In a bid to foster greater unity in the Jamaican gospel music industry and forge a new path towards a sector grounded in service and commitment to the nation, gospel music icons Papa San and Chevelle Franklyn have teamed up with Olamay Events Limited to execute RESET Project 2025.

The initiative will roll out with a one-day musical experience at Manchester High School on Saturday, January 4, 2025, under the theme ‘Honouring the past, embracing the present, reshaping the future’.

“RESET Project 2025 will be a night of ministry, fun, upliftment, and empowerment. It is the ultimate experience for people to give their lives to the Lord and start the new year on a new path. It is a night to see souls saved. It’s also about recognising the elders in gospel who came before us. We have to get to the point when we can give back to this community and allow their music to live on. The show will take us through the gospel music journey so young people can see where the music is coming from,” said Papa San, who is set to perform new music as well as old favourites.

One of the hallmarks of RESET Project 2025 is to provide wholesome family entertainment. The long-term mission of the initiative is to reposition the hearts and minds of those in the music industry, establish a structure of support for industry players, and ultimately drive national transformation.

The brainchild of Olamay Events CEO Annoleah Wynter, RESET Project 2025 is a call to action. Once it was clear what was needed to be done, I reached out to Papa San, Chevelle and Lt Stitchie, who was still on his feet at the time.

Beyond providing support for Lt Stitchie, the RESET music experience will honour other local stalwarts in the gospel industry. Those selected for recognition this year include former lead vocalist of The Grace Thrillers’ Shirley Willis; prophet and evangelist Dr Lester Lewis; and gospel phenom Sandra Brooks.

“We are taking this important step to give them their flowers and show appreciation for the work they have done to advance Jamaican gospel music in Jamaica and throughout the world. Within the next year we expect to establish a foundation through which we can support industry veterans who have worked tirelessly as ambassadors of the faith as well as provide benevolent and medical support to those who need it. We have also identified the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf as an organisation we will support. RESET Project 2025 has committed to raise $3 million to the centre,” Wynter added.

Long-term plans for the RESET Project also include staging an event to drive faith-based tourism in keeping with the goals of the Jamaica Tourist Board, which is among this year’s sponsors. Wynter and the RESET Project partners are also keen on engaging church leaders to work together to rebuild event spaces for the gospel music industry.

In addition to performances by Papa San, Chevelle Franklyn, and a taste of the honorees who still strut their stuff, patrons attending RESET 2025 will be treated to a pre-show featuring opening acts, including two of the winningest schools from the All Together Sing competition, namely Manchester High and Old Harbour High Schools.

A key feature of the RESET 2025 main show experience is the fact that we will have one live band.

“Patrons won’t have to endure band changes nor the constant chatter of an MC. It will be a rich, wholesome experience with a unique display of technology driven and narrated voiceovers to connect the various performances,” said organisers in a release.