt,” that the prayer sessions over the years are progressively helping to address challenges and transform the nation.