By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
Above: 'Tek dat,' this man seems to say to his brethren. These patrons of the Christian nightclub, Prayz House were engrossed in a game of dominoes.
Right: This dics jockey seems to be responsible for the 'vibes' and fellowship for which the club is popular. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
THE PHYSICAL conditions at the current location of Prayz House -- the controversial Christian nightclub -- leaves a lot to be desired.
The club is the brainchild of Marshall Redwood and is now located at the rear of a church at 6 Cargill Avenue.
Faulty plumbing is one of the first things that meets the eye, since there is a pipe leaking water to the left of the venue. Also, the surface area at the makeshift club can easily give a patron an unwarranted doctor's bill, because it is not level.
"The venue is a bit lacking right now, but we are working on that, we are trying to develop it and make it a lot more presentable," noted Juana Williams, the manager of the club. Mr. Redwood, who pointed out that he has received complaints from several patrons about the 'hill and gully' dance floor, supported the concerns of Ms Williams.
Twenty-four-year-old teacher Patricia Muir, one of the few patrons present at the club on Friday night when The Gleaner visited, said while it is 'groovy' she is a bit peeved about the 'hospitality' of the setting.
"The truth is, this location is like a yard thing. Some people might be comfortable and some might not be but it depends on the individual. I prefer the previous location, it facilitates the activities better than its current location," she said.
Nonetheless, Ms. Williams says that the 'vibes' and fellowship that the club is known for is always present.
Apart from the deteriorating conditions, the club has another problem. It still does not have a permanent location.
The year 1997 became the birth year for the controversial venture and its current location is the fourth since the nightclub's inception. However, plans are in the pipeline to return to one of the club's previous venues.
On Friday night there were just about a handful of patrons present. According to management, things usually warm up at about 10 p.m. and peak at about 2 a.m., without fear of the police enforcing the Noise Abatement Act. However, that was not the case this time around.
Although the club has not found a permanent residence since opening its doors, manager Juana Williams says that over the years it has established a steady following. According to Miss Williams, time has forced many of the nightclub's detractors to switch allegiances. "Their initial objection has lessened or disappeared and more people are opening up to it," she said.
However, many Christians still strongly resent the idea of a Christian nightclub, as it is deemed as 'worldly'.
"I think it is stupidness, because as Christians we shouldn't be doing those things. In a nightclub setting the place will be dark and anything is prone to happen. When you think of a nightclub, it paints a picture of revelling that is not of God," said one Christian, Nicholas Stewart.
Nonetheless, amidst the entire stir, Mr. Redwood remains adamant that this venture is an essential tool for winning souls.
He cited that as a result of attending the club, several souls have been saved. One of the selectors told The Gleaner that gospel is the only genre of music played at the club. However, they promise something for everyone within the realms of gospel.
Mr. Redwood pointed out that apart from listening to music and dancing on the dark dance floor, patrons at times play a little football, play dominoes or enjoy a fashion show amongst other things. He also noted that there are periodic guest appearances from different gospel acts such as Prodigal Son, Goddy Goddy and others.
In addition, he pointed out that every Friday night that the club opens its doors are brought to a close with a word of prayer.
