Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter
(From left) Sheldon Williams, Marvia Simms, Kemar Lee (centre), Ruth-Lyn Bent (second right) and Dave Walton, who make up the Heart For Soul Gospel Singers. - CONTRIBUTED
MARVIA SIMMS is confident that the third time will be the charm for her in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Gospel Song Contest.
After not getting past the semi-final round in 2004 and 2005, she said she would walk away the winner this year. "My song is number one. I heard about four of the others song and I don't see any other that can beat it," she said with confidence. "It has the Jamaican flavour, so people can relate to it. It has patois and English, so anybody can enjoy it. It isn't anything they (people) can't identify with," she said.
NOT SOLO
Simms is not going solo this year, as the one-month-old group, Heart For Souls Gospel Singers, will join her. Group members, Sheldon Williams, Kemar Lee, Ruth-Lyn Bent and Dave Walton are also confident of a victory.
"A friend of mine told me I am too talented to just have my songs on paper," she said about her entry.
With her song, Whosoever Will, she is attempting to break down some of the barriers she said existed. "I want to minister to the churches that are doing nothing and are too caught up in denomination," Simms said. "I want to also reach those who are confused about religion."
She told The Gleaner that she hoped the contest would help her and her ministry to be more noticed across Jamaica. Despite her confidence of a victory, she plans to continue using any medium she can to reach sinners if she does not win.
CHURCH INVOLVEMENT
Simms grew up in what she called the "troubled town of Spanish Town, St, Catherine". She has been married for 17 years and has three children. She is choir director, board member and youth minister at Valley Christian Ministry Church in Spanish Town. She is known as 'Minister Marvia' for her involvement with the youths at her church. Simms also goes across the island on crusades to win young souls.
The teacher also writes plays and prepares students for the JCDC schools' festival, returning home with a silver medal from the 2005 competition.
The final show for the JCDC gospel song contest will be held on July 30, at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Old Hope Road, St. Andrew.
