PASTORAL LETTER from James Richard Wong Yin Song
Prelate of the Anglican Church in the Indian Ocean & Bishop of the Anglican Church in Seychelles
As we continue to deal with the Covid-19 challenges, we are approaching a crossroads in our nation history, the Presidential and National Assembly elections in October 2020. We will definitely see many encouraging signs in our political landscape, the promotion of voters’ education for both first time voters and others. The Anglican Diocese hereby shares the Pastoral Letter for the upcoming elections. We join our voices in prayer for you and your staff, that you be blessed with all wisdom in your task to ensure that our people are updated with all the recurrent issues happening in Seychelles and globally.
My fellow brothers and sisters greetings. The dates of the Presidential and National Assembly members’ elections are now confirmed. We, voters of Seychelles will be called to cast our votes to elect our President (and the Vice-president) and the members of the National Assembly who will be our representatives. It is an important event in the life of our Republic and Nation. Voting my dear friends is crucial and it is our duty to go to the polling stations and to cast our vote for the best candidate who will represent you at the National Assembly and the one who will lead our country as our President.
From now till the elections days is campaign time when political parties will present their manifestos, programmes and candidates and will ask us to put our trust in them by voting for them. As responsible Christian citizens, it is our duty to pray for peace and reciprocal respect for all candidates during the campaigning time and even after the final result. My dear fellow citizens, in Apostle Paul’s teaching on prayer, one of the major thrusts is praying for those in authority.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 According to Paul’s reasoning, we want good government that allows us to live “peaceful and quiet lives”—ultimately freeing us to evangelise those who are lost. 1 1 Timothy 2:1-4 -English Standard Version Paz 2 of 5 Paul would have been amazed that Christians could someday actually take part in selecting those leaders.
I believe he would as well have been disappointed to know that many of those Christians didn’t even bother to get involved in selecting those leaders for the purposes of God to be fulfilled. Praying for the electoral process is the first step in seeing the ful filment of what Paul is writing about to Timothy.
We should not wait for a leader to be elected before we move into obedient prayer for those in authority. In prayer, we invite the Lord into the process of electing those leaders who will ultimately allow us to lead “peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (v. 2). So why pray for the elections? There are a number of compelling reasons: The Bible commands us to pray for those who are in leadership, which would include those who are contesting to become leaders of our Nation.
The selection of leaders who understand and lead according to God’s righteous standards can bring great blessing to a nation (Prov. 14:34). Scripture also says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers” (Prov. 11:14).
The determination of who leads our nation will also determine who advises that leader and how we are guided. I invite you all to pray for our nation, the elections, the candidates and the Medias. The following prayer points cover four major areas that relate to our national elections. 1. Our Nation and the Issues She Faces
• Pray for the new Chief Justice and judges of our nation, that they will seek the wisdom that comes from above. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).
• Pray for our judicial system and lawmakers—that justice for all, tempered by mercy and compassion, will guide our nation. “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another’” (Zech. 7:9).
• Pray for truth to become valued again in the Seychellois society and the work of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Paz 3 of 5
• Pray that our nation will increasingly see that God is our only refuge in the midst of the troubles of this world and pray for the work of the Human Rights Commission. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).
• Repent on behalf of our nation, becausewe have turned from making Scripture the basis of law, leaving behind wisdom and instead, looking to ourselves for truth. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; andthe Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).
• Ask the Lord to pour out a spirit of repentance on our nation, that we might become a nation committed to following His ways. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).
• Pray that a holy fear of God will sweep across our nation, leading us back to a place of wisdom and walking in the Lord. “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God” (Isa. 50:10). 2. The Election Process
• Pray for wisdom, enlightenment and guidance from the Holy Spirit for the chair and the members of the Electoral Commission that they will work tirelessly for a safe and fair election. “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble” (Prov. 3:21–23).
• Ask the Lord to remove all those who might try to unjustly and illegally change the outcome of the voting. “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place” (Isa. 28:17).
• Pray for a huge turnout of voters who use wisdom and discernment in their decisions. “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her,and she will watch over you” (Prov. 4:5–6). Paz 4 of 5
• Pray for God’s protection from any attacks from enemies that would prevent, sabotage or delay the election. “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you” (Deut. 3:22).
• Pray that the campaign and the elections may take place in peace with no violence whatsoever, be it in words, actions of thoughts. “Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.” Isaiah 60:18 3. Candidates and Leaders
• Pray for the salvation of those who are in leadership of our nation. Ask the Lord to remove all envy and selfish ambition. “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16).
• Pray that candidates will take brave stands for righteousness and biblical values, even when they may not be well received. “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isa. 7:9).
• Pray that their families will be protected from harm and unnecessary scrutiny. “You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honoured by the human race” (Ps. 12:7–8).
• Ask the Lord to surround them with godly advisors. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise” (Ps. 111:10).
• Pray that each candidate will focus on the issues we face as a nation—and not on personal attacks on other candidates. “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal. 5:15). 4. Media
• Pray for truth to be an established standard in our news and Social Medias. “In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds” (Ps. 45:4). Paz 5 of 5
• Pray for those who surf on internet and who use social media that the language used may bring respect andnot denigrate their opponents.
• Pray that media bias will be replaced by fairness. “The King is mighty, he loves justice-you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right” (Ps. 99:4). Amen Is Not the End Prayer rarely stops after the “Amen.”
When we passionately cry out to God over any issue, we should, with integrity, also find ourselves praying, “And Lord, if there is any way you can use me to be an answer to this prayer, here I am.” When we pray for an election, simple honesty will then require us to follow up our prayer by actually voting. What about broadening the prayer effort beyond our own prayers?
Why not start a short-term prayer gathering in our places of worship for these two months before the election? Invite friends or those with similar passion to join you each week for a focused prayer meeting that asks God to intervene in our electoral process. In a country with nearly 95 thousand people, it is very easy to feel as though one person cannot make a difference. Thatis not true on many levels, particularly when we consider the power of prayer.
As we pray—even as one solitary person—we are teaming up with the Creator of the universe to change situations. The only way that positive change is not possible is when Christians refuse to pray! My dear brothers and sisters, pray without ceasing so that our Land will know peace during this time of campaign and elections; and that we will accept the result which will be proclaimed on the 24th October by God’s grace.
Stay blessed and safe. Together for His glory, James Richard Wong Yin Song Prelate of the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean & Bishop of the Anglican Church of Seychelles
