FILE - Toby Mac, one of the acts slated for the Fun in the Son Gospel Festival.

THE ORGANISERS of the Fun In The Son Gospel Festival have been forced to find an alternative venue for its Grand Concert on Saturday, March 19.

Reports are that a tenant of Island Village, Ocho Rios, where the event has been held for the past three years, has objected to the Christian fellowship being held there on the Saturday night.

"As most of our crowd comes down from Kingston on the Saturday night and considering the closure of the Jamaica Grande, we are really in a spot of inconvenience," said Tommy Cowan, organiser of the event.

He said other venues in the cruise ship capital are too costly "so we are seriously looking at Kingston this year as an alternative."

The artistes booked to perform on the Saturday night show are two-time Grammy winner Toby Mac, Lt. Stitchie, Bless (formerly Prodigal Son), Katalyst Crew, Steve Reeves and Paul Blake.

Owing to the setback, the event will now take place both in Kingston and Ocho Rios from March 14-20.

The series begins March 14, with a two-day conference at Family Church On The Rock with special guest Carlene Davis and guest speaker Bishop Henry Fernandez of Faith Centre Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

CONFERENCE FOR STUDENTS

On Thursday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m., the conference will move to the Ocho Rios Baptist Church, and on Friday, March 18, at 9:00 a.m. a special conference will take place for high school students and teachers.

The street evangelism is scheduled to take place at the Clock Tower in the centre of Ocho Rios on Thursday, March 17, at 6:00 p.m., featuring Perpetual Praise Team, Steve Reeves out of Miami, with speaker the Rev. Al Miller.

The theme for Fun In The Son 2005 is 'A Fresh Encounter'.

The event is marketed by the Jamaica Tourist Board and this year Air Jamaica Vacations has joined in the efforts.