Genesis Gospel Show In Mobay Ushers In 2016

The Genesis Gospel Concert 2016, in Montego Bay, heralded the New Year from midnight right back to the wee hours of early Friday morning, January 1, with crowd-rousing musical performances from several groups and soloists gathered for the event's 29th annual staging.

Seating capacity in the Montego Bay Community College's Lorna Nembhard Auditorium, where the concert was held, hosted by the Jamaica Youth For Christ (JYFC) under the theme 'Start it Right; Start it in January', was filled to capacity, as patrons clapped, danced and sang along with the various artistes who went on stage, including singers from outside the parish of St James.

STIRrING PERFORMANCES

Anique Morris, a past Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) children's gospel finalist and student of Montego Bay High School for Girls, elicited rousing applause from the crowd as one of the concert's opening acts, with renditions of Hurry Up; Sheltered in the Arms of God; and I've Got Jesus and That's Enough.

Hanover-based singer Romaine Watson got the patrons on their feet and swarming the stage with his renditions of Break Every Chain; Midnight Cry; and God a God, while the Vivace' Ministry group also engaged the crowd with their renditions of Warrior and Jesus Make Me Smile Again.

Other artistes who gave stirring performances included the Adoracion singing group, Ocho Rios-based singer and 1998 JCDC gospel finalist Prince Hall, and Maroon Town-based songstress Marsha Daniels. There was also running commentary and occasional bursts of music from Kool 97 FM personalities and the event's masters of ceremonies, Pastor Ivan Hall and his radio co-host Vanessa White, in-between the highlight performances.

This year's staging of Genesis in Montego Bay was one of four concerts planned by the JYFC to usher in 2016, with other concerts in Mandeville and Portmore in Jamaica, and one in Florida, USA. While the Jamaican performances were all slated for a 12:30 a.m., start on New Year's Day, the Florida performance was scheduled for a 7 p.m. start the same day.

The 68-year-old JYFC had previously launched the event on December 15, 2015, at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. At that time, JYFC's national director, Dexter Johnson, said the organisation's aim, through the Genesis concert, was "to take the Gospel of Christ to every young person, in every group, in every nation. Our mission is to ensure that every Christian young person has a clear sense of responsibility to encourage somebody to see that the Lord is good."