PRESIDING Bishop of Emmanuel Apostolic Church International Everton Thomas says forgiveness is a crucial tool for resolving the surge of violent disputes in Jamaica.

Bishop Thomas, who was addressing Wednesday’s annual prayer breakfast of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Chaplaincy Services Branch, encouraged the police to approach this year with a deliberate commitment to adopt the practice of forgiveness, viewing it as a crucial tool for fostering a more peaceful Jamaica.

“We are not saying we should straight-out forgive murderers; what we are saying is if you happen to be a relative of a victim of murder, instead of ordering a hit, instead of taking revenge and going towards reprisal killings, just try to forgive. And this is what is happening in Jamaica…We are simply saying that if more people will learn to forgive we will have less reprisal killings in Jamaica. On the other side of the coin, if more spouses would learn to forgive we would also have less partner-on-partner crime or domestic violence,” he said.

Thomas also encouraged members of the JCF to surrender control to God, adding that many individuals were preoccupied with their own pursuits, neglecting the path already set by God.

“God is ordering our steps but we are not submitting to the orders…Some of us are too wise for God; we have it all figured out and we behave as if we don’t need God. Some of us think we know it all and yes, God gave us our brains and we should use it, but when you start thinking that we don’t have to pray about certain situations, that is when you should pray about it because many of the decisions we make without praying lead us into problems,” Thomas told the prayer breakfast held at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

At the breakfast, assistant JCF chaplain and head of the Non-Geographic Formations No 2, Rev Courtney Faulknor announced the introduction of a stress assistance programme for 2024 called ‘SMILE AGAIN’ (Stress Management In Law Enforcement – Accessible Group And Individual Therapy Network), which is aimed at providing proactive solutions to deal with the negative impact of stress among members of the constabulary.

“We understand the intricacies of dealing and responding to trauma and we want to be ready at all times so that when policemen come, when specialised emergency agents come, the chaplaincy must be ready to respond,” he said, while reiterating the purpose of the Chaplaincy Services Branch, which is to provide psychological, emotional, moral and spiritual support to all members of the JCF.

The SMILE AGAIN programmme is scheduled for its official launch on April 30, Faulkner said. The initiative, the function was told, includes a day of prayer, a men’s conference, a back-to-school seminar, a couple’s retreat, and a bereavement intervention session which will all help in assisting officers and members of the Chaplaincy Services Branch.

Policemen and women in attendance were energetic as they participated in the praise and worship session of the prayer breakfast, some raising hands as they gave thanks to the Lord.