LEFT: Judith Gayle performs at Genesis 2007, at the National Stadium car park, St. Andrew (Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer). RIGHT: Gayle (Contributed)

André Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Judith Gayle was on her way to Kingston from Westmoreland to visit a former boyfriend when she rediscovered the joy of being a Christian.

Gayle stopped midway the journey to exchange pleasantries with those she grew up with in May Pen, Clarendon. A stop at her old church completely threw the trip off when she decided to rededicate her life to the Lord and surrender all she had in the world, including the boyfriend she was on her way to see.

"I was a Christian in my teenage years and I went astray, I still had the conviction. I just could not resist it anymore," Gayle said.

She said she lost all she had amassed while singing cabaret in hotels simply because she was a new person and did not want to compromise her Christianity. The trials kept coming, as after a while she had no place to stay and others began to ridicule her.

But one thing she learnt while going through her ordeal is that the sun will always shine again.

It turns out that the Lord was only giving her songs to be a testimony to others, as through her trials she came up with songs such as The Sun Will Shine Again and More Than A Conqueror.

"As children of the Kingdom of God, there are principles and we try to follow them. I am not saying we are perfect, but there should be a separation between Christians and the world," Gayle explained.

It seems Gayle is willing to carry those principles throughout life. She was scheduled to appear on Richie Stephens' 'Take Me Away' concert last weekend, but refused to use the show's band and back-up singers. She wanted to use her own band and back-up singers. When that request was turned down by Stephens, whom she once sang back-up for, Gayle gave up the pay cheque.

"I am not lashing out against people of the world but the spirituality that the gospel band will have helps you. If they can demand what they want, then I should be able to demand what I want," she said. "In Christendom we have our own standards and the world has its own. I wasn't going to make them dictate to me."

Standing up for Christ has served her well and some three albums later, there is no looking back for Gayle. Her last album, Broken To Be Bless, sums up where Gayle is in life and Christendom.

Gayle is now married and also owns a variety store and a restaurant with husband, Ian Wright.