The auditorium of the Naparima Bowl was transformed into a church on March 25, as Mantle of Christ International Ministries held its Sacrifice of Praise – The Rejoicing gospel concert and awards ceremony.
Messengers of music also turned the stage into a pulpit, delivering powerful testimonies of the miracle power of God in their lives.
Delivering a repertoire of hits from his archive, Sean Daniel, who recently lost his wife, testified that he was still standing, by the grace of God.
[caption id="attachment_1009728" align="alignnone" width="576"] Joanne Foster performs From a Distance. - Yvonne Webb[/caption]
One of the artistes who made it to the 2023 Calypso Fiesta at Skinner Park, Daniel called on the nation to pray for sweet TT.
Youthful Jeron Nurse took the audience down memory lane and had them singing along to a medley of old gospel hits. He also brought a sense of humour with his true-life story.
As a living testament of how his life has turned around through divine intervention, he said it should be documented in the bible.
[caption id="attachment_1009727" align="alignnone" width="576"] Sean Daniel during his performance at Sacrifice of Praise – The Rejoicing gospel concert and awards ceremony. - Yvonne Webb[/caption]
He testified of God’s blessing “in a weird way. In the middle of a pandemic when I was supposed to be practicing social distancing, God blessed me with a little baby.”
The laughter continued as he pretended to run out of breath mid-way through his repertoire telling his audience he was able to do a full set before he got married.
“Since I got married, I get tired quick.”
[caption id="attachment_1009730" align="alignnone" width="576"] Jeron Joseph brought his refreshing and melodious brand of power and humour. - Yvonne Webb[/caption]
In a jocular manner, as he introduced one of his offerings about not being patient and staying in the waiting room for prayers to be answered, Nurse thanked his mom who has been in the waiting room of the police station many times for him.
Expanding on his brush with the law Nurse shared with the audience his desire to sing a song about “church people” who give trouble.
Explaining going to church does not make one a Christian, he again drew a parallel with a personal account.
[caption id="attachment_1009731" align="alignnone" width="576"] Blessed Messenger closed the show with his many hits including Move Mountains and Famalay. - Yvonne Webb[/caption]
“I tell people when I was growing up, I travel a few times in a police vehicle, but that didn’t make me a policeman.
“Church people”, he called out, “instead of trying to clean other people’s dirty laundry, clean yours first.”
Bringing down the power at the concert seemed to have been prearranged among the artistes as from the opening act, Ibis Dance Group Mantelites Chorale set the bar for others to follow.
In the first half, Michelle Sylvester, Sean Daniel, Flavia Felix, Lash
