The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AFTER successfully pulling off the recent “Da Crazy Praise Party”, gospel artist Maurice “DJ Godson” Fawkes has turned his attention to preparations for the upcoming Gospel Fest.

The event will take place at St Joseph’s Hall on May 31 and will be a fundraiser for the artist’s annual “Jesus in the Park 242” event. In the meantime, he told Tribune Religion, he is working on a new soca mixtape.

This project follows DJ Godson’s “Da Crazy Praise – Volume 2” mixtape that was released during the party early this month. The event was held at the Life Empowerment Church (formerly Potential Church).

The praise party featured international performers like Nigel Lewis from Trinidad, Errand Henry from St Lucia, and a special guest appearance from Trinidadian gospel reggae star Sherwin Gardner.

Local artists who performed included Oslien Jadorte, Christian Massive, Eman, Big Bruh, Davian Chase, Ricardo Clarke, Mr Blaxx, DJ Counsellor, DJ G-Yo, Kingdom Mime and Chosen Soldiers.

There were reggae, praise and worship, soca, rap, as well as rake n’ scrape renditions. The party also featured DJ Godson ministering through his chosen art form: entertaining people with the best in gospel music.

“The highlight of the event was to see so many people enjoying themselves in a mannerly fashion by dancing, jumping, worshipping and praising God to the soca, rap, reggae and rake n’ scrape music,” said DJ Godson.

“There were air horns blowing, rags waving, people screaming and shouting for their favourite artist and people singing along to their favourite song. Sound and light was on par with secular shows. It reminded me of when I used to deejay at big secular concerts. It was that type of vibe. It was a night where you couldn’t give God an ordinary praise; it was a night where you could only give Him a crazy praise,” he said.

DJ Godson said he and the “Jesus in the Park 242” committee pulled all the stops to ensure the event was a quality one and and was presented “for the glory of God.”

The main aim of the part, the artist said, is to make Jesus famous, win souls for the kingdom of God and demonstrate that living a “godly life can be just as or even more enjoyable as being unsaved...finally, to deliver the gospel sound from a more entertaining, energetic and fun stand point.”

DJ Godson will host “The Gospel Sail Away” in August and “Jesus in the Park 242” in October. The third volume for his “Da Crazy Praise” mixtape will be released later this year.

“Other than that, persons can tune in to Joy 101.9FM and listen to me on the ‘‘Joy Ride’, Monday through Friday at 5pm, or on ‘Da Crazy Praise’ on Saturdays, 2pm - 6pm,” he said.

DJ Godson thanked the Ministry of Youth and BTC for being major sponsors of the event; DC Technologies for donating the flatscreen TV; Super Cuts for donating a round-trip ticket to Eleuthera, and Millennium Designs & Construction Company for also donating a round-trip airline ticket.