Gospel fraternity has not abandoned Stitchie – ‘Minista’ Paul Blake

Amid loud whispers that the gospel fraternity has seemingly abandoned Lt Stitchie in his time of greatest need, gospel singer and ‘Minista’ Paul Blake, says that this is not so. During his performance on Saturday night at the Swallowfield Chapel in Kingston, Blake was unique in that he made a public prayer to God Almighty for healing for his ‘brother’, Lt Stitchie .

The singer, who like Stitchie, made the leap decades ago from secular to gospel, was one of the artistes on a concert that turned out to be a strong contender for Gospel Show of the Year — a twin celebration for Junior Tucker’s birthday and the release of his new album, Journey: The Best of Junior Tucker.

Minista Blake asked the audience to repeat after him as he prayed these words: “Father we send the word to heal Stitchie right now in Jesus name … let the church say Amen.”

On Sunday, Stitchie celebrated his 59th birthday in a hospital bed. Earlier this month, it was made public that the popular singer was in critical condition following a severe brain haemorrhage. A GoFundMe campaign was established by his wife Sophia to appeal for assistance with medical expenses.

However, the conversation is that the gospel fraternity doesn’t seem to be reaching out and praying for Stitchie as it should. Blake, who has heard the criticisms, shared his own story.

“This is deeply personal because what has happened is that Stitchie has kinda … let me put it this way,” Blake said, searching for the right words. “I was living in Mandeville. I started a church there in 2011/12 for about five years. Stitchie lived in Mandeville and I saw him once in the five years.”

Quizzed as to why that was the case, Blake said he didn’t know for a fact but he had a theory.

“How can I answer this question? In my opinion, Stitchie kinda withdrew. Yuh don’t see Stitchie on the same shows … but when I see Stitchie I hug him and hail him and we are friends. I actually used him on a concert once … but we just don’t keep in touch. And I get the impression that some people feel like him kinda withdraw, but that’s no excuse ... whether or not he withdrew we are supposed to be there for him. I saw somebody asking what is the church doing, but she wouldn’t know that the church is praying,” shared Blake, who has his own online church and is also the full-time music minister at a church in Montego Bay.

He added, “I don’t know what was happening to Stitchie … I don’t see him in the same circles at all. Junior and Stitchie are very close. When Junior and I went to Cayman I said ‘Junior what a gwaan with Stitchie?’ and he wasn’t sick at that time. Junior said, ‘Pablo, I don’t hear from Stitchie.’ I just think for whatever reason maybe Stitchie is a recluse. I don’t know ... he just withdrew. I am a man of God ... I don’t keep malice or anything. My church has been praying for him, even today we prayed for him.”

Blake said that he was encouraged by a video with Stitchie wife posted on Saturday giving a health update.

“She said he’s not speaking, but his eyes are opened and she told him, ‘Honey if you can hear me squeeze my hand’ and he squeezed her hand. So he’s aware of what’s going on. I was very encouraged by that,” the ‘minista’ said.

In addition to prayers from the fraternity, the organisers of the Sterling Gospel Music Awards have woven Stitchie into their event by asking the fraternity to make a donation to assist with his medical expenses.

Two weeks ago, a YouTube video, titled ‘Lieutenant Stitchie is dead at 58’ made the rounds and fans were expressing their condolences. In a comment to The Gleaner, Stitchie’s wife said that she wanted to distance herself from the negativity.

Born Cleveland Laing on September 29, 1965 Stitchie made a career move from teaching biology to the halls of dance where his style of mixing music and humour secured for him a loyal fan base. He savoured success in 1986 with the hit single, Wear Yuh Size, and his début album, Great Ambition, was released in 1987. The first dancehall artiste to sign a deal with a major record label, Stitchie ditched dancehall for gospel reggae in 1997 after surviving a car crash. His first gospel reggae album, To God Be the Glory, was released in 1999.

An author whose biography, The Power of Determination, was published a decade ago, Stitchie has received numerous accolades throughout the years. In 2021, the government inducted him into the Order of Distinction for his contribution to Jamaican music.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com