By Trudy Simpson,
Staff Reporter
JAMAICANS SAID good-bye to the year 2000 amidst loud cheers, bursts of fireworks, lots of bubbly or with the joyful prayers of thousands who wanted to greet 2001 worshipping God.
Conspicuously absent was the nervous tension exhibited last year as people waited for the "Millennium bug" to strike, shutting down computers and throwing many parts of the world into chaos.
"Last year (1999), I was here and I expected that as it reached midnight, we'd lose the lights, (have an) earthquake and other things. I had gone all over looking for kerosene for lamps and all of that. I'm still looking out for 2001 but I am not as afraid as I was last year," said cashier Joy Osbourne, who was at the Bethel Baptist Church in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew, on Sunday night.
Most of those who were in church this year, seemingly wanted to be there to worship and not out of fear.
Whether at the Wildman Street Pentecostal Church, in Central Kingston, the St. Andrew Parish Church, Half-Way Tree, Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Hope Road or at the New Year's Eve concert at Church on the Rock, Mannings Hill Road, St. Andrew, Jamaicans turned out in their thousands filling some streets of the Corporate Area with cars and vendors and their hearts with the word of God.
Delivered in quieter or fiery tones at some churches and through songs by local gospel sensations Papa San, Junior Tucker, Chevelle Franklin and the Rock Choir and dancers, the message at the start of this year was that all Jamaicans, no matter what their sins or how alone they felt, could find joy, salvation and forgiveness as well move "mountains" if they sought God and repented.
The congregations were urged to thank God for his mercy and to renew or make a new covenant with him for the new year.
"It's always God's ideal to lift man to the highest dimension. You can only be regenerated by the spirit of God! The Spirit of God can change your life!" cried Wildman Street's third pastor for the night, Harris Simpson, jumping and shrugging off his jacket as sweat coursed down his face.
The congregation roared in agreement shouting "Yes!" "Amen!"
"Praise the Lord" and greeting its pastors' passionate sermons with much hand clapping, stomping of feet and waving of hands and handkerchiefs.
At Church on the Rock, the more than 6,000-strong crowd- gathered on the hillside, like the multitude at the Sermon on the Mount nearly 2000 years ago -- to hear that God could provide a life that was better than carnival, better than the excitement of World Cup football and better than any party being kept on the same night.
They were spurred on by the rousing rhythm of United States-based group Sons and Daughter, the acclaimed gospel singer Donny McKlurkin and a challenge from Pastor David Keane.
Touched by the message, many Jamaicans vowed to make positive changes this year -- the first being the acceptance of Jesus in their lives.
Others sought God's help in guiding and protecting them throughout the year, in learning how to control their anger, to defeat hopelessness, to fulfil dreams such as improving the lives of their children and themselves by making a stable home and financial future, to provide jobs and further education for them and even to provide a decent man or woman so they could get married.
