Fire! Did somebody say FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Delroy Nesta Williams

Late yesterday afternoon, I got a call inviting me to a “lecture” just as I was about to take a nap. It was at 7:30 at the Dominica State College (DSC). My friend said something about “fire” so I figured it would be interesting to attend. I dragged myself up and after taking a quick shower, opened my eyes and made my way up to Stockfarm.

I was early, a big shocker since I had picked up the habit of strolling in late, not fashionably though, to these types of activities. My friend had said lecture and fire but what she should have said was a Holy Ghost awakening.

God Sent warming up the crowd

I was greeted by the sounds of God Sent as I made my way to my chair; that was after wandering around the grounds of the Dominica State College and taking in the view of Roseau. God Sent performed a few of my favourite songs, Heaven to me, Pressing On and of course, I Know Who I Am by Sinach, which happens to be a crowd favourite and literal anthem for Christians on the island.

What I met at the DSC was a melting pot of Caribbean and American youth, all gathered to praise the Lord. There were young people there from Dominica (obviously), the United States of America, St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica and a lone representative from the Turks and Caicos Islands who did more than just represent her country, she roared into action when she was called upon by lead singer of God Sent - Carlvin Deravaliere.

The night featured a personal testimony by Emanuel “Manny” Onhome, who spoke of his African upbringing and his encounter with an American missionary, that brought him to the United States through a basketball scholarship. He excelled academically and in his personal business while in the US, eventually getting married and raising a family. It wasn’t until his alcoholic father died though, that he had an awakening and after the Lord put a few angels in his path to guide him, that he founded Samaritan’s Feet.

Since inception Samaritan’s Feet has distributed shoes to more than 4.5 million people, including Dominicans (the festival participants had done a distribution drive across Dominica that very day). Basically, his story involved a full circle experience that started from receiving a pair of sneakers from the missionary to now providing shoes to millions, complimented by his message of hope and betterment in the Lord.

Fully Ignited crowd reacts to God Sent

As Manny said at end his testimony, “sometimes all it takes is a little spark to create a raging inferno” and he proved it with his demonstrative words and charisma across the stage. I particularly enjoyed how he mingled with the French translator.

For more information on Samaritan’s feet and to read more about Manny’s story, go to www.samaritan’s feet.org

The Caribbean Baptist Youth Fellowship, Youth Festival 2014 continues all week long with visits to the Princess Margaret Hospital, Chances Children Home and Operation Youth Quake, a health fair, a sports day and a gospel show, featuring His Excellency, a Barbadian-based Dominican gospel artist (I am looking forward to seeing my schoolmate perform). The gospel show takes place at the Newtown Savannah from 7:00pm

After being skeptical about the “lecture” and “fire” I must admit that I left the “Fully Ignited, Radically Engaged.”

Thank you to my friend for the invite.