AFTER a one-year absence, Fun In The Son gospel festival returns to Jamaica. Its mission is not only to win souls, but help shed light on what event Founder Tommy Cowan calls the country’s “dark times”.

Fun In The Son 2018 takes place July 14 at National Heroes’ Park in Kingston.

“Crime in Jamaica is unprecedented in a very evil way. We all can agree that seeing incidents involving the lives of children, senior citizens and people of all ages raises significant concern and fear amongst our nation,” said Cowan. “Each person we lose is someone filled with promise and purpose. Now while the powers that be are doing a great job at reacting to crime, Fun In The Son wishes to take a preventative, proactive approach by renewing the minds of our people, by bringing the message of hope.”

Jamaica recorded more than 1,600 homicides in 2017. Data from the police show more than 200 persons have been murdered in the country this year.

Cowan told the Jamaica Observer that he and his team at Glory Music are working with Kingston-based Jamaica Soul Vacations and Jamaica Tourist Board to promote the event as “a Jamaican product providing a positive, wholesome experience”.

The veteran show promoter and producer expects an increase in church groups for this year’s event, which will once again be free. Through Jamaica Soul Vacations, these groups will participate in outreach programmes known as ‘voluntourism’.

Glory Music is also collaborating with Jamaican church leaders, including some in crime-plagued areas, to ensure a strong youth presence at Fun In The Son.

“They will be engaging their communities about Fun In The Son, and oftentimes will transport groups to the venue. Beyond that we are partnering with the Sons of The Father organisation led by Reverend Shirley-Ann Chong, a movement that actively engages with Jamaican men across various communities, focusing on empowerment and character-building. These outreach efforts combined will cover a wide scope of youth groups, schools and communities,” said Cowan.

The 73-year-old Cowan became a Christian in the 1990s after an illustrious career as a secular artiste, producer and promoter. Fun In The Son, which started in 2002 in Ocho Rios, is one of several gospel events he has staged with support from Jamaica Broilers Group.

He expressed satisfaction with its growth.

“More importantly, we are extremely pleased with the qualitative growth of the people involved. Over the years we have trained approximately 8,000 youth volunteers in ‘peer evangelism’, a programme built in partnership with the Youth Reaching Youth organisation [and] supported by Swallowfield Chapel in Kingston,” Cowan explained. “This entails training young adults on how to connect, relate and counsel their peers. Through these 8,000 volunteers, over 20,000 lives have been transformed by the message of hope found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”