By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter 
A scene from the Pentab choir workshop held in August of this year and conducted by Elder Darren Thomas. - Contributed
Worship is the
heartbeat of God.
And, that is what
the Pentecostal Tabernacle Choir does best worship Him in song.
IT IS more than 130-person strong and based at 66 - 72 Wildman Street, Kingston, but there have been innumerable sightings all around the island as the members busily go about the Lord's business.
The man at the helm of the church, which is widely referred to as Pentab, is Pastor Winston S. Stewart. He has been manning the post since 1979. Of note is the fact that Pastor Stewart was one of the first music directors at the church. For the past four years the capacity of music director has been occupied by 31 year-old Crantson Forbes, who is assisted by Mark Stewart and Dorrette Headley. While Pastor Stewart is still the 'under-shepherd' of Pentab, the leadership mantle of the church is currently being adorned by Minister John-Mark Bartlett.
There are prerequisites for being a part of the choir at Pentab. First of all you have to receive the right hand of fellowship, which inducts you as a member of the Church. Then, a candidate should lay claim to an application form, do the necessaries and submit it, after which they will be auditioned. The rest could just be history.
Non-singers need not apply.
"People are refused. Persons who don't have the talent, we make recommendations that they join another ministry where they will be most effective," explained Forbes. Those with talent but in need of brushing up are channelled into voice training so as to develop their talent.
The choir is exposed to yearly workshops which aid in tightening up their vocal techniques, as well as address issues concerning the role of singers and musicians in worship at the church. At this years workshop, Pentab invited Elder Darren Thomas, who is a member of Calvary Ministries International in Youngstown Ohio, in the United States, pastored by the spiritually-acclaimed Bishop Norman L. Wagner.
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION
Additionally, and most importantly, is the choir's spiritual preparation. The congregation at Pentab strongly supports the holy proverbial premise of the 'anointing makes the difference'. They have a fasting programme and a prayer chain, which unites every member with a prayer partner.
This, Forbes says, helps to keep the members focused on the mark, because of the nature of the ministry, as 'self' can easily take pre-eminence.
Every two months, instead of the regular choir practice the choir embarks on a day of prayer and fasting. There are four choirs at the Pentab Junior, Youth, Adult and the Mass Choir, which is a combination of the Youth and Adult choirs. Out of the 135 members on the choir's register only 100 are active at the moment, owing to study and maternity leave. Fifty-five of the currently active belong to the Youth Choir and 45 to the Adult choir. The Junior choir has 35 members of its own. It is no secret that women outnumber men. Even if you have just crawled out from under a rock, that is easily noticeable. The Pentab choir is no exception since the female to male ratio is 7:1.
Every Sunday a different choir ministers at the church. "They are alternated so as to give the singers time to rest their voices," said Forbes. Also, the church ministers at concerts, corporate functions and other churches.
"Often we minister at any church, whether they be Apostolic or not," Forbes revealed.
This is not a common feat among Apostolic churches and Pentab was no exception. However, seven years ago that was changed after a group from the Pentab ministered at the Saxthorpe Methodist Church in St. Andrew and the Lord moved mightily. So, from then on, they began to minister at churches outside the Apostolic circle.
"It is a good way to share with people the goodness of God," said Forbes.
PENTABITES
Unlike a lot of other native choirs that only sing cover versions, Pentab sings songs that are written by Pentabites. A popular song in Apsotolic Church circles is the effervescent The Joy of the Spirit, which was written by former member Paul Alberts and Cranston Forbes.
Another frequently ministered song is Lord We Glorify, which was written by Mr. Forbes. They also minister songs that are not original, like the popular Total Praise by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and I Love the Lord by Richard Smallwood.
The mission statement of the Pentab Choir is "to be effective Levites in the work of the Lord." Forbes says there is no denying the power of music, nor the ministry of the choir in the church. "The ministry is important, because music is from God and the music ministry helps to lead the congregation in worship and worship is the heartbeat of God because the Lord requires us to praise Him," stated Forbes, who added that worship should be spontaneous and sacrificial.
