The Gambia Pastors Intercessory Forum on Sunday organised prayers for the nation and special thanksgiving ceremony at the Gambia Pastors Institute, along Kairaba Avenue.

Addressing the gathering, Rev Dohn Augustin Bernards, chairman of the Gambia Pastors Intercessory Forum, said the vision mandate for the Gambian pastors to pray for the nation has been in force since 2003, adding that the forum was formally inaugurated in conjunction with many other different registered churches under the supervision of the Gambia Christian Council.

Rev Bernards said The Gambia is privileged with good leaders and urged participants to be focus, saying that one must show good example by praying for those who rule, lead and care for the welfare of the nation.

For his part, Rev Thomas Alamu, president and senior pastor at the Assembly Ministries in London (UK), expressed the need for people to exercise patience in order to benefit from God’s glory.

“For every nation on this earth, (Iblis) Satan wants to destroy but we must love one another to avoid him,” he said.

He further stated that people should not forget the orphans, widows and others. “In fact, there is a punishment for those who fail to take care of strangers, orphans and widows,” he said.

He urged the pastors to keep up the prayers and urged participants to foster peace.

Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, speaker of the National Assembly, in her statement said the Gambia government is very tolerant of religion adding that offering prayers for the nation is a collective duty.

Hon Jahumpa-Ceesay told the pastors the country’s religious tolerance is cross-cutting, citing President Jammeh as an example. She said the Gambian leader does not consider religion when appointing people to public positions.

The speaker then implored the pastors to continue with their prayers for the peaceful co-existence in the country.