BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRESIDENT of the Pastor Desmond Herbert Foundation (PDHF), Desmond Herbert is of the view that the clergy could assist in providing solutions to many of the existing problems in the Federation.
“I think that with the many challenges and difficulties being posed by the current economic and crime situations, we as religious leaders have a perfect opportunity of uniting in order to address and help in providing solutions.”
Pastor Herbert said that too many religious leaders and churches are competing against each other rather than uniting. This, he stressed, is very important if success were to be achieved. He said that should all religious leaders and churches stand united, then there would be obstacle to progress.
Herbert, who founded the Pastor Desmond Herbert Foundation a few years ago, opined that there is competition among churches and leaders which resulted in the primary focus of addressing challenges and difficulties being lost.
“It is as though everyone just wants to compete against the other. We cannot achieve anything this way, as we must recognise that we are in this so as to fulfill God’s work,” he said.
He noted that attempting to outdo each other in terms of popularity or numbers would not help the cause, warning that religious leaders must recognise that the faith is not to compete but to unite.
“We have an excellent opportunity to come together so as to allow God to address the challenges and difficulties that we are faced with. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to put aside all differences and just come together. Once it’s done genuinely, it would survive and prosper,” he said.
Herbert said that economics and crime are the two primary issues affecting the general public. He pointed out that because of the challenges facing spiritual growth, it is incumbent upon religious leaders to remain focused.
He urged his colleagues to continue the message of hope and forgiveness, stating that “we got to understand that we must begin to recognise the importance of forgiveness, while we must note that togetherness is also equally important”.
The PDHF President pointed out that there are evident differences among some religious leaders, but advised that to forgive is not a sign of weakness but rather strength. He noted that the people who have been affected in some way by crime have the power to move on with their lives, but it is important that they learn how to forgive, because holding on to hurt and anger would not help.
Herbert said it is common for persons to voice their frustrations and disgust against the government, opposition, police, judicial system and officials who might have let them down. This, he however stressed, must be done in a civil and non-violent manner because the people want to feel a sense of satisfaction.
“We must not allow ourselves to resort to anger and violence, as we are no longer living in the days of an eye for an eye. If we continue like that we would all certainly be blind as there would be a need to take both eyes,” he said.
Herbert is appealing to his colleagues to play a more meaningful role in the community. He said that while preaching at the pulpit is important, getting into the community and addressing the issues head on would be a good start. He declared that religious leaders must recognise that their roles are not primarily slated only for Sundays and or within a specific building, but to reach out into places they once would not dare to venture.
“Let us show the gangs and those misguided individuals within society that we are not only preaching it in the churches, but we are practicing it within the communities. We must be willing to demonstrate this within the communities so that we can reach out and save someone,” he stated.
He declared that the public must not see religious leaders as a group of individuals who only operate in the confines of their building, but rather fearless men and women of God who are prepared to visit death’s door to take the message of hope, love, forgiveness and morality to all.
“We owe it not only to ourselves, but our respective congregations to demonstrate what we continue to preach regarding unity. Let us start by being unified as religious leaders so that the public can see that we are not men and women of words, but men and women of God, who would continue His work and teaching,” Herbert added.
