From jazz to praise

She was a member of the Marionettes Chorale and The Lydian Singers and was performing jazz at the Tobago Jazz Festival up until 2013, when she was called to serve on her church’s worship team. Lewis opted to do worship music instead of pursuing the bright lights of a promising jazz career.

On April 29, the songbird was inspired to publish her book, The Lifestyle of Worship. She explained that true knowledge on biblical worship was lacking in TT, so she felt led to write a book documenting biblical principles and what it meant to be in true worship, living a life in service to Christ.

As a partner to the book, Lewis released an album entitled YHVH: Let All Nations Hear the Voice of the Lord God of Israel: I AM, on the same day. The album is sung almost entirely using the Christian “gift of tongues,” (worshipping in an unknown language) with traces of Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic dialects.

She describes it as true, spiritual worship, stating that often, people are unable to distinguish between carnal and the spiritual things. Lewis was able to record the songs in “tongues” after entering into “a place of intense prayer and worship”. She explained that she hears harmonies while worshipping and sings along. She originally recorded them on her phone and later remixed in studio.

The 28-year-old has another book in the making, scheduled to be published in 2017. It will be on discipleship. More albums are also on their way.

She expressed satisfaction that she was able to complete her first book and album and was overjoyed about her growth in God and the potential benefits that the two projects would have on people’s lives, both locally and internationally.

It has been a challenge retailing the finished products, but she explained that book sales were beginning to pick up. Selling the album locally has been more difficult, because of the language used.

“Although songs are accompanied by interpretations, people would much rather listen to what they can understand unaided,” Lewis said.

The album was favourably received in Africa, with Worship Culture Radio in Nigeria, Imani Radio and TV Ministries in Kenya and Uganda choosing to give Lewis’ music airplay. HCC Alive FM in Tanzania and Radio Gospel Angola also play the music and people seem to be appreciating it, she said.

Locally, Lewis has reached out to a few gospel radio stations.

Her presence on the local airwaves is imminent.

Lewis has a Masters in Public Health and is self-employed as a health consultant for companies, advising on employee health and wellness.

In her free time, she assists with church outreach, the most recent being her provision of prayerful assistance to Indian missionaries in Abu Dhabi, UAE .

The book The Lifestyle of Worship is available on Amazon, as well as Barnes & Noble, Exousia Book and Gift Shop in Diego Martin and RIK bookstores nationwide.

Efforts are being made to make it available at public libraries across TT .

The album is available from Malkut Publishing website.

For more info contact Lewis at http://www.

leahwords.ml/Contact/.