JCF Area 3 worship service brings police ranks together for prayer and scripture

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Area 3 command gathered for a church worship service built around praise, prayer, scripture, and congregational singing. Bishop Kingsley Andrews, who served as host pastor for the programme, opened the meeting with prayer and guided much of the order of service.

Worship began with spirited praise before Bishop Andrews invited the congregation to lift their hands in celebration. In his opening prayer, he thanked God for the privilege of worship, asked divine guidance over the proceedings, and expressed gratitude that those present had woken in sound mind with strength to assemble. He also gave thanks for Jamaica, describing it as the land God placed the nation in, and prayed for members of the constabulary who had joined the service.

Bishop Andrews asked God to be with the force during a period when crime, in his words, “seems to be out of order.” His prayer named ranks across the hierarchy—from the commissioner and deputy commissioners through assistant commissioners, senior superintendents, superintendents, deputy and assistant superintendents, inspectors, sergeants, corporals, and constables, including personnel at the training school. He also prayed for Assistant Commissioner of Police Phillips, whom he described as someone who loves to speak about God’s goodness, and for other leaders in charge, asking that they be granted wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He further asked travelling mercies for anyone still on the way to the service.

The congregation then sang hymns affirming faith in Jesus, including “It’s All in Him,” before a responsive scripture reading from St. John chapter 1, verses 1 through 18. A corporal was called forward to lead the reading, after which the church sang the anthem “Come Thou Almighty King,” taken from hymn 334 in the songbook referenced during the service.

An offering was taken, with Sergeant Julius Lawson named among those assisting at that point in the programme. Additional special music followed, including a song about holding firm when life’s storms rage and troubles press in from every side. Throughout, worship leaders urged those gathered to continue praising and to keep their faith anchored in Christ.