CHICAGO�The cycle of violence that has led to religious, racial and national conflict must end, the leader of the Nation of Islam told a bevy of reporters Dec. 22 during a press conference where he called for spiritual renewal and action to make the next century and millennium an era of peace.

With religious leaders of the Muslim, Christian and Hebrew faiths standing with him, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan warned that God�s judgment is on America and the world, but repentance can hold back divine wrath.

"The Old Testament of the Bible prophesizes that we will enter a time of trouble like there never was since there was a time and a nation," Min. Farrakhan said as journalists and an audience of 400 people at Mosque Maryam noted his every word.

Speaking with a renewed strength following his near year-long sabbatical to treat complications from prostate cancer treatment, the Minister, whose focus has been and continues to be the plight of the Black masses and oppressed, spoke to the nations of the world with a sense of urgency.

"All of the people of the world can see that the words of the prophets are true," he said, noting record natural disasters in America, horrific events worldwide, 60 ongoing wars and conflicts and fear of the Y2K computer crisis. "Allah�s (God�s) desire is to save the righteous, for this is why He sends prophets, messengers, and warners among us," he continued, saying proper actions�repentance and atonement�if taken, may help to avert the chastisement of God.

"Racial hatreds, religious hatreds, gang violence in America and the senseless killings in the streets of America � this cycle of violence and hatred can only be broken if we intervene in this cycle properly," the Minister said.

His statements came as Muslims, Christians and Jews celebrated religious holy days during the month of December. Christians celebrated Christmas, Muslims have participated in Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer, and Jews concluded Hanukkah observances.

The day after Christmas begins the celebration of Kwanzaa, an important Black holiday based on seven progressive principles, Min. Farrakhan said.

Min. Farrakhan said a near death experience had given him renewed insight into the importance of family and called for Dec. 25 to be devoted to prayer and family, and that Jesus replace Santa Claus as the focus of the day.

"Nothing in this world is more important than our service to God and the unification and the love that can be put in our own families," the Minister said. That is also a reason why the Million Family March planned for Oct. 16, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the Million Man March, is important, he added.

Thanking his family for their love and support during his illness, Min. Farrakhan gave special thanks to his wife Khadijah, his daughter Fatimah, a registered nurse who has dedicated her days to helping her father recover, and son Joshua. He also thanked all who prayed for him and wished him well.

"There is no trial that any of us goes through in life that we come out the same. We either come out better or we come out worse," Min. Farrakhan said in response to a question about his illness. "Prayers were sent up for me from my Muslim family, from my Hebrew Israelite family and there were people of good will praying for me who were Black, brown, red, yellow and white. There is no way I could come out of that experience without making a complete commitment, not just to my people whom I love and would give my life for, but I will spend the rest of my days working to uplift a lost and fallen humanity regardless of their color, their race or their creed."

Min. Farrakhan noted how greater unity in the Black community could be a sign for how humanity could come together.

"As Mother Reverend Willie Barrow said in a meeting yesterday, it is not that (Blacks) are as divided as we think we are. She said God told her that we are just disconnected," the Minister said. Black America is "unconnected," just as biblical scripture speaks of the dry bones in a valley, he continued. The Minister said he would work to connect all the bones, that "the people will hear the word of God."

"He�s always called upon our race, the African Americans, to repent to come forward and to make certain atonement and that�s healthy for us to do that. I just hope that they would respond in a very positive way and will do that. It doesn�t do you any good just to be redeemed yourself, to atone, unless you can get the community as such and he is a community man," said Rev. Clay Evans of Fellowship Baptist Church in Chicago.

A widely respected elder pastor, Rev. Evans noted that Min. Farrakhan�s calls for peace and commitment to family are not "new with him. He�s been talking about that for some time. I just see him being more forceful with it. He�s just said things now with more power and conviction. And I just see very positive results with good coming out of it."

Rev. Evans said he and other pastors were touched by the humility and sincerity of the Minister�s words during a meeting the day before and during the press conference. Min. Farrakhan gave a testimonial about his life and commitment to God, Rev. Evans said. Those who hear Min. Farrakhan speak must take on the same willingness to correct themselves and grow spiritually, he said.

"God took (Min. Farrakhan) through like he took Job through. He was already great, but he � sees unity like he�s never seen it before and I believe that he has targeted the thing that has divided us most," said Rev. Willie Barrow, Rainbow PUSH Coalition chairman of the board and associate minister of Vernon Park Church of God.

Being disconnected means that Black organizations and churches aren�t familiar with each other in terms of their programs and missions, she explained. "What I think is going to happen, God is going to use him for the connection of community, connection of churches, and connection of family," Rev. Barrow said.

"The Minister is the prophetic voice of the time who is calling not just the Muslims, not just the Christians, not just the Jews, he�s calling America and he�s calling the world to say there�s an opportunity before us to try to transform this world and change it and reap the benefits that God has and wants for us, or suffer the consequences of the wickedness of which we�ve been a part of. The Minister is saying it�s time now to come to God first and then to each other," said Father Michael Pfleger, a Caucasian who pastors a predominantly Black congregation at St. Sabina church on the city�s south side.

He also expressed his 10-year-old belief that the Minister was destined to help unite people across religious lines and other differences.

"It�s time for families to come together," said community activist Wallace "Gator" Bradley, of United in Peace, an organization that works locally and nationally to stop gang conflict.

"I�m going to follow his guidance and his leadership and I will pray that everyone else will whether they are Black, white, Hindu, whether they�re Hebrew, whether they�re Muslim, whether they�re gangbangers or gang members. Violence has got to stop and family is the order of the day," he said.

"All of us need to find the means by which we can get clean. As David said in the Bible, �Give me a clean heart and renew a righteous spirit in me.� I think this was helpful for all those who have been misunderstanding who (Min. Farrakhan) is, and what his intentions are," said Rev. Hycel B. Taylor of Second Baptist Church in Evanston, Ill., who has spoken at Mosque Maryam as part of Muslim-Christian unity efforts. He predicted that Min. Farrakhan�s "contribution" would accelerate among Blacks and all people.

As victims of slavery, harboring spiritual pain and injury, the time has come for personal and a community healing among Black people, said Rev. Taylor. Repentance is also necessary, he added.

"We can afford least to be divided along lines of denominations or religion. We have too much in common. The origins of our faiths are one, but in particular, we have to survive as a people," Rev. Taylor said. "We spend a lot of time trying to change other people, now we must change ourselves and let people adjust to us."