Jackson Three sings praises in Central Village

Twin brothers Anthony and Anthone Jackson are just eight years old, but they are the little pastors of West Avenue in Central Village, St Catherine.

Along with their six-year-old brother, Shevon, the youngsters have captured the attention of strangers and community members with their daily 'services' held at their gate.

Anthone's drum set is made from old plastic buckets, a baking tin, a cardboard barrel seal and pieces of steel. With sticks broken from an ackee tree in the yard, the self-taught musician drums up the most captivating revival songs being belted out by Anthony.

"When yuh a worship God, yuh must do it in spirit and truth, do it good. When God is good to yuh, yuh have to be good to God," Anthony said as he holds his microphone, made from an old barber shear. "Praise Him!"

Shouts of 'hallelujah' and 'Amen' came from his neighbours, who have all gathered to listen to the preacher man. Anthony told THE WEEKEND STAR that he has his eyes set on winning souls for Jesus Christ, and is focused on becoming a pastor.

I want to preach

"I love God and I just want to praise Him and speak of the good things He is doing. I want to tell people about God and I want to preach all over," he said.

As he gave his interview, his twin Anthone kept a close eye on him, cheering him on with beats of the drum at regular intervals. He said that he has other musial talents.

"Mi can play the guitar too, and the keyboard as well. Mi practise on a real drum sometimes with a band in the community, but I would like my own drum. Mi mother and grandmother can't afford it, and gunman kill we father three years ago. Every day mi practise with what mi have. Mi waah be a solider and a drummer," Anthone said.

Malitta Bryce, the children's grandmother, and Diana Morgan, their mother, said they are both proud of the youngsters.

"Honestly, mi can't tell you how dem start, enuh. Mi just know mi send dem go church from dem small and as soon as dem reach home dem would just practise what they saw in church, but then I realise it was no longer practice. These little boys were feeling something else. They only sing revivalist songs, no dancehall or anything," Bryce said.

"One day after he (Anthony) sang at church, I told him to testify, and the congregation was so impressed dem give him $5,000," she added.

Morgan said that although there are times when she gets headaches from the noise that they are making, she is fully supportive of their current hobbies.