Pastor Sara Cowan will join ZEAL, a new Christian ministry which meets at Club MECA in Marketplace on Constant Spring Road, for the series ‘Babylon: Thriving in Opposition’ on Sunday, October 15.

Meeting in a club is something that hasn’t quite been done in Jamaica before; however, ZEAL’s aim is to create reachability to a wide audience who may have doubts about attending the ‘traditional’ churches, says Pastor Cowan.

“When Pastor Kory Cassell partnered with Omar and Lezann Azan in a Bible study, it began to grow quickly from the living room to the backyard. The manager of Club MECA attended the study and offered it as a space to meet. Though ZEAL would meet at a variety of untraditional places from Bob Marley Beach to UTech [University of Technology, Jamaica], somehow it was always brought back to MECA, which was so generously offered,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Added Cowan: “It was a practical and providential move. Practical because it is a centrally located and well-known place, especially to the audience ZEAL hopes to make space for. The heart of ZEAL is to reach people who may want to know more about God but a more traditional setting may create some intimidation at first. ZEAL aims to take a familiar environment to those who are curious, instead of pushing the curious to an environment that they may have stereotypes and qualms about.”

Sunday’s staging will also feature renowned gospel artiste Dr Carlene Davis.

Cowan is the daughter of impresario Tommy Cowan. She got her Certificate in Biblical Studies at Caribbean Christ for the Nations, Jamaica; a Certificate in Missions Studies at Christ for the Nations, Dallas, Texas; a Bachelors in Christian Education from Jacksonville Theological Seminary; and Masters in Christian Education from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. She also served as a missionary in South Africa in 1994 during the election of President Nelson Mandela.

Cowan further said the managers at Club MECA welcomed the idea with open arms, and they have offered their support.

“It was initiated by management. We have a great relationship and they have been so supportive of the vision here. We have seen them serve alongside us and even a person who worked in the club has shown interest in getting baptised,” she said.

Cowan also listed other team members who have nurtured the initiative including the Richards family, and other loved ones she affectionately referred to as ‘Bambino’ and Shauna, Henrietta and Del.

There is also a clear plan about what is intended to be achieved with the sermon series, according to Cowan. She is confident that it will bring about the desired results.

“This series, ‘Babylon: Thriving in the face of Opposition’ [we are] hoping to provide modern-day solutions to thrive — not just survive during a season of opposition. Our next series in November is ‘Church Hurt: Healing the Wounds of Religion’; just wanting to acknowledge the reality of that and bring some opportunity for healing,” she said.