As the Church of the Nazarene Trinidad and Tobago District refocuses to become stronger and more relevant, district churches are hosting prayer walks throughout their communities. 

"For the Church of the Nazarene in Trinidad and Tobago to grow, local churches must become relevant to their communities," said Victor George, Trinidad and Tobago district superintendent.

The prayer walks are generally silent so participants can be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Four walks were held June 7, each beginning at a different church: D’Abadie Church of the Nazarene visited the Maloney community in Trinidad; El Bethel Church of the Nazarene prayed over Trinidad's Tarodale Hills community; Cocorite Church of the Nazarene traveled through Cocorite, and Canaan Church of the Nazarene in Tobago walked down Guy Street.

Cocorite, located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago's capital, Port-of-Spain, has been designated a high-risk crime area by local authorities as rival gangs battle for drugs, illegal guns, and turf. In June, the USA issued a travel advisory to warn its citizens about going into the Cocorite area, and residents wonder where the church fits in.

North Zone Superintendent Arnold Hargreaves, North Zone Prayer Coordinator Cheryl Ann Cardinez, and Cocorite Senior Pastor Carlyle George led 75 church members and pastors on a Jericho prayer walk.

In the planning for the outreach, several people expressed concerns about their safety; Cardinez reminded them that God has not given His children a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Specific prayer request included prayer for:

•  For parents who do not teach their children about the things of God
• A transformed church where souls are saved
• The recommitment of believers in the church
• That the spiritual leaders in the community would lead as directed by Almighty God
• An outpouring of praise and thanksgiving to God for all His blessings throughout the nation

The Prayer Walk convened just before the sunrise at 5:30 a.m. at the Cocorite Church of the Nazarene for a short briefing, prayer for the safety of participants, and for God to move in a mighty way to break the chains that bind the community. After 6 a.m., participants began a silent prayer walk through the streets of Cocorite, starting in Harding Place, proceeding through the Water Hole community, along the streets of the Cocorite community, and ending two hours later at the church premises.

Following the prayer walk, the group assembled for a short time of praise and thanksgiving and to share what God had revealed to them during the walk. Participants pledged to support the pastor and members of the Cocorite Church of the Nazarene in sharing the gospel in the community, particularly among the young people and the disadvantaged. Hargreaves thanked all participants for their support.

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region