It was an evening of praise and worship that greeted patrons inside the jam-packed Emancipation Park on Friday, October 6 for another instalment of Praise in the Park.

The event, organised by the Credit Unions of Jamaica, brought the curtains down on Credit Union Week.

Rhoda Isabella gets down to business.

From stirring performances by gospel artistes Nickette Morgan-Williams, Raheem Wellington, Sebastian Braham, Jamaica Gospel Star 2026 winner Chantal Smalling Stephenson, Jai Kingston, and Rhoda Isabella, to creative dancing by Monique Holding, the event was spirit-filled.

Patrons danced, shouted, and rocked to the songs that they knew. But one thing was certain, patrons left the venue entertained.

First-timer gospel artiste Sebastian Braham was humbled to be among the acts on the line-up.

Nickette Morgan-Williams.

“It was awesome…,” he said, “Being accepted by the people and how receptive they were to the songs… that was the high point for me, because I don’t come to Kingston often, and whenever I do, it’s always a blessing.”

Jamaica Gospel Star winner Chantal Smalling Stephenson said she had always wanted to perform at Praise in the Park.

Raheem Wellington.

“It felt wonderful being on the stage. It has been a dream of mine to be on this event and to get the opportunity this year to share. It was a blessing,” she said. “I went totally out of my comfort zone with the singjay and deejay and I saw that I did them very well.”

Smalling Stephenson said that her annual event Rip the Mantle will be held on December 11 at First Assembly Church of God in Mandeville.

Monique Holding.

Music and theatre arts teacher at Montego Bay High School for girls Raheem Wellington described performing at Praise in the Park as surreal.

“I’m also grateful for the opportunity to minister and share and worship with the Credit Unions of Jamaica, and I give God thanks for the moment,” said Wellington.

Chantal Smalling Stephenson.

Nickette Morgan-Williams, who recently teamed up with Jermaine Edwards, broadcaster Jucal Dyer and GPS for the song You Are Mine, delivered a scintillating performance.

“It’s a privilege to be here, because anytime that I get an opportunity to do what I do in my quiet time, I feel blessed to be able to do it,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Katrina Grant, group marketing and communication manager for the Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union League, was pleased with how all the planning came together.

“I think Praise in the Park 4.0 was a wonderful event… From the artiste line-up to the production and media coverage, a lot of work went into making it a success. It was a true family affair, with children, young people, adults and our elderly all coming out early and ready to praise. For us, that is what Praise in the Park is about,” she said.

“The park felt almost twice the size of last year’s staging, with all the chairs filled by 5:30 pm… we are very pleased with the response from our credit union members and the wider community,” Grant added already looking forward to next year’s fifth staging.