Following the massive success of the inaugural staging of the Come Alive gospel concert last year, featuring Grammy-winning gospel artiste CeCe Winans, the event returns on August 1, Emancipation Day, at King’s House East Lawn.

This year’s line-up reads Grammy-winning multi-platinum selling gospel artiste Michael W Smith, Papa San, Petra Kaye, Johnmark Wiggan, the a capella outfit HUMBLE, and Jermaine Edwards.

Erin Hosin, chairman of Come Alive Collective, told the Jamaica Observer shortly after the launch of the 2026 staging at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston that a second concert was never on the cards.

“We had no plans to do a second staging, but then God spoke to our hearts and said he wanted us to call this nation to worship,” said Hosin, who shared why Michael W Smith was considered as the event’s headliner.

“Michael and CeCe Winans were performing at a Christmas concert in Washington, DC, and she told him that she had been to Jamaica. One of our team members was at the concert and overheard the conversation, and Michael said he’d love to come to Jamaica. He’s an amazing man of God and we thought that having a multi-Grammy winner who has been worshipping for so many years was an easy selection.”

Last year’s staging of Come Alive was a sold-out affair, attracting more than 15,000 patrons. All net proceeds were donated to several charities, including the Bustamante Hospital for Children. The hospital and several other organisations, including Open Door Jamaica Foundation and the Clifton Boys’ Home, will be the beneficiaries of this year’s staging.

Hosin said that even though last year’s staging was well-attended, and he enjoyed seeing the worshipping and honouring of God, there were some lessons learnt.

“We think our vendors believe now. They didn’t bring a lot of food last year, so this time around we’ll have more food vendors, including in the VIP and VVIP areas. We’ll be doing a lot of fun things as well including a few surprises,” Hosin disclosed.

Dr Leighton Maddan, head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, is pleased with the contribution received by the institution from last year’s staging of Come Alive and he is looking forward to continued support this year.

“Through last year’s event we have benefitted in the eye department. The power of worship that was displayed last year resulted in us receiving a cataract surgery machine which is valued at over $17 million. Since then we have been able to revolutionise vision care for our children at the hospital,” Maddan told the Observer.

Although he wasn’t available to be at the inaugural staging, gospel artiste Jermaine Edwards made sure to clear his schedule for this year’s staging.

“I was approached last year, but I had prior commitments. So when they reached out this year it was a no-brainer, because it is an event that I wanted to be a part of. I saw the quality of the event from the first staging, and it was great. I believe that the message of the Lord is relevant at a time like this, and I just hope that the ambassadors bringing the message of the Lord will remain relevant,” said Edwards.

“It was an amazing concert last year. It was my first time being on a platform that served such a diverse and big audience, and it was tremendous. It was very well received; God was glorified and the mission was accomplished,” said Johnmark Wiggan.

Chevaughn Walker of the group HUMBLE reflected on last year’s event.

“I think, for me, my best recollection would be seeing the people high in worship. That just did it for me,” he said, while promising that he and his group members plan to step things up a bit this year.

“HUMBLE is all about Jamaican flavour and bringing just that a capella vibe mixed with the Jamaican-ness, and it’s Emancipation Day, so you know we’re coming with something exciting. We’re definitely gonna step it up this year.”

The pre-show event before the headlining acts will include Audience of One as well as participants in the Jamaica Gospel Star competition.

Michael W. Smith is best known in mainstream music circles for his Billboard Hot 100 hit Place in This World, which rose to #6 in 1991. He later followed up with I Will Be Here For You, which peaked at #27 on Hot 100 but rose to #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.

Nine of his albums have been certified gold in the United States, while three have been certified multiplatinum. He has to date topped Billboard’s Christian chart on 13 occasions.

Gospel artiste Jermaine Edwards performs at the launch of Come Alive. (Photo: Predi phohogra)

Dr Leighton Maddan of the Bustamante Hospital for Children makes a point during the launch event. (Photo: Predi phohogra)

Dr Terri-Karelle Johnson, founder, Open Door Jamaica Foundation, lauds the work of Come Alive Collective at the recent launch event. (Photo: Predi phohogra)