Sadeke Brooks, Gleaner Writer

Gospel singer, Alvin Slaughter, hugs founder of True Worshippers, Jody McCalla.

"I got a vision that if the body of Christ unites through worship, a lot of things can change in this nation," Jody McCalla said, as she explained why she decided to start the True Worshippers ministry.

McCalla says she saw the need for a more intense level of worship that would be able to cross all denominational boundaries.

"Music is powerful. The ministry provides an atmosphere where the body of Christ can come together and replenish through praise and worship. From a biblical standpoint, this is what God requires of worship," she added.

Monthly gathering

McCalla continued: "There is a group of people ready for a more intense time with God. True Worshippers invites everybody, regardless of denomination. We must show the devil that God's people can come together through worship despite differences in denomination."

The ministry usually holds two monthly gathering at 6:30 p.m. on the last Monday and Tuesday of every month at different churches in the corporate area and St. Catherine.

Since the ministry started in April this year, gatherings have been held at the Church on the Rock, Swallowfield Chapel, Fellowship Tabernacle, and Eastwood Park New Testament Church of God. The last gathering was held at the New Testament Church of God in Bayside, Portmore under the theme 'Praise is what I do'.

A theme is usually chosen based on one of the songs of whoever will minister at the gathering.

These gatherings last for approximately three hours with an hour or two hours of praise and worship. The audience is usually blessed with up-tempo songs from the True Worshippers Choir like Byron Cage's I Will Bless The Lord and Shout by Alvin Slaughter.

Other gospel artistes are featured like William Murphy, Israel Haughton, Helen Baylor and Donnie McClurkin. The choir is headed by McCalla who is fitting for this role as she is the former head of the arts ministry, as well as the music director of Family Church on the Rock. She was also part of the production of Catch the Fire, which used to be aired on CVM TV.

This praise and worship session is usually followed by a sermon from a minister.

The list of persons that have ministered at these gatherings includes ministers that have ministered around the world such as Rev. Evon Blair, Rev. Stephenson Samuels, Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin, Pastor Jennifer Porter-Cox, Bishop W.A. Blair, Dr. Lettitia McPherson, Micah Stampley, Rev. Alvin Slaughter, Vicki Yohe, Helen Baylor and William Murphy.

The ministry has been basking in success as its first monthly gathering had more than a thousand participants. Since then, it has witnessed as much as 2,000 people attending each of the monthly gatherings.

McCalla says this is proof that people of all age groups have been waiting for an event of that nature.

Other services

However, McCalla says the success they have received was not as easy as it seems as the ministry is being sponsored only by International Solar Lights and Powers, which is a business owned by McCalla and her spouse.

"We get through by the favour and the grace of God," she says as she explains how she get some of the foreign ministers to come to the gatherings. "We look them up on the Internet and call. Believe it or not, they just say yes and they are willing to accommodate our budget."

The activities of True Worshippers is not limited to monthly gatherings as the organisation also provide voice training, which is cheaper for persons who are registered with them. At their office, they do choir and band rehearsals. McCalla says she also does speaking engagement sessions at different churches on topics with praise and worship.

McCalla says she hopes that the ministry will grow, and invites more persons to join the ministry.

"It has been wonderful. When you see the Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists and other denominations together, when you see that level of unity, it's beautiful," said McCalla.