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The Still Here Benefit Concert, held last December at the VH Percy Centre on the grounds of the Kencot Seventh-day Adventist Church, was voted by our panellists as the Best Hurricane Melissa Fundraiser –Gospel for 2025. The reality is that the gospel fraternity, quietly and purposefully, gave and gave some more. However, a lot of their giving was minus the ever-present cameras, the selfies and the hoopla, so it didn’t necessarily make the headlines. Notably, with gospel recording artiste Sharilyn Sayles as chief organiser, Still Here raised more than $1 million towards hurricane relief efforts.
On the night of the event, powerful gospel singers Carey Sayles, HUMBLE, Jada Jones, Keynotes ministry, Osanna Ministry, Geovanni Baker, Hilkiah Jones, Kencot Youth Choir, Testify, Electi, Anchored, Hands in Praise, Fred Robertson, Raghae Danvers, Locksley Kin all ministered in song. And the audience – the more than 1,000 persons present and 200 who watched the live stream – were blessed. Emcee was the popular Mical Forsyth of NCU FM.
Today, Sharilyn, the wife of Carey Sayles, shares her impactful story of what took place behind the scenes to bring this concert to life.
“In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with the help of my husband, mother (Norma Benson), friends Rosemarie and Vaughn Harris and members of the senior management team at my office, and other donors my husband contacted, we were able to head to Manchester, St Elizabeth, and Westmoreland to distribute relief supplies. Leaving home, the vehicles were full … but coming back I felt empty much like the trunk spaces in the vehicles of our convoy,” Sharilyn told The Gleaner.
Describing their efforts as “nowhere near sufficient” and with a burning desire to do more, Sharilyn petitioned God for direction and she received her answer.
“In a clear, audible voice, He said ‘Use what I gave you’. Immediately, I knew the assignment was to plan a concert. In shock, I questioned God about this assignment ... everyone is broke now, whether from hurricane prep or relief work, Christmas is around the corner, how could this be financially feasible? In hindsight, what’s funny was me telling Jehovah Jireh that I didn’t have enough money or time,” Sharilyn shared.
THE RIGHT PATH
With “zero budget and infinite faith” she told her husband of her assignment and he was on board immediately. With a little uncertainly still hovering, she asked God for a sign that she was on the right path.
“After one of my prayer partners came into agreement with the assignment, I called Jewel Osbourne (Jforlife Apparel), shared the vision and asked her to be a sponsor. She said yes in less than five minutes. That would mirror the entire planning process as God flung open every door that would allow for the completion of this assignment ... from refreshment to lighting, sound, venue, music ministers, security, promotion, everyone’s answer was ‘Yes’,” the mother of two recalled.
One such partnership, Sharilyn noted, was with president of the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh day Adventists, Pastor Merrick Walker, the single largest sponsor of the event. Walker saw the vision and unhesitatingly extended personnel and resources to Sharilyn and her team, at no cost.
“Our ministry, Sayles International Music Ministry, was able to raise over $1 million with less than six weeks of planning. To God be the glory! I gave God my yes and He did the rest. Blessed be the name of the Lord who brings abundance out of obedience,” a grateful Sharilyn told The Gleaner.
English (US) ·