Papa San ready for Come Alive gospel concert

When the curtains open on Saturday for ‘Come Alive: A National Call to Worship’ on the King’s House East Lawn, one of the headliners will be Papa San, the former dancehall kingpin who ditched that genre decades ago to embrace gospel. 
This marks Papa San’s first performance in Kingston in many years, and for the entertainer, who is based in Florida, it will be a sort of homecoming. 
 “Returning to Kingston is an amazing thing and I’m looking forward to have a really good time,” Papa San told THE WEEKEND STAR. 
“It’s been some years I haven’t been there … the last time I was in St Mary, and before that I was in Montego Bay. Kingston is one of our main places. We are getting some song requests already … some people want to tek us back through memory lane, going back from the first album all the way up. We have new stuff as well. I’m looking forward to an awesome time … just to come to be a blessing.”
The Come Alive team, led by Eric Hosin, has put together an impressive list of artistes – headlined by internationally acclaimed gospel singer Michael W. Smith –  for seven hours of worship, from 3 p.m. to 10 pm. They include Jermaine Edwards, Johnmark Wiggan, Petra-Kaye and HUMBLE. Pre-show acts will be Audience of One and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Gospel Star finalists. 
After expenses are deducted, all the proceeds will go to charity, and for Papa San, that is one of the plusses of the event.
“Just to see a big part of the proceeds going to charities is a tremendous blessing, and I’m truly blessed to be a part of it,” said the gospel minister who, along with his wife, pastors the Our Father’s Kingdom International Ministries in Sunrise, Florida.
Papa San, who was famous for spitting rapid-fire lyrics and earned the title of the ‘fastest’ deejay, said that same talent is working in his favour in gospel.
“Back in the secular world, I wasn’t using it for His glory. So I’m very thankful to use what He has given me for His glory in these times, because the only satisfaction we can find is in Christ. And my goal now is just to write songs under the guidance of the Holy Spirit … songs that really touch people’s lives and lead them to Christ or strengthen them to go forward and to continue the journey.”
One of the main beneficiaries from the 2026 concert will be the Anglican Church-run Clifton Boys’ Home in Westmoreland, which was devastated by Hurricane Melissa last October. Other beneficiaries include the Bustamante Hospital for Children, the Open Door Foundation, the Governor General’s Programme for Excellence, and the Students’ Christian Fellowship and Scripture Union.