Adrian Frater, News Editor

Stitchie amd Mckenzie

Western Bureau:

The dust has seemingly settled in the recent impasse between gospel singer Stitchie and the promoters of the Montego Bay leg of Genesis 2007, whom he prevented from videotaping his performance, intimating it was an attempt to exploit his talent without paying for it.

In pulling the plug on the Genesis promoters, the outspoken Stitchie, an ordained minister of religion, was uncompromising when he told the cameraman, who was assigned to cover his performance to, "stop taping my performance or you will have to talk to my lawyers".

Following the incident, the promoters described Stitchie's action as unchristian-like and the singer retorted that, "God saves me from sin, but Him nuh save me as no fool".

The Genesis scenario, which generated much media attention, has reopened the age-old debate about whether some Christian practitioners are more into, 'building up treasures on earth' rather than, 'seeking souls for God's kingdom'.

While he strongly rejects the exploitation of the gospel, Pastor Astor Bowers, the secretary of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, said one should always be cognisant of the fact that everything, including the spreading of the gospel, requires money.

Parable

Well-known musicologist Clyde McKenzie, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board, said he saw nothing wrong with gospel artistes seeking to generate wealth from their talent, drawing reference to the biblical account of the parable of the gift of talents.

"If the market is prepared to pay you a particular sum for your gift I would not see anything wrong with that," said Mr. McKenzie. "I am not one of those person who would subscribe to the view that poverty and Christianity should walk hand in hand."

However, outspoken churchman, Reverend Ralph Somers, of the internationally renowned, Portland-based Faith Warriors for Christ Deliverance Ministry, said he believes that some Christian artistes and promoters are guilty of placing too much emphasis on making money rather than on spreading God's message.

"The gospel is fast becoming a merchandise and some of these people (promoters and gospel artistes) need to be clear whether they are doing their own work or God's work," said Reverend Somers. "I am strongly against money taking precedence over the message."

Sunday Gleaner investigations reveal that top gospel artistes, especially those who were formerly secular artistes, are demanding as much as $75,000 for a single performance, while concerts like Genesis, which attracts thousands of patrons at an admission fee of $600 per person, is a multimillion-dollar venture.

Rejecting criticisms advanced during the "Genesis" episode that gospel promoters are profiting from their association with gospel artistes, Donovan Thomas, national director of Jamaica Youth For Christ, the promoter of Genesis, flatly denied that his organisation was guilty of the practice, noting that, "it is not our experience or practice".

While McKenzie is contending that it is biblical for artistes to strive to get maximum value for their talent, referring to the scripture, "to who much is given" much is expected", religious leaders such as Reverend Somers are worried that 'profit is now being placed before prophet.'