ROSE HALL, St James — Top selling American gospel and multiple Grammy award-winning singer and minister, Donnie McClurkin, will be the featured act for the highly anticipated gospel event, ‘Come Celebrate Jesus’, set for the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall in October.

The BA&D Gospel Productions event is currently celebrating its seventh year, and will also feature top local talents such as Chevelle Franklyn, Jabez, DJ Nicholas, Yvonne Cohen and Flavia Beswick.

McClurkin known for the hits Great Is Your Mercy, I Need You and We Fall Down, is expected to deliver a powerful set, filled with his usual witty banter and audience engagement.

Jamaican superstar Chevelle Franklyn has been absent from the local scene due to touring engagements in African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe, as well as making stops in Europe, the United States and the Middle-East. Franklyn is sure to provide a spirited peformance on the night.

Crowd favourite Jabez with his runaway hit single Drinking From My Saucer, adds to his singing, a powerful ministering role to the hundreds that are expected to be in attendance.

The event has grown considerably over the years and is now a staple for gospel music lovers, and is set to become a springboard for faith-based tourism.

Custos of St James Rev Conrad Pitkin, while speaking at the launch of the event last week Wednesday at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites in Rose Hall, congratulated the organisers on the success of the event, and implored them to look towards a thrust for faith-based tourism.

“I would like to congratulate the organising committee for the tremendous work in undertaking this event and making it a success, as it represents a springboard for furthering the relationship between Jamaica and the rest of the world. This event has evolved and will open new windows of opportunities for the promotion of faith-based tourism.

“This area is untapped, and is a great opportunity for the organisers to be a catalyst in this area,” Pitkin said.

Keynote speaker at the event, Omar Robinson, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), commended the organisers and hoped for the event to become a part of the tourism product.

“In addition to Donnie McClurkin, this year’s concert will showcase our own Chevelle Franklyn, DJ Nicholas, Jabez and others that have been blazing a trail for Jamaica at religious events here and abroad. Strengthening our island’s brand as a premiere destination for music, all of this is critical to Jamaica as we seek to gain a stronger foothold in the faith-based sector of tourism,” Robinson emphasised.

Pre-sold tickets for the event are available for $2,500, and $3,000 at the gate, for general admission, while VIP tickets will be sold for $5,000 pre-sold, and $6,000 at the gate.