Minister speaks to values at Reggae Month service

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Reggae Month Service was held at the rather spacious and comfortable Swallowfield Chapel in St Andrew. With the absence of banners or such symbolic evidence that something special was happening, the service was marked by a welcome and prayer for the attending members of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), organiser of Reggae Month, an energetic and engaging praise and worship session, and a powerful message.

Pastor David Henry of the host church delivered the message, which had a rather contradicting title, 'The Foolishness of the Cross'. But at the core, the message was about reconciliation through the power of the cross.

"The cross speaks to reconciliation to God and it is deeply rooted in human experience ... Jews and Gentiles were reconciled through the cross. Gender, ethnicity and superiority were dismantled by the cross," the ambassador of reconciliation told the congregation.

Directed to the cross

Towards the end of his approximately 42-minute, eloquently delivered message, Pastor Henry addressed the music industry.

"I unashamedly must direct you to the cross. The crucified Christ challenges all other so-called gods of this world and the wisdom of this world. He affirms those things in our culture, as well as in every other culture that are good and noble such as our indigenous music, which is precious. But He challenges everything in our culture; in our lifestyle and music which depreciates and turns us away from serving the true and living God. The crassness has to go; the violence has to go; the immorality has to go; the slackness and idolatry - and Selassie I is not God," said Henry.

Inspirational service

Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, minister of youth, culture and sports, was in attendance. According to her, "It [the service] was very fulfilling, very inspirational and much needed. ... It was much more than having a church service because it was the thing to do. It was important that there was fellowship and that we have a chance to reflect and to really give God thanks."

Among the JaRIA members attending the service were Ibo Cooper and Stephen Stewart. Cooper thought the message of preservation of our culture came across very strongly and that is what JaRIA was about. Stewart, who is a member of the board said JaRIA looks at music in all genres and it is appropriate to have a service in reggae month, as the original cause and purpose of music was to praise God.

In addition to the opening Praise and Worship session, the only other musical item on the programme was aptly titled Calling All the Prodigal Sons, an original song penned and performed by Ian Spencer. The Reggae Month service was one of several activities organised by JaRIA. The month-long celebration of Jamaica's music will conclude with an award ceremony on .