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EDITOR'S DESK

Voice from on high

by Judi McLeod

February 17, 2003

Deep in Toronto’s night-lonely west end is a tiny unique church known as H.O.P.E. (House of Prayer Evangelistic Centre.)

Like the working class neighbourhood that surrounds it, there is no glitz and glamour at H.O.P.E. But what the church at 1183 Dufferin St. lacks in material riches is barely noticed by the faithful congregation, who enjoys its fellowship over cups of tea and homemade cupcakes in a basement with a tilted floor.

At 7:30 p.m. on dark winter Wednesday and Friday evenings, the sound of passing cars is blotted out by the remarkable voice of H.O.P.E Pastor David Karmody.

The Trinidad-born preacher belts them out with a voice that is heaven sent.

Karmody, who recently released two C.Ds, has been affectionately dubbed "the black Elvis Presley" by congregants. No doubt his ink black, collar-length hair and classic features are reminiscent of "The King". But Jesus rather than Heartbreak Hotel is the constant theme of his songs.

After hearing the talented preacher at service many evenings and Sunday mornings, church members George Semkin and Paul Sandhu, both in the music production business, pressed the pastor to release CDs.

"No one on the outside world was going to believe the pastor at H.O.P.E. was as good as word of mouth had it," said Semkin. "With his voice captured on CD, there’s no disputing it."

The tilting floor in the basement of H.O.P.E. church may make negotiating across it with tea in a bone china cup and saucer tricky, but everything is pristine clean. It’s the kind of church where no one stands on ceremony and everyone is made to feel truly welcome. Grandmothers bring their children turned out in their Sunday best. Wives manage to drag their husbands, and on Feb. 2, the night of the CDs release, there were two dogs in the audience.

The congregants are sometimes so moved during service they wave their arms or get on their feet to sway.

Sweet-faced middle-aged ladies in flowerpot hats, toddlers and dogs alike are spellbound.

When Karmody rendered the hymn, Healing, handkerchiefs dabbed at eyes.

Karmody’s melodious speaking voice is as remarkable as his singing one.

He told a rapt congregation that he had none of the talent of his father, "who really could sing and mastered many musical instruments back in Trinidad."

Hard to believe that this enthusiastic pastor, standing slim and looking much younger than his chronological years, suffers from diabetes.

"Everyone in this life has some problem or another, whether it is health, financial, matrimonial or work related. "But the problems do not overwhelm us because Jesus heals all," he said,

Delivered with a blend of passion and ringing sincerity, Karmody’s homilies are both believable and inspirational. Congregants come out of this church with a knowing smile.

Trying to accommodate a friend, I turned up at H.O.P.E. impatient to be gone. Having heard many such other claims about singular talent over the years, I was somewhat cynical.

Yet, when the last note hung in the air, I was sorry it was over, and felt the same way after listening to the CDs back home the next day.

Karmody’s is a voice that should be heard ringing out to larger congregations in more affluent churches. The lineups would be there after his voice was heard the first time. But mainline evangelistic churches, I suspect, have their bureaucracies too.

Meanwhile, the voice of Pastor Karmody raises the rafters at 1183 Dufferin St., 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and at 11 a.m., Sunday mornings.

The voices of angels sometimes find their heavens on a tilted basement floor.


Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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