Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sends 250 to Jamaica for massive concert experience

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir recently took their 250 of their 297 members all the way from Brooklyln, NY to Jamaica, presenting “Be Glad… the Jamaican Worship Experience,” to a multitude of over 15,000 people, getting an overwhelming response. The incredibly diverse crowd consisted of politicians, business men and women, media, church officials, musicians, and in fact Jamaicans from home and abroad, by the bus loads and car loads to worship with the choir.

“Ten years of planning and it all came through.” So said Dale Flynn, Managing Director, Life Productions Ltd., producers of the event. “Ever since the launch there has been an atmosphere of expectancy. Jamaicans were spellbound to see a group of 250 persons on a stage. This is a first for production in Jamaica and is bound to be the standard by which all others are judged.”

The series of events which began with a Grand Jamaican Reception in the Windsor Ballroom at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ochos Rios, saw BTC being greeted by a local group of “friends” of the community including the President of Ocho Rios Chamber of Commerce. Members of the choir, in appreciation of the reception, gave a spontaneous acappella performance to the delight of guests both in the room and those passing by.

On the main evening of events, the crowd experienced what BTC director Carol Cymbala described as the longest BTC performance ever, nearly two hours of intensive worship with 16 songs. Following worship, Pastor Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle led the audience in prayer, and extended an altar call, to which hundreds responded.

“This was one of the most tremendous experiences we've had as a choir in ministry,” commented Joey Vasquez, Music Director for BTC. “The choir was blessed, and it seems that everyone who attended was blessed as well."

The choir also took time to be a part of the Jamaican community, shaking hands, ministering, and embracing the Jamaican people. They made stops at Food for the Poor, Maxfield Park Children’s Home, and the Salvation Army.

In addition, Choir Directors island-wide are still elated at the level of boosts their music ministry received from this visit. Over 700 Directors/Music Ministers turned out for a Choir/Church Music Workshop conducted by Cymbala, and David Guthrie and Dave Williamson from World Music. Through this workshop, they were taught new songs and forms of worship to teach to their own congregations.

The visit from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir had a lasting impact in the lives of many Jamaicans, and many are still talking about it, with testimonials continuing to come in by mail and telephone. Sponsors of the event, which included Kentucky Fried Chicken, Air Jamaica, LOVE 101 FM, Jamaica Tours, Jamaica Broilers, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS). Renaissance Jamaica Grande, CVM-TV, Digicel, and Grace Tropical Rhythms are asking for more, and when the next event will be. Local media stories abounded, including the story, "Praise and Worship Time with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir" in The Jamaica Observer (www.jamaicaobserver.com).

BTC’s most recent recording, Be Glad, released with M2.0 in March 2002. The 4-time Grammy award winning choir is currently recording a new project, set to release sometime in 2003.