Leighton Levy, Star Writer

Award-winning gospel artiste Papa San plans to reach out to the communities he grew up in when he visits Jamaica to perform at Go-Splash in August.

The event is scheduled for Sugarman's Beach, Portmore, St Catherine, on Emancipation Day.

"We are coming down a few days early because we want to make some visits to the community - some places that we have not been to in a little bit. We want to visit the people to see what is going on with them and see what we can or cannot do for them," said the entertainer who is to release a five-song EP this summer. The EP will include songs such as his latest singles, God's Love and Deal Wid It.

"We are carrying down a team of people to walk these communities with us."

Papa San was one of Jamaica's most celebrated dancehall deejays in the 1980s, before converting to Christianity almost two decades ago.

He and his wife run Our Father's Kingdom Ministries International from Florida.

Despite running the ministry with his wife, the artiste, who was born in Kingston but grew up in Spanish Town, St Catherine, said his heart always remains in Jamaica.

"We love Jamaica. Jamaica is home and my heart is always there. When we go out into the world, that's what we do, we represent Christ and our country. When they hurt, we hurt, too. We feel their pain even though we are not there," he said.

He added, "I want to see people thrive. I want to see Jamaica get back to being the land of wood and water, a place where we have more churches per square mile and where people can pray. Jamaica needs to get back to that place," he said.

"We can do it through prayer; we can do it through addressing the problems - with the ultimate goal being for people to know Christ."

When he returns to the US, Papa San plans to continue working on a full gospel album, Journey. The album is set for release in January 2016.