Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
Omar Barrett, one of the finalists in the Grace Tropical Rhythms JCDC Gospel Competition. - CONTRIBUTED
OMAR BARRETT had the genesis of his music career and ministry as a teenager, when he started singing at church services, rallies, conventions and crusades.
Barrett says performing since age 15 has given him experience and exposure, setting a strong foundation.
"It was a very good experience and it enabled me to experience new things. It was always an opportunity for me to go forward, because some places you go people would want to request you back," he said.
Currently, Barrett is among the finalists of the Grace Tropical Rhythms Jamaica Gospel Festival 2005 with his entry Bless Me Lord produced by Paul Barclay.
Barrett, who lives in Cudjoe Hill district in St. Catherine and worships at the Seventh-day Church of God, Cornerstone Ministries, says his career really started to take shape when he joined the Surety Gospel Band.
LEADING SOULS TO CHRIST
According to Barrett's band members, church members and leaders encouraged him as he continued to use his talent to lead souls to Christ.
"I started singing with Surety just over one year now and this was a good opportunity again for me, because it gave me the chance to sing in other places and concerts outside of my home church," he said.
Barrett, who has also been doing some recordings, says he has done three songs since joining Surety and they have been well received.
"I've also done some recordings since singing with them: Give Me A True Heart To Worship You, Hallelujah and I Surrender All. Souls have been saved and people have been ministered to in a powerful way whenever I perform," he recalled. "For example, when I finished performing in Mandeville last week, a lady came to me after the road show and said just hearing my voice was like a complete healing for her."
Barrett says the messages that he tries to convey in his songs all speak to the goodness of the Lord, because only He can make that change in Jamaica and the world.
"There is a theme that I always have and that is to put God first in everything, through thick and thin. You can do all things with Christ in the vessel. In the book of Deuteronomy God said to Solomon, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then would I hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their lands."
Barrett emphasises: "So we don't need a physical revolution, we need a spiritual one. Keep on calling on Jesus Christ, because only Jesus Christ can heal our nation, that change that we have all been waiting for and longing for. Over a while we have been looking to public and private sectors, but the system remains the same," he said.
Barrett has entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Gospel Competition this year but, according to him, he had not planned on entering.
MY FIRST TIME
"It's my very first time entering. We were just at church one Saturday and the thought of festival came up. I said to Dwon Reid (the author of my song) that I felt like entering and he was asking me if I really wanted this and I said 'yes', I'd love to give it a try. And by the help of God I've reached thus far," Barrett said.
Barrett, who loves every moment of his experience in the gospel finals so far, says he would love to win, but he was also on a mission to spread God's word.
"I'd love to be the winner of 'God Alive 2K5', but I'm here to minister and to reach people and also to win. I've never gone on such a wide scale to sing and, by the help of God, I'm looking at very great expectations to come," he said.
