The Bahamas will host the biggest names in gospel music, drawing at least 2,200 guests for the One Love Gospel Getaway in Nassau and Paradise Island from May 2 to 5.
The gospel getaway is an initiative of Radio One, an urban-oriented, multi-media company that primarily targets African-American consumers. Radio One currently owns or operates 55 broadcast stations in 16 United State cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston and Washington, DC.
The four-day event will include seminars, marriage vow renewals for couples, Christian comedy, traditional worship services and gospel comedy. It will feature more than 20 top gospel artists. Among them are Mary Mary, Fred Hammond and United Tenors, Vashawn Mithell, Shirley Caesar and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. The hosts for the event are Yolanda Adams, Coco Brother, Marcus Wiley and Anthony Valary.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said One Love Gospel Getaway will be an economic blessing for The Bahamas.
“You appreciate 2,200 guests will be here,” he said. “So it just tells you the number of room nights you are going to have. But in addition to that, you also have the spill over effect. You have people who will not be a part of this group but because of the advertisement they will come to The Bahamas to attend one of the events. So they will be in the other hotels and of course Bahamians will come from all over the country. So there will be a tremendous amount of activity taking place.”
Bishop Neil Ellis, who will be a guest speaker along with Pastor Paula White, said the event will be special in its size and scope.
“This is really the first time that something of this magnitude as it relates to gospel is taking place anywhere on land,” Bishop Ellis said. “We are excited that it is happening here in The Bahamas. We are trying to pull out all the red carpets because this event takes place every year and what better place than to make The Bahamas the home for the Gospel Getaway annually?”
Bishop Ellis said he was grateful that the Ministry of Tourism decided to partner with Radio One to make this event a success.
The One Love Gospel Getaway will kick off an event-packed month of May for Nassau/Paradise Island. Other events include the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic from May 20 – 25 and the Tottenham Hotspur exhibition match against the Jamaican national football team on May 23.
By Tourism Today