This Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday, the Jubilation! Christian Channel on St. Thomas-St. John Cable TV will be carrying a live "Faith in Action 2000" telethon. The special programing — featuring local gospel music, pastors and special guests — is aimed at raising $125,000 to upgrade the broadcast facilities, defray cable lease costs and support local program production.
This Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday, the Jubilation! Christian Channel on St. Thomas-St. John Cable TV will be carrying a live "Faith in Action 2000" telethon.
The special programing — featuring local gospel music, pastors and special guests and presentations — is aimed at raising $125,000 for Jubilation!/Channel 56, which is locally owned and operated by Gloria and James Gumbs. According to a release, the money is needed to upgrade the production facilities, control room and editing equipment; to renovate the Jubilation! studio and to defray the costs of cable channel lease fees and of producing local programs.
Channel 56, operating out of a studio in Contant, is on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It carries Christian programing for all ages, including talk shows, health and fitness programs, worship, drama, movies, documentaries, news, concerts, sports, youth programs, adult singles and marriage-oriented programs, and educational features on such subjects as evolution, homosexuality and abortion.
Michal Rhymer and Henry Pascal will host the telethon, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday. The Gumbses will be behind the scenes producing the event.
Rhymer has a master's degree in counseling from Oral Roberts University and serves as executive director of Family Resource Center. She is a vocalist and evangelist with Zion Assembly Church. Pascal has been an announcer, talk-show host and news anchor for WGOD Radio for four years and previously spent 19 years with Voice of Life Radio in Dominica. He is the founder of the Dominica Evangelistic Association and a minister at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
Telethon special guests will include Harrella Goodwin, Alfred Gumbs, Neomie Toussaint-Williams, Ulric Ferrari, Laverne Woodley and Rashid Walker.
Goodwin, a household name in gospel music, received the Caribbean Lifetime Award, the highest award given to gospel artists in the region, last year for more than 20 years of service in singing. Her latest CD is "It's Not Over."
Alfred Gumbs, a producer, artist, writer and publisher with over 35 years of experience in the music industry, owns the AWG Music recording studio — and the AWG Music record label that specializes in reggae and distributes music around the world. He recently released his own fourth CD, "Praise Him."
Toussaint-Williams is a music teacher, conductor, songwriter, composer and recording artist. She has served for over ten years as the minister of music at St. Thomas Assembly of God Church. Her most recent CD is "The Key."
Ferrari, a veteran songwriter and radio personality with WGOD, also has charmed many in the community with his basketball maneuvers which minister to young people.
Woodley, a University of the Virgin Islands nursing student, appeared in the Redeemed Brothers concert in May.
Walker, a talented 20-year-old, is a worship singer at St. Thomas Assembly of God Church and provided one of the opening ministries for Renaissance Productions' recent local performance of the drama "Heaven." He is pursing a career in youth ministry, evangelism and music.
Further information about the telethon may be obtained by calling 776-7635, faxing to 776-4515 or e-mailing to jcctv@viaccess.net.
