Pastor Thompson (Papa San) winning souls for Christ in Florida....Papa San has delivered seven awesome gospel albums — all of them making it in the top 10 on the Billboard charts.... Former secular deejay reveals how he burnt trophies, awards when Christianity beckoned

BY MARK CUMMINGS Editor-at-Large cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, November 06, 2016     

FORT LAUDERDALE, USA — From the 1980’s to early 1997, Tyrone Thompson, better known as “Papa San”, ruled the dancehall with his fast-talking catchy lyrics, much to the approval of his ever increasing fan base.

Papa San Blesses Offering at Service

Almost 20 years later, the talented artiste, who had prior recorded 20 secular albums, is still a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, as he uses his talent to win souls for Christ.

Continuing on the path of success from his years as a secular artiste, since his conversion to Christianity, Papa San has delivered seven awesome gospel albums — all of them making it in the top 10 on the Billboard charts — and has founded a church: Our Father’s Kingdom Ministries International now located at 8350-52 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Sunrise, Florida.

In fact, his latest album, Journey, which was released earlier this year, entered the Billboard charts in the number seven position. Since becoming a Christian also, the energetic lyricist has collaborated with several local and international gospel artistes, including Kirk Franklin, Toby Mac, Percy Bady, Chevelle Franklin, Natalie Wilson, Fred Hammond, Carlene Davis, Trey Lawrence and Da Truth, many of whom he has shared the stage with across the globe.

A 12-time Marlin Award winner, Papa San’s efforts have also earned him the GMWA award and Stellar award, as well as nominations for the Soul Train and Dove awards.

Last Sunday Pastor Thompson, as he is called at church, delivered a powerful soul-searching message at his church as he urged the congregation “not to take persons at face value, but rather to examine the process they have undergone to get where they are”.

Using himself as an example, during the service on Sunday which was celebrated as ‘Pastors’ Appreciation Day’, Pastor Thompson highlighted some of the challenges that he encountered after he took the bold step to become a follower of Christ.

Papa San

“It was not easy…. I was criticised, I was lied on. I was talked behind people’s back…. there were times when I wondered what I was going to do, but I trusted God and He showed up. My God never fails. He is a good God,” Pastor Thompson told the congregation, adding that he has since signed many contracts and received numerous awards. Prior to his conversion to Christianity in late 1997, Papa San was a much sought after deejay, belting out catchy lyrics across the length and breadth of Jamaica on sound systems, while recording a number of entertaining songs, many of which dominated the airwaves locally and internationally.

At least 17 of those songs — including Animal Party, Style and Fashion, My Name is Daddy San, Legal Rights, Round Table Talk, Strange, and Maddy, Maddy Cry — from the 20 secular albums he had recorded topped the local reggae charts, earning for him millions of dollars and scores of awards, including several Deejay of the Year titles, Most Versatile Deejay, Best Dressed Deejay, and Best Video. more