IN 2005, gospel singer Marvia Providence took Jamaica by storm with her praise and worship hit song, Hear My Cry Oh God.

She is back with a new album titled Be Encouraged which will be released this month. According to Providence, her latest project was inspired by the times.

"I felt a very strong desire as I did with all my other projects that this album needed to be done for such a time as this," she said in an email response to the Jamaica Observer.

Be Encouraged was initially meant to be an in-concert set ,but that was shelved after numerous engineering glitches.

"This time it was recorded live in studio. In spite of the many struggles to give birth to this project, I'm very excited it's finally here," she said.

The 14-track album has songs such as Better Days Are Coming, Heaven Is Better Than This, Till The Storm Passes By, God Is My Refuge, and In Shady Green Pastures.

Born in Lionel Town, Clarendon, Providence migrated to Toronto, Canada, in her youth. In her late 30s, she says she has been a gospel performer since 1987.

Seven years ago, she released the album, Shabach, which included Hear My Cry Oh God. The song took off, influencing a dancehall spin (Yuh Too Bad Mind) by deejay Elephant Man.