Author Okema Watson was among the scores of worshippers that flocked Sabina Park on Saturday for the inaugural staging of gospel concert, the Well Encounter.
For her, the concert, which was initially slated for December 10 but was rescheduled for March 18, “was a total worship experience from start to finish!”
Leading up to the event, founder and executive producer Ingrid Abrahams-Larmond had promised that it would be a space where people of all backgrounds and beliefs could come together to encounter the transformative power of God’s love.
She also expressed the desire to see the event build community, deepen faith, and unearth new ways to live out purpose in the world.
Watson, in expounding on her experience, said even before she entered the venue, she was heralded by the singing of the worship team as they echoed the words “turn Jamaica back to you.”
The author, who wrote the book “Lady With Power: Dominate Your Fears To Execute Your Vision,” said this initial experience had set the stage for what turned out to be a night of worship.
“I had been looking forward to the concert for months, and I went there expecting to experience a move from God. The King did not disappoint!” she gushed.
She said veteran gospel artiste Carlene Davis managed to lift her spirit with Judy Jacobs’ Days of Elijah—a song she said just filled her heart with peace.
“It was very much needed as life has really been restless and overwhelming lately,” the author told the Freedom Come Rain newspaper.
Although she did not give a ‘blow by blow’ account of the concert, Watson said she has to give kudos to the quick and smooth changes that ensured she could once again enjoy one performance after another and continue feeding her soul with the soulful balms.
The concert was headlined by Grammy Award-winning ministers Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine from Atlanta-based worship music collective Maverick City. Other artistes included Davis, Kevin Downswell, Rondell Positive, and Rhoda Isabella.
Watson said each performer did their part in saturating the atmosphere with praise, joy, and good kingdom fun.
“I jumped when Kevin Downswell and Rhoda Isabella told us to dance [and] sing, and I met so many wonderful people who were also there to receive their personal encounter,” she related.
For her, the only damper on the evening was the abrupt end of the concert, but she said she felt she had already gotten what she had paid for.
“The concert happened on Saturday; today is Tuesday, and I’m still feeling revived!” she shared, acknowledging that nothing was going to steal what she enjoyed that night.