AS I reflected this morning I realised that it is not my calling but that God Himself is the one who has called me to be a man of God. I have no other reason to live except to be a man of God.

As I look back over my 86 years of life I also realised that it is through that call that I have been able to make people aware of the poor, and that there are ways we can make a change to how we can accept, and love, and care for the poor. I give thanks to God for that. If nothing else, that one important purpose has been fulfilled. Thanks be to God for all of you who have made it possible for the poor to know that in Jamaica there is love for them.

My main concern is not my own life. I don’t matter, I don’t count — it’s really all the brothers and the sisters and the friends who make up the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), who I love dearly.

In my life I am surprised how, by His mighty hand, the Lord has used art and music to show the beauty and the goodness of God. In my own life I know so deeply that God’s beauty and goodness and love are a part of the love that the Lord has sent our way to really give praise to God. And you, brothers and sisters, are a part of this.

As I look back at the ups and downs over the years I see God really has been good to me, and He has granted me friends and people who have stood by me in my struggles to establish a place for the poorest of the people of our nation.

God has been good in so many ways. So many people and organisations have supported the cause. I look at the National Arena where we stage our musicals — no cost. I think of businessmen like Chris Zacca at Sagicor and Mark Williams at Kingston Wharves who give, despite the cost. Richard Bair at Main Event has been so helpful for years, at no cost. LP Azar makes the beautiful costumes possible, at no cost. The singers give their talent, at no cost. And there are many others too numerous to mention who have supported us over the years. What extraordinary generosity!

I believe that they did it because of the impulse of God working in their lives. All the benefactors and singers did it because God has asked them to act on His behalf — that’s the way it works. It is through them that so much has been achieved. I can’t believe that the Lord has used me, a humble beggar, to build up these homes as the founder of MOP.

I give thanks to God for my sons who are the hands who work in over 14 centres all over the world. It is with the talent of the singers and musicians that I have managed to create these productions. I am really amazed.

It is hard to believe that these melodies just come to me, a lot of them in my sleep. I am awakened, I wake up the brothers and I get them to help me record them on tape. They just flowed. I didn’t even know what I was doing, I was simply used by the Lord. Out of that has come over 600 songs.

The Lord has used me as his instrument to create music for many productions such as Acts of the Apostles, Messiah, King David, Jam Reggae Opera, Esther, Ruby, Moses, Jesus Born Ya, Sugar Cane, Make a Joyful Noise, Tobit, Candles in the Dark, Amazing Grace, Yes, Brother Soul, Sister Sun, Rejoice My Soul, Brave Men (the story of our brothers who were murdered), Praise Him, John the Baptist, Listen Man, Isaiah and Rise Up.

I give thanks to God for all these years of contributing to the culture of Jamaica. To my amazement, we were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Actor Boy Awards for producing plays and music, many of them awarded for excellence over several years.

What can I say but thank you, friends. When the Lord sees that I have given everything, He has given me back everything through your kindness. I thank you friends who are co-workers in the kingdom. When the Lord takes me up into heaven, after He has forgiven my many sins, I will be waiting there for you, preparing a mansion for you. I have received everything from you and I am going to give everything back to you, in the heavenly kingdom.

God bless you.