Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

From left, clockwise: Bishop Anthony Hatcher, Bishop Peter Morgan, Dr. David Mangar and Dr. Phillip Phinn pray for then-Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (centre) during the Word of Life Ministries International 25th International Prophetic Conference, 'Breakthrough Now', at The Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston, last April. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

LAST JANUARY, when the Rev. Dr. Phillip Phinn made the pronouncement that Portia Simpson Miller would be re-elected Prime Minister, he could not have known the level of reaction his 'prophecy' would receive.

Mrs. Simpson Miller's victory at the polls was one of several predictions the charismatic Phinn made that did not materialise, but they certainly got the attention of the public.

It's that time of year again and the prophets have rolled out their predictions for 2008. So far, eight of them have thrown their hats in the ring. They are - Apostle Steve Lyson, Prophet Donovan Creary, Prophet Donovan Edwards, Prophetess Doris Hutchinson, Prophetess Marsha Creary, Prophetess Sophia Dawes, Minister Nadra Daly and Minister Carolyn Grant-Hamilton.

62 predictions

Their predictions, totalling 62, were published in the January 1 and January 2 editions of The Gleaner. For Jamaica, they foresee even more chaos (crime); financial prosperity (the country will become the region's commercial hub); and the possible deaths of three politicians.

The signs are even more ominous for other countries. Bangladesh should brace for widespread epidemic, while India and Puerto Rico are expected to experience a series of natural disasters.

Dr. Phinn, who is senior pastor at Word of Life Ministries International (WOLMI), took some heat for his statements last year. Some of those criticisms came from church leaders. Yesterday, Father Michael Lewis, rector at the Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church, weighed in on the recent prominence given to prophetic utterances in Jamaica.

"There's a legitimate role for prophecy in the Church, but the prophetic word should have more to do with the conditions of people's lives than predicting the future," he said.

Father Lewis noted that reaction to the Dr. Phinn prophecies reflected the influence he and his colleagues had in Jamaica. However, he was concerned that most persons who tuned in to the flamboyant pastor were consumed by his perceived ability to see into the future.

"That is a limited view of prophecy," he said, "It's also dangerous."

Bishop C.B. Peter Morgan is, arguably, among the most qualified of the religious leaders to comment on the new wave of prophets. Most of them came from the Charismatic Renewal Movement of the 1970s, of which he was a pioneering influence and a prominent leader.

Bishop Morgan told The Gleaner yesterday that he was scheduled to meet with the prophetic community in two weeks.

"I plan to talk generally about the prophetic from a biblical sense and the happenings of 2007," Bishop Morgan said.

Jamaica has a history of controversial prophets. The best known are Alexander Bedward, who led a church in August Town in the early 20th century, and the Reverend Claudius Henry, who operated out of the Waltham Park area in the 1950s.

Pastor Phillip Phinn's hits and misses

Prophecies for 2007

Came to pass

1. Two statesmen will depart this life. One in Jamaica and the other in a nearby Caribbean country. John Compton, the St. Lucian Prime Minister and 'father' of that country, died. No Jamaican statesman died in 2007.

2. Three prominent Jamaicans will also depart this life. (Herb McKenley, George Phillip and Charles Hyatt could count as the three).

3. Tourism and construction industries will continue to experience growth.

4. Political tension will result in pockets of demonstration.

5. Problems in the private sector and investment club controversy.

6. Growth and expansion in the shipping and port industries.

Did not come to pass

1. Crime-fighters will have great success in eastern and western Jamaica.

2. Improvement in the health sector.

3. Drought in certain parishes.

4. A salary increase for teachers.

5. Increase in religious tourism.