Gospel artistes losing focus - Pastor Kingsley

Pastor Kingsley Sarpong has one concern - guess the era of brotherliness and freebies by Ghanaian gospel artistes are finally over. The reality is hitting real hard; Ghanaian gospel musicians are now into music to actually pile up riches here on earth, taking chunks of dough for gigs, while overlooking the message of goodwill, charity and the spread of the gospel.

Pastor Kingsley Sarpong however is taking a different dimension with the release of his second album, Mensuro (fear not). After hitting the screens and the airwaves in 2000 with his famous worship album titled Ayeyinnowm, Pastor Kingsley believes it is time to bless the lives of others with his second. Mensuro parades an array of likeable tracks such as Odimafo, Medi Nkunim, and an abridged version of Mila Watson’s (1974) Jehovah Jireh in a reggae style, making it an all-music-genre album.

Pastor Kingsley says there should be no exploitation by gospel musicians. Although he did not have it all smooth while recording the album, he maintains that money is not his priority, and that he is not in to recover what he has lost but to save souls. His tracks have actually helped in saving lives, including that of a woman attempting suicide and another in near-fatal labor. However, the instrument of miracles himself says he was constantly stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“Life did not smile much at me even as a child. My father, also a pastor was against my musical career at age 8 when I recognized my passion for singing. After some tough time I finally set off, because God is no respecter of persons. No matter who you are, he will definitely lead you to do what he has called you to”. Pastor Kingsley receives his inspiration from the Holy Spirit. He recalls a dark period in his life and alone in his room, when the lyrics of the song Mensuro came divinely to him.

And for Odimafo, his fingers were maneuvered on the keyboard while in the studio and the lyrics came as if he had been singing that song for a while. Since the Holy Spirit gives freely, he expects all gospel musicians to sometimes also give freely. Pastor Kingsley says he is not against people who take up gospel music as a career, but he believes that money should not be a priority. Expensive garb and ostentatious living portrayed in gospel videos should be avoided, since modesty is a Christian virtue.

Pastor Kingsley lamented how a gospel musician demanded flight transportation within the country before performing at a function. “Imagine the number of souls that would have been saved if that musician had sacrificed and taken a bus to the venue.” He observes that most gospel artistes in Ghana are not filled with the Holy Ghost and perhaps that explains the love for money and production of songs that are not divinely inspired.

Mensuro was launched on the 27th of this month at the Universal Gospel Centre, Dansoman. The calm and affable Pastor Kingsley is married to Olivia, and the couple has a son. His desire is to first acknowledge God, and then thank all those who helped him during the production of the album. The album contains motivation, encouragement and spiritual enlightenment for everyone who gets a copy. Pastor Kingsley advises all who have not accepted Christ into their hearts to do so through his album. Get one or more when the copies start sailing in music shops throughout Ghana.