Reggae Sumfest Bibles blessed and ready to be kissed - Minister Marion Hall looking for revival on show stage

A literal 'kissing out the Bible' awaits patrons on Saturday, the closing night of the week-long Reggae Sumfest, which got under way on Sunday in Montego Bay, St James.

Minister Marion Hall, the former Queen of the Dancehall, has already blessed the 1,000 copies of the Holy Bible which she will be handing out at the venue at the beginning of her much anticipated set, and her only lament is that she will not be able to set up a baptismal pool to dip any concertgoer who wants to give their life to Christ.

She explained that she had seen the right pool in the US, but was unable to bring it to Jamaica, and up to Thursday, she had not come across one that is suitable.

"But wonderful things are going to happen. I have been fasting for three days now and I am looking for a revival on that side. I am lyrically inclined and the Holy Spirit is going to direct me," Minister Hall told THE WEEKEND STAR.

She promised that Reggae Sumfest patrons will not just be receiving the good Book, but they will be asked to read passages, and she is encouraging them to kiss out the pages of the Bible.

Minister Hall enjoyed soaring popularity following her Groovin' in the Park performance in New York last month, with many persons using the lyrics of her song Kiss Out Mi Bible in creative ways. However, she is not fazed and insists that her meaning is literal.

"In the Bible it says to greet your brethren with a holy kiss ... I open the Bible many a time and I kiss out that Bible. I put my face and kiss out the Psalms. When you study the Bible, that is when deliverance comes. Come kiss out a verse and break yuh dutty curse," she invited, as she told the story of the prophet Ezekiel who was told to eat the word of God.

"In the book of Ezekiel it says that the scroll was bitter in the belly but sweet as honey in the mouth. On Reggae Sumfest night I am going to read from Ezekiel 3, so people will understand when I say kiss out the Bible," Minister Hall added.

Excited about her first return to the Reggae Sumfest stage since she ditched the dancehall eight years ago, the minister underscored that her Lady Saw persona "dead long time" but pointed out that as a creative, she is "reggae, dancehall, hip hop, blues, country and western and R&B".

She gave thanks to Downsound Entertainment boss Josef Bogdanovich who she said God used to open a door for her.

"God showed me a door that I must walk through but he said that first there would be other doors that would cause heartache and disappointments. I cried out to Him to open up that final door, and when I got up off my knees, I got a call from Joe. And ... Joe... he is the one who is saying to me 'You say that you are coming with God, so do your mission'. Can I save who is in the church? No. I have to find souls to save," she said.

Minister Hall will bring the curtains down on Reggae Sumfest night two.