Stitchie performs at Genesis 2005. - FILE
THE MOST recent Heineken Startime saw thousands of people, lots of Heineken, some vintage stars - and Stitchie.
The gospel artiste brought his ministry to the Mas Camp Village on Oxford Road in New Kingston, where the event was held.
"I was invited by friend and promoter of the show, Michael Barnett. I saw it as a part of my calling to go into the by-ways and hedges and teach the word," said Stitchie. He took the gospel to his fellow peformers and musicians backstage.
"They are not coming to church, so I have to take the church to them," Stitchie said.
He managed to speak to several persons in the entertainment industry. "I spoke to Michael Barnett, George Nooks, some of the promoters I know who were there, Dawn Henry, Errol Scorcher, Leroy Sibbles, Ken Boothe, Merlene Webber, a member of the group Cables and some of the patrons," Stitchie said.
Stitchie believes the reception was good and Ken Boothe admires Stitchie for his resilience.
"I know that Christ is alive. I don't know about Jesus so much, I know bout Je-sus. Stitchie have to be serious and mean what he has been doing to be in it so long. It is not a money thing for him, 'cause if it was about money, him woulda switch back over," said Ken Boothe.
Stitchie is bent on talking to people about God and he plans to go for them, wherever they are. And he is not breathig fire. "It's a message of love and not one of condemnation. Jesus Christ came to redeem and not to condemn. It's love that we're going to use to win them. That's the most powerful weapon," he said.
Despite Stitchie's earnest approach, Ken Boothe has stuck to his own teachings. "Stitchie is a man who dedicates himself to the Almighty. I believe in the teaching of his Imperial Majesty. Religion is always a problem. His Imperial Majesty say everyone have something to say and we can converse. I wish Stitchie all the best and hope that he can see himself financially," said Boothe.
The last Heineken Startime is not the only occasion on which Stitchie has gone out into the field to bring in the sheep. "I also went to Reggae Sumfest, July 2004, on Dancehall Night, to share with them the love of Christ. I plan to be there next year in July as well. I missed last year because I was in the United Kingdom," he said.
The former secular artiste reflected that he was saved at a dancehall show and feels that it is his duty to go out and rescue the perishing. "It was a Thursday, August 7, 1997, at Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night. It was a 15-year-old boy named Tim from Belville, Canada, that God sent to save me," Stitchie said.
- Kesi Asher
