Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
SIMPSON
GOSPEL SONGWRITER and singer Ianthie Simpson is living proof that dreams and visions can become real.
Simpson, who was born in Whitfield Town, Kingston 13, and grew up in Waterhouse, did not start singing professionally until her adult years. That was when she became a member of her church choir at the Jamaica Evangelistic Centre, located at 86E Waltham Park Road, under the leadership of Bishop V.T. Williams.
According to Simpson, however, despite playing her role in ministry through the choir, the Lord had additional plans, which were revealed to her in a vision a few years ago.
"I remember while I was visiting in the U.S. in 2003, I was in my room praying and while I was praying I heard a voice speak to me and it said, 'St. John 15 verse 16', which said 'you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you to go forth and bring forth seed'," Simpson recalled.
NEW DIMENSION
It was then and there that Simpson's life took on a new dimension, as she said whenever she sat down to read a passage of scripture she always found herself singing it.
That same night, Simpson says while she was reading the Bible she was overcome with a sudden urge to start writing songs and this led her to write her very first song that night.
"I actually wrote two songs from the scriptures that night and it was then and there that I started to write and now I have about 14 songs," she said.
Simpson not only performs as a member of her church choir, but also extends her reach in ministry as a solo gospel act.
"I just think that it is time for me to run with my vision now," Simpson said, looking at some recent developments and achievements in her short, but so far successful, solo career.
Simpson says she is encouraged even further to pursue her solo career to the fullest, as God is the one who ordained it and persons have been blessed by her ministry.
"It is really a blessing when I minister these songs and the presence of God is really there, because even the other day a young lady who I did not know saw me and she said whenever I sing that song, 'the devil hates me but he just can't touch my soul', she wants to get saved," Simpson explained.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Not only has Simpson's ministry borne fruit with live performances, but in April of this year she released her debut album, Don't Fade Away.
"It is a great achievement for me, because the Lord gave me these words not to sit on but to run with, and wherever the Lord is, there will be prosperity," she declared.
According to Simpson, the album's title is based on what she saw taking place with the youths of society today.
"As the title track for my album says, 'don't fade away,' because when you see young people today, destroying their lives with the drugs and the guns, this was the only message that kept coming back to me, to encourage them to save their lives and not fade away," she said.
Simpson is allowing the messages from her album to seep into as many hearts as possible, but as for her next move, she leaves that up to the Lord to decide.
"Wherever the Lord leads me, I will follow," she said.
