Powerful ministry in song at Meadowvale SDA Music Day
Published:Monday | December 1, 2025 | 12:08 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Seventh-day Adventists are acknowledged as having the gift of singing, and, on the annual calendar of events for many churches is Music Day – that Sabbath when even the birds seem to pause and listen keenly as human songbirds lift magnificent and melodious notes in praise to the Creator. Last Saturday, one month and a day after Hurricane Melissa ravaged the island, was one such Sabbath inside the Meadowvale Seventh-day Adventist Church, located in the heart of the bustling Price Rite area off Red Hills Road in St Andrew.
In a programme conceptualised by the music department, led by Cadien Stuart, talented musicians, the church choir, soloists, all-female, all-male and mixed groups, as well as the Meadowvale Speech Chorale, came together in one accord under the theme ‘How Shall we Stand in the Judgement?’. With so much amazing talent on display inside one space, there were goosebump moments aplenty as magnificent voices reminded listeners of the power of music to heal and to restore souls, even souls still filled with distress caused by Hurricane Melissa.
From the soothing sounds of saxophonist Fred Robertson’s Pass me not, O Gentle Saviour and God Alone to the bountiful praises from the song service team and Ray Boltz’s emotive The Altar, sung by Danielle Hines, the Sabbath School section of the programme was lit. Closing out that segment beautifully was an all-female group of four, appropriately named, Restored, who had to pray away all technical glitches which threatened to interrupt their delivery. After that, their rich harmonies burst through, shining like precious metals in I’d Rather Have Jesus, a song which declares that “ I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold/I’d rather be His than have riches untold/I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land/I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.”
Since it was Music Day, the Divine Service segment also emphasised ministry through song, rather than a full sermon preached by a pastor. Osanna Praise, the six-member group from Waterford SDA in Portmore, whose ministry continues to be impactful, led out in a praise and worship session that was divine. Osanna Praise has mastered the art of crescendoing their set, moving seamlessly from one message-filled song into another, allowing only music to do the talking.
Shouts of “Hallelujah!” and “Amen!” rang out from the congregation as the service progressed with the type of singing that must surely have sent a sweet fragrance up to heaven. There was a moment of poignancy when it was announced that the youthful, all-male singing group, 4 Souls, would be performing together “for the last time in a little while” as two members were migrating. They gave their best on the song, When He Was on the Cross. The Meadowvale Ladies Trio, which blended, not three but four powerful voices – Anucha Pryce, Kadean Cross-Frith, Chanice Francis, and Shannon Ramdial-Phillips – sang The Day of The Lamb; all-male group, Assure, delivered O You Better Mind; and the group Restored made another appearance, this time with the reminder, Lest I Forget.
The Meadowvale Combined Choir, led by the glorious voice of Millicent Leadbeater, was on point with The Lord Thy God, a hymn of praise inspired by the book of Zephaniah, chapter 3:17, and a song made popular by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. From the group Arpeggio, also from Meadowvale SDA and accompanied by Rohan Cross, came the feel-good lyrics, melodies and harmonies of “ the song of the redeemed” that left a smile on everyone’s face. It was the aptly titled Favourite Song of All.
It was goosebumps all over when soloist Donna Lisa Yearwood, the singer whose voice is at least twice her size, unfolded her powerful ministry in song. Her passionate renditions of All Rise and Four Days Late, resonated with a power and clarity that left no room for any response other than the hallelujahs and amens that rang out loud and long. Anucha Pryce, from the Ladies Trio, stepped into the solo spotlight – a rarity – and delivered one of the sweetest and most melodious offerings of the Divine Service, the Christian favourite, Amazing Grace.
Male soloists Geovanni Baker stirred hearts with When Jesus Comes and Rohan Cross gave his all on I’m Amazed That You Love Me.
Enjoying himself immensely as his genius fingers brought the keyboard to life was musician Jelani Brown. Musical accompaniment also came from Lloyd Clarke, Gareth Stuart, and Alex Phillips
A sermonette was delivered by Dr. Donna Brown from the East Jamaica Conference. First Elder Michael Stuart announced that a special offering would be collected for church members who were affected by Hurricane Melissa. Meadowvale SDA is pastored by Paul Bailey.