Gospel singer recalls life-changing ordeal

Gospel singer Acacia Islands believes that nothing less than divine intervention is why she is still alive today after a horrific three-vehicle crash more than a decade ago.

On that fateful day in June 2012, she was on her way home in a taxi after completing her shift at a north coast hotel. However, the driver soon informed her that she couldn't travel with him that day as he was not going her way that night. That decision saved her life, as the vehicle was involved in a fatal crash later.

"He had left from MoBay, and that night, he said it was a straight trip to Ochi, no detour to Trelawny. I just missed death, five people in all died," she said. She didn't know the gory details of what had transpired until several hours later.

"My aunt called me in the morning early to say she had heard about the accident and told her I was OK. A musician from the band also called me. He had seen me step into the taxi and then he had seen the accident ... all those people lying down in the road, he had thought I was in that taxi. But God had a different plan for me," she said.

In 2016, Islands became a Christian. She felt that her transformation was a gradual, deliberate design. Now, she is promoting her latest single, Agape Love, which is produced by Grammy-nominated producer Kemar 'Flava' McGregor. She said the song came to her about 4:30 a.m. one day.

"When I woke up in prayer, this song came to me like a symphony," she said. " Agape Love is the love between God and man, the love that God has for us, the love He gave us when He sent His only son to die for our sins ... that's an eternal love. It's a love story."

She is also putting the finishing touches on an EP of original songs. Her vocal range is anchored by the countless hours she spent on the cabaret circuit singing international standards, mento, pop and reggae hits from icons like Phyllis Dillon, Cynthia Schloss and Marcia Griffiths.

"I have surrendered my life to Jesus. This is my testimony. His Grace surrounds me. He is at the centre of my life. He has shown me that nothing is impossible once God is in it. Jesus saved my life," she said.