FRANKLYN
Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
TRADITIONALLY, WOMEN in the church were not allowed to speak or play an active role. Singing, playing musical instruments and taking other active part in the life of the church were strongly prohibited.
However, now that things and times have changed and women are now coming to the fore, preaching, teaching Bible classes, singing and ministering in a variety of other ways, female artistes especially have seen their role as more than just performing before an audience. Gospel singer Carlene Davis, says the role of any Christian, whether male or female, is to minister unto others, regardless of the aspect of ministry that they are in.
As it relates specifically to female artistes, however, Davis says "our priority is not to sell music but to spread the word of God." According to Davis, "we are musical evangelists and the Lord has given us the greatest commission, to go ye into the world and preach the gospel".
HOLDING FIRM
Whatever the style or form, women like Chevelle Franklyn have held firm to their belief in the art form of deejay gospel. Franklyn can recall the opposition that she was met with by some members in the church when she first started out as a gospel artist. "When I just started out with my style of deejaying and singing persons would appreciate the singing, but it took a while for them to warm up to the DJ aspect of it," Franklyn said. According to her, there were a lot of Christians who were hard and fast in the traditional ways of the gospel, but some have since come into this 'newness', because they have experienced the power and goodness of God in the work that she has been doing.
According to Davis, music is just a great vehicle for bringing salvation to the world and, as a gender, the women are the nurturers.
"I see where the Lord is raising up women to bring the good news and even in our society today, it's the women who are in the homes where fathers are absent. We have the desire to see our children grow to know the Lord," Davis said.
Women of Purpose, an all-female group which falls directly under the Papa San Ministry International, have made it their duty to target and teach women about the word of God, in an effort to have them spread positive values to their children.
According to Debbie Thompson, Papa San's wife and also one of the group's directors, "We are concerned about the spiritual being of women, so we seek to help them in a spiritual manner and to uplift them." The sole aim of this, she says, is to teach women about God and, in turn, positive attitudes and values can be passed on to their children.
REACHING WOMEN
The group plans to use a variety of entertainment packages and other outreach programmes to reach women, exposing them to what the word of God has to offer.
Promoter of gospel events, Tommy Cowan, agrees with this, as he says in the churches that he has been exposed to "women play more meaningful roles than men".
According to Cowan, "There are more women in the ministries of churches than men, and even personally for me, I find myself being more of a supporter to my wife than trying to step to the fore."
Cowan says women in Christendom are very influential and offer powerful ministries, so much so that at his recent 'Fun in the Son' concert he had mainly female speakers and ministers like the Reverend Jackie McCulloch.
For some Christians, like Joan Davis, "It's all about the power behind the message, not the form in which it is delivered or the particular gender that brings the good news to us."
According to Davis, for years, women have had to remain in the background, but now that they are able to step to the fore they are making some positive inroads.
