The public is invited to join in a week of National Repentance from September 13 to 19 spearheaded by the BVI Christian Council, in collaboration with the Government of the Virgin Islands.  

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said the week of National Repentance comes on the heels of the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting as the people of the Virgin Islands continues to petition Abba, our Father to keep us all safe and protected in these difficult times as “one people” and “one Virgin Islands”.

The week will include seven days of prayer and fasting, 24-hour Prayer Circles for the Territory, daily prayers and scripture readings on local radio stations and mid-week services on Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke.

Event Coordinator, Pastor Dr. Joycelyn Hoyte explained that the purpose of the week is “for us as a nation to understand God’s view of sin and God’s view of what is evil. As a country, we claim that we are a Christian nation. If we are a Christian nation, we are supposed to be a nation ruled under God.”

Dr. Hoyte also noted, “Repentance is not an event; it is a lifestyle change - a change where we will see persons, instead of turning to their own desires, they turn to the Lord,” she added, “We are calling the nation to repent because there are consequences. We should feel national guilt and understand in God’s sight, sin will be punished and righteousness exalts a nation.”

The week will culminate on Sunday, September 19, National Repentance Day, with a drive-in service at 3:30 p.m. at the Festival Grounds in Road Town, Tortola—as well as at the Crossroad in Anegada, the Walters’ Recreational Park on Virgin Gorda and the grounds of the Albert Chinnery Administration Building on Jost Van Dyke, simultaneously.

Persons are encouraged to contact their home church for more information on the National Week of Repentance, make a special effort to attend services and tune in LIVE on the Government Facebook page on Wednesday, September 15 at midday and on Sunday, September 19 at 3:30 p.m.