CITIZENS OF St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have been called to put their trust in God and approach trying times without fear.

Yesterday, the annual National Day of Prayer celebration was held virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic under the theme “Fear not, I am with you”.

The day’s activities, included a three-part virtual prayer rally which premiered at different times on the National Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) Facebook page.

“Prayer is our way of communicating with God. It unites us with him and with one another,” Pastor Al Blake said at the beginning of the first part of the virtual rally.

Speaking on the Isaiah 41:10 inspired theme, Blake said that persons have nothing to fear as God helps everyone through difficulties.

The virtual rally consisted of worship segments, encouragement from God’s word and intercessory prayers.

Reynold Murray, the president of the Association of Evangelical Churches of SVG appeared in the first part of the virtual rally to give encouragement from God’s word.

Murray noted that SVG was experiencing challenges from being in the midst of climate change related issues, a pandemic and an election season.

And he said God is calling on the people to not be overcome with fear.

“Let us understand that God is in control of everything and he has called us to himself. He is saying to us that we don’t need to fight each other. Yes, the climate problem is there, yes, the environmental problems are there. Yes, the political problems are there. There is no need to fight. Trust God. He is in control,” the pastor said.

Murray, who is also a member of the National Day of Prayer committee noted that elections are to be held soon locally.

He said this did not mean that citizens need to be divided. The pastor called on persons to approach the event without violence

and to be mindful of their actions to others by going to the polls to vote and going about the rest of that day peacefully.

“He has called us into a partnership…he wants to partner with us to bring a solution to our country. There’s no need for us to kill each other. There’s no need for us to steal from each other. In fact, we should be working together,” Murray said.

The three-part virtual rally may be viewed on NBC’s Facebook page.

Other activities included workplace and school devotions, interactive/ on-air prayers via radio and “Post a Prayer” on social media.