ROSE HALL, St James — Last Saturday night the Montego Bay Convention Centre was transformed into a large ‘church’ as thousands of people crammed the facility for praise and worship.

It was the Come Celebrate Jesus concert, and with the New York based-gospel singer and songwriter Alvin Slaughter, as well as local gospel artistes such as Kevin Downswell, Ramone Wilson, Keesa Peart, H.U.M.B.L.E, the Leharia Singers, and the Florida- based Papa San in the line-up, soul-stirring gospel music was bound to be in the offing.

The occasion was a special one for Slaughter — no stranger to Jamaica — and his wife Joy, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday.

Slaughter, who had performed at the 2013 staging of the event, opened his set with Shout Hallelujah, then eased into other songs such as He Alone is Worthy, God Is Able, Anointing Fall on Me, and Holy Spirit Rain Down, and had the large congregation singing and waving as he ministered to the flock.

But the place was truly moved when the former Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singer brought his wife on stage and shared stories of his own walk with God.

He said: “It’s a privilege to be back here again. It feels like I am coming home to my family, but since the last time I was here in 2013, I have faced a lot of battles, a lot of struggles.”

He told the gathering that 20 years ago his mother died of cervical cancer, then 12 years later his father also died of cancer, while in January of this year his brother, who he described as his best friend, also died of cancer.

Slaughter added that two years ago he too was diagnosed with cancer on his face.

“At that time the devil said to me ‘Mr Gospel Singer, you can’t worship God now; you are going to die like your mother and your father,’ but after several tests and prayers months later, I was told by the doctors that what we thought was cancer is no longer there, so go and sing for the Lord,” said Slaughter to thunderous applause.

Slaughter’s performance followed on the heels of splendid sets from Papa San, Downswell, Wilson, and H.U.M.B.L.E, as well as a praise and worship segment.

Donald Brooks, one of the organisers of the five-year-old-event, told the Jamaica Observer West that he is pleased with the outcome of the concert.

“The concert is to bring people to know God, and so it has achieved its objectives,” said Brooks.

Part proceeds from the event will go towards the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI), the St James Infirmary, and the Woodlands School of Special Education in Manchester.