From the 1970s into the 1990’s Voice of Deliverance, a gospel and worship programme hosted by Bishop Dr Herro V Blair, was the rage on Sunday mornings on local television. But before he got into television, the pastor had already established his ministry on AM radio and was a force to be reckoned with.

The industry veteran is among five people from the gospel fraternity who will be honoured at this year’s staging of the Sterling Gospel Music Awards with the KFC Big Deal Kingdom Stalwarts Award.

The event takes place on October 4 at Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Braeton Parkway, in Portmore, St Catherine.

When the Jamaica Observer caught up with Bishop Blair on Friday he was overwhelmed at the recognition by the Sterling Gospel Music Awards committee.

“I have been following the Sterling Gospel Music Awards over the years and I am honoured to be a recipient of one of the awards this time around,” said Bishop Blair, who will next year celebrate 50 years of the existence of his Deliverance Evangelic Association.

Blair has won several awards and has been recognised through the years for the philanthropic work that his ministry has done.

“I started out in 1968 on the radio; I was doing Caribbean Beacon on the AM band on radio in Anguilla, which was heard in dozens of countries at the time. When I came back to Jamaica I went to RJR and did a gospel show during the graveyard shift and that was what catapulted me. Radio was what brought me a level of recognition, and it carried me into more countries than television did,” Bishop Blair shared.

Born in Somerton, St James, Bishop Blair’s parents were pastors. He is the cousin of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

In the mid-1960s Bishop Blair pioneered the very first Pentecostal Church in the Cayman Islands before returning to Jamaica to start the Deliverance Evangelic Association. Today, he is the senior pastor at Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre on Waltham Park Road, of which he is the co-founder.

Asked what the high point of his journey through the years has been, Bishop Blair said: “I’ve been able to serve my country, head the Peace Management Initiative in Jamaica, and going into most of the communities across Jamaica as a peacemaker. Just the ability to serve has been a blessing.”

He added: “I have dined with presidents of the United States, Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II a couple of times, and I’ve been honoured by my country. Today, I am still serving in many positions.”

Among the many institutions and programmes that he has helped to establish are the Deliverance Centre Basic School, Deliverance Centre Commercial Institute, Deliverance Centre Bible Institute, the Yadar Kinder Preparatory School, and street feeding programme and soup kitchen at his church, Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre, 104 Waltham Park Road.

Bishop Blair was appointed in various capacities and served as general secretary of the National Religious Media, chairman of the National Democratic Movement, vice-president of Caribbean region for Full Gospel Fellowship International, member of the Rent Assessment Board, chairman of National Religious Affairs – Jamaica Festival, and co-founder of Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Gospel Festival Song Competition.

He currently serves as chairman/director of National Religious Media, founding member of Correctional Services Production Company, and member of the International Communion of Charismatic Churches & Bishop’s Council.

In 2007 Bishop Blair was vested into the Order of Jamaica (OJ).