Joyful noise makers

Lester Lewis, Edwin Myers, Noreta Lewis, Glacia Robinson, Noella Elderidge, George Gordon and Gifton Smith all have something in common. They have all won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) gospel festival competition.

But the winners all share another common ground. They have moved on to greater heights in their careers, producing albums and singles.

For example, Lester Lewis and the Singing Rose Ministry, who were winners in 1988, have recorded six albums and have toured the Caribbean and even Africa.

Lester is happy to tell about his travels and what he has accomplished for the Lord.

The winners have received ample support from family and friends. In fact, for at least two of them, their families are involved in their ministries. Noreta Lewis' younger sister happens to be one of her back-up singers. Lester Lewis' wife ­ Rose and his sons are also involved in his ministry hence, Lester Lewis and the Singing Rose Ministry.

They are all sincere to the cause sacrificing time and energy to ensure that the Lord's work gets done. "It's been challenging. Sometimes I have concerts back to back on weekends and I have to go to work on Mondays and some of the Sunday night concerts don't get finished until early Monday mornings," said George Gordon, festival winner for 1999.

The winners say they have been unselfish with their good fortune. They have been involved in producing, writing songs, arranging and in just about every other area of the business. For example, Gifton Smith is one of Jamaica's top gospel producers. Lester Lewis and the Singing Rose Ministries have helped to develop several gospel singers in the Eastern Caribbean. George Gordon wrote the song for this year's youngest soloist in the JCDC's gospel festival competition, Jodi- Ann Pantry.

The JCDC competition did not only help in developing their musical talents, it has also made them stronger spiritually. "It has allowed my Christianity to become stronger and has allowed me to do something that every Christian should aim to do which is reaching out to Christians and non-Christians alike," said Noella Elderidge, winner in 1997.

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