News Story
Five Rivers Community Takes a Stand Against Crime with Anti-Crime March and Open Air Programme
Published | 8 June 2024
In a display of unity and hope, over 200 members of the Adventist Church took to the streets of Five Rivers, Trinidad, on Saturday, June 1st, 2024, for an anti-crime march...
In a display of unity and hope, over 200 members of the Adventist Church took to the streets of Five Rivers, Trinidad, on Saturday, June 1st, 2024, for an anti-crime march and prayer walk. The event drew participants from various local churches and culminated in an open-air service at the Five Rivers Community Center Park, also known as Prime Minister’s Park.
Organized by the Personal Ministry department of the Five Rivers SDA church, the march was a peaceful protest against the rising tide of crime in the community. The members of this dedicated team offered prayers for peace and safety throughout the Sabbath afternoon’s march. The day concluded with a powerful message from Dr Clive Dottin of the Caribbean Union Conference at the open-air service.
The event attracted attention from local media, with TV6 covering the start of the march. Churches within the district, including Maloney, Arouca, and D’abadie Adventist Churches, joined forces with Five Rivers Church to make a collective statement against crime.
The USC Marching Band led the procession with a band performance that punctuated the stillness of the afternoon, followed by over 100 Pathfinders and Adventurers marching in unison. More than 100 church members followed suit, carrying placards with messages such as ‘No hope in dope’, ‘Jesus is the answer’, ‘Pray without ceasing’, ‘Let’s pray the crime away’, and ‘Prayer works’. All participants marched under the banner of Jesus, following a route that started at Five Rivers Church and wound through Cemetery Street, First Street, and Range Road and then on the Park for the closing exercises.
Elder Brian Hutchinson, Personal Ministries Leader of Five Rivers Church, expressed his gratitude in his opening remarks: “We thank God for his blessings. For the good weather and for all the planning that has gone into this anti-crime March and this prayer walk.” He shared his belief that “success will follow us because we are lifting the name of Jesus this afternoon” in Five Rivers.
Police and emergency services were present to ensure safety as messages of hope were shared with community members along the route. The song ‘Stand up, Stand up for Jesus’ filled the air from a mobile sound system, breaking through the afternoon’s stillness with words of encouragement for all to stand together against crime, violence, drug use, and abuse.
Participants shared their heartfelt desire for change: “We want everyone to give their hearts to Jesus, turn to Jesus”, “Jesus is the answer”, and “We are saying that we are lifting the name of Jesus this afternoon”. They proclaimed their vision for a crime-free community in Five Rivers and its environs and their trust in prayer’s power: “There is power in prayer and we are trusting God with this afternoon’s proceedings”.
Pastor Dottin’s address at the closing activities resonated with approval and gratitude: “God is well pleased this afternoon”. He commended and praised the event as one of the best community marches in recent years: “I want to compliment the FADAM team—Five Rivers, Arouca, D’Abadie, and Maloney”. Pastor Dottin also shared his concerns about crime in Trinidad but shared in his remarks, “I’m telling you, my dear friends, there is hope in the name of Jesus. There is salvation in Jesus’ name. There is transforming power in Jesus’ name…I am alive because God is alive!”
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Members of the USC Marching Band readying to begin the march. Photo Credit: SCC Media |
Dr Clive Dottin speaking to the audience and wider community. Photo Credit: Just Right Productions |
The anti-crime march by the Five Rivers Adventist Church is a testament to the church's faith and determination to bring about positive change through unity and prayer.
