Gospel concerts - To entertain or to win souls? GOSPEL MUSIC is seen by some as a means of blessing persons and bringing Christ's message to the world. However, there are those who believe the message is now out of the music and these days it is just for entertainment. The music has grown in popularity over the last few years with several concerts being held. Some of these concerts are for fundraising while some are held to win souls. But some people believe that the concerts are more entertainment than for winning souls. "As I see it, in recent times the concerts have been put on mainly for fundraising and entertainment. There is a lot more entertainment in these concerts than message," explains Bishop C. Codner of the Bethel Born Again Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic. A great number of Christians hold this view since, in their opinion, the message has long gone out of the music, instead it's now about making money. There are also people in the secular music industry who see these concerts and the music as a money-making venture. To them the days of gospel music using the guitars and tambourines and with hand clapping in the background were the real gospel music days. "I don't think that they should use dancehall beats in gospel. It just doesn't sound right. In former years when I listened to gospel I used to feel blessed but now I think it's more about money making than anything else," explains Orville "Gadaffi" Hart, producer at Annex Records, the recording label to which Merciless is signed. But, there are those who believe the music and concerts are a part of the outreach ministry set up to win souls. "I don't know of any concerts that are staged for entertainment. People might find it entertaining but it is for preaching the message," explains Ken Nelson, a production Consultant of JAMPOP. Nelson isn't the only one who holds this view. There are others who feel that non-Christians need to be drawn to gospel events through the music but they say in-between entertaining there is some amount of outreach ministry. "Gospel music is for saving souls. Sometimes when you listen to all types of music you need to connect with your inner-self and gospel music is the only music that can make you do that. Music is a vehicle to reach people. Some people won't listen to you when you talk. But if you put it in song they will listen," said Louise Frazer-Bennett of the Sound System Association of Jamaica. However, Codner doesn't really agree with this method. "Once the soul is predestined to serve God it doesn't take entertainment to save you. Once you have a conviction and you are saved you will stay with God whether there is entertainment or not," he said. But Che Cowan of Glory Music says; "Sometimes you have to package the concert so you can attract non-Christians. You can have a concert with a powerful ministry and non-Christians don't attend." "When it's only spirituality you only have a church crowd. Entertainment has its place but it shouldn't be the only thing. At the end of every concert we generally have an altar call," he added. The gospel artistes also agree with Cowan. "People are entertained by it. If I go to a CeCe Winans concert I want to feel nice but at the same time you are going to listen for the message. Gospel music is about ministering and is not for entertainment," explains Papa San. Noreta Lewis, gospel festival winner of 2000 added; "People are entertained at times but my main purpose is to minister not entertain. I'm a minister and not an entertainer." The artistes and promoters say they are in the business to save souls and if entertainment at gospel events is what it takes to meet members of the secular world, they will do that to ensure that they win souls.
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