Organisers want ‘Release’ to break spiritual chains

With the third staging of the 'Release' gospel concert set to kick off on Friday, 'power couple' and organisers Ricardo and Oprah Williams firmly believe that all their steps, "ordained by God", will lead them into having a full spiritual breakthrough and powerhouse ministry.

The Christian couple shared that God revealed the idea for the concert in a dream. Oprah said with the first and second staging lacking in support and sponsorship, they did not lose faith in returning for a third show.

"With this third staging, we don't know what to expect, we just know that our hearts [and] focus are set on God...and ensure that [the show] has that ability to stand on its own and to nurture the children of God and the [unsaved]," said Oprah, who will also emcee the event.

"The birth of Release was on the leading of the Holy Spirit to allow a space for the true worshippers to do what God wants them to have done which is to get everybody into one place to worship Him in spirit and in truth," Ricardo weighed in. He said him being an artiste also added an extra punch to guiding "lost souls who need an answer and are trying to find their way to God".

Ricardo, who goes by the stage name Ri Car Williams, is known for tracks such as Take My Hands, Resurrected God and God Loves You. Though he doesn't label himself as a reggae or dancehall gospel act, he said with the Jamaican audience, he goes wherever the Spirit leads with his music while remaining true to the message which is, "in the Kingdom of God, it is sweeter". The couple, who are business owners of the Contagious Worship In Christ - a threefold ministry - also own a recording label in which Ricardo produces his own music.

The organisers expressed hope that "chains and bondages" will be broken and patrons will leave Release not only feeling blessed but saved.

"Some of us struggle with spiritual attacks and things that put a spiritual hold on us and 'Release' is to set us free from those bondages. Persons commit suicide every day and struggle with drunkenness - that's spiritual, and [they're] addicted to it. But how can you be released from something if you're addicted?" Oprah reasoned. She alluded to the gospel concert as a spiritual ground for breaking that spirit of addiction.

In concurring, Ricardo stated, "While the Holy Spirit has Its part to play with the whole releasing aspect, you as the individual have to make that decision to make the Holy Spirit do whatever He can do in you...it's a mindset thing. Once you put your mind in the position of letting go, you will allow the Holy Spirit to move freely in your situations."

Labelled with the theme 'In The Garden - Melodies from Heaven: Best of the 90's & 2000's Edition', the patrons will be showered with some "good old-school" gospel music from various entertainers including Nadine Blair and Perpetual Sounds of Praise, Kim Alex, drama crew DREDZ Production, and a dance item from the Laud Dance Ministry.

The family-centred event is set to take place at the Police Officers' Club in St Andrew.

Though the Williamses are working hard to keep the gospel alive, they don't believe gospel events are supported enough, and call on the local public to do more in helping them "spread the gospel of Jesus Christ" and bring healing to the nation, while breaking the stigma attached to "the Christian life and churches".

"We were set upon this mandate to ensure that that specific stigma doesn't happen. We are not trying to foster it, we're trying to break that curse. That's why the event is called 'Release' because we understand that there's an issue there that needs addressing and the Holy Spirit mandated us to ensure that we get dat done... the change is here," said Ricardo, who plans to start his own ministry with his wife.