Jamaican gospel band arrives for weekend concert
Just in time for the Easter celebrations, today local concert organisers welcomed a Caribbean gospel group to Belize. News Five’s Karla Vernon was part of the reception committee in Ladyville.
Karla Vernon
This afternoon the Grace Thrillers Gospel Band arrived at the P.G.I.A. for a one night concert at the Belize City Centre this Saturday.
Brother and sister organisers Steve Duncan and Karen Bevans say this is their second attempt to have the Jamaican gospel group share their message with Belizeans.
Steve Duncan, Concert Organiser
?It?s the type of music that we in this part of the world can identify with very easily and relate to, so I felt that that is one of the groups that we should try to get to Belize. It?s a very popular group within the evangelical churches, the Pentecostal churches, and I thought this was the opportunity, let?s see what we can get them to come across.?
?It?s not very cheap to bring them, and we?ve not been able to, I couldn?t do more than one. I?m very grateful to the business community for helping us and I couldn?t lean on them any heavier than I have, so I had to be satisfied with the one performance.?
Band Leader Dr. Noel Willis promises that the Belizean audience will be blessed with inspiration.
Dr. Noel Willis Sr., Band Leader, Grace Thrillers
?We are hoping to bring a very powerful ministry to Belize for a night. We are going to give them a concert with a Caribbean flavour. We actually, the Grace Thrillers was responsible for pioneering reggae music in gospel and to bring gospel into different style and it?s spreading all across the world. Gospel concert isn?t a boring thing anymore.?
?We?ve been around since 1971, we have several changes in personnel, but the group just keep getting better and better. And as you see, there are a lot of young people around us so the future is so secure.?
Some of those young members play important roles in the group as vocalists, keyboard players, and music directors.
Demar Gayle, Keyboard Player
?After a period, younger persons come in, you know, keep the fires burning … ?
Karla Vernon
?How come you decided to join a gospel group as opposed to some other band??
Demar Gayle
?Well it?s due to my testimony, what God has done for me. I decided to give back.?
Alrick O?Connor, Male Vocalist
?I play a part in the group whereby the spiritual part is concerned especially, I dedicate myself to that part in uplifting members and, you know, try to be a cornerstone where that is concerned.?
Natalie Foster, Vocalist
?This is what I wanted all along, to go out, minister to people, not for them to see me, but to see Christ in me because that?s what its about: minister to souls.?
Cadian Brown, Vocalist
?I really want people to feel what we feel … to know God, to know Christ because he is like a shelter, he?s just everything to us and we?d like the crowd, through our songs, to just minister to them through our voices and words in this song so that they could come to know him as their Lord and saviour as well know him.?
Natalie Foster, Vocalist
?Once God?s words begin to touch you, they will bring out a change in you so come enjoy yourself, have fun, dance. It?s good to dance and laugh in the Lord. Amen. (Laughs) They?re laughing because I?m the dancer.?
This afternoon?s official welcoming committee included Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya, Reverend David Goff, and Pastor Horace Hector.
Reporting for News Five, I am Karla Vernon.
Tickets for the Saturday night concert are on sale for twenty dollars adults and five dollars for children in advance. Prices at the door are twenty-five and ten dollars.
