Jamaica Fun In The Son rolled into Port Antonio and Mandeville on September 28-29, with top gospel acts looking to win souls at Folly Oval and Manchester Primary School, respectively. The shows were held under the banner, ‘Community Engagement’.

Sponsored by Best Dressed Chicken, the event returned to rural areas after several years of being held at different venues in Kingston. Tommy Cowan, who first staged the concert in Ocho Rios through his Glory Music company in 2002, was pleased with turnout and response at both venues.

“When we held the shows in Kingston, people in the rural communities had to come to us so we made a decision to go to the people. We thought, ‘if we can attract as many as 6,000 people, we can save 200 or 300 lives’,” he explained.

Despite heavy rain and a power outage at the venues, the shows attracted hundreds of patrons who saw Carlene Davis, Alaine, Donica Dennis, Marq Johnson, Rondell Positive, and Kevin Downswell. Their performances were complemented by the testimony of Pastor Sara Cowan Conner, Cowan’s daughter.

In Mandeville, Conner reminded the audience that the “Christian life is not a perfect life; it’s a perfectly surrendered life”. Cowan estimates that over 200 persons answered the altar call and gave their lives to Christ.

The first three years of Fun In The Son took place in Ocho Rios. It has been held in Montego Bay and Portmore, St Catherine, as well as in Kingston at National Heroes’ Park, University of the West Indies, Hope Gardens and Jamaica College.

Cowan believes the event has grown significantly, and transcends music.

“It’s more than a concert, it’s an experience,” he said.