WHEN Gina Spence-Farmer sent us a special delivery invitation to join her for dinner celebrating her 40th birthday, we instinctively knew we were in for a delightful evening. But we were totally unprepared for the five-hour extravaganza that literally blew us out of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The evening could hardly have been any different, considering that the three (yes, not just one) MCs were Keevil (The Captain) Burgess, Wendell Dill and Ms Brendell Hall were shows in themselves; and that waiting in the wings, just to get things warmed up, were none other than Wendell (Shine) Hayward, soon-to be married Gita Blakeney, the multi-talented Kion Simmons, who in his blooming, young career has been variously dubbed as the "Black Pavarotti", the "Godfather" and dancer Debbie-Kay Martin.

Personally, we have always regarded Gina, with her captivating smile and unflappable style, as one of the most refreshing television personalities in the country. We really did not need to know much more about her, in order to love her, as her work spoke volumes. We knew that she was a producer of road shows that had some sort of pied-piper effect on young people.

Some of those performers in soul-stirring, unscripted testimonials showed their appreciation to Gina at the celebration in song, dance and dialogue for having touched their lives.

The real highlight of the celebration was the premiere of a documentary titled . It was a powerful depiction of the violent and troubling environment in which Gina, her younger siblings and their thrice married, but loving and devoted mother were exposed to during their early years.

We doubt if there was a dry eye in the BUEI Theatre as former broadcaster Evelyn James Barnett narrated how Christ entered Gina's life, setting her on a Christian journey that derailed her from the fast track that inevitably would have led to prostitution, drugs and St. Brendan's Psychiatric Hospital. Gina's conversion made her a shining example to the rest of the talented Spence family.

Shawn Crockwell, a Christian gentleman who gained his law degree while serving a prison sentence, wrote the script for the documentary. We suspect Shawn had no problem empathising with Gina. The opening shot of the movie was a stark picture of Casemates Prison. With voice-over-music the narrator asked: ? The answer was a categorical Yes!

And that "good thing", in this case was Gina Spence . She was conceived in Casemates, where her mother was married during one of her conjugal visits to the man who spent the first five years of his daughter's life behind bars.

Gina had no qualms about her life's story being told "like it was", because it underscores the depth of her conversion. She declares she has been "born again". Her motto is "The Lord is her Light and Her Salvation". Gina was given a couple of standing ovations during the show. She had only a few well-chosen remarks to make at the end of the evening. She thanked all the family members who besieged her on stage, for "holding her back" while she was living it up. She knew it was the love of God that kept the family together. Her mother, who intended to have been present, was unable to attend.

With good grace and unfeigned modesty, she hinted that the best of Gina Spence is yet to come. After all, she reminded her guests, she was only 40, and "life begins at 40"

Incidentally, monetary gifts received at the celebration went towards the Gina Spence Productions In Christ Performing Arts Scholarship Fund. Kion Simmons is this year's recipient of the Scholarship. He is the only child of David and Pat Simmons, and is currently attending Atlantic Union College in the US, where he is being coached by Bermuda's own, renowned Ru Zelda Severin.

Kion started his singing career in church, at age ten. At 14, he began singing with Gina Spence Productions. He was featured in their very first show entitled . During that performance he met Snoniece Fox and together they became known as His and Hers.

Gina managed their careers from 1990 to 1995. Kion has opened for many international artists, such as Special K, Charelle, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes & Houdini as well as Curtis. He has shared the stage with Patti LaBelle and Kirk Franklin. Currently, Kion is a member of a group called Midnight Express.

Kion, along with fellow Bermudian Elsa Maranza, are set to be in the opening act at the grand Jos? Carreras concert in Bermuda this summer. They demonstrated their operatic styling in a rendition of at Gina's celebration.

Other performers helping round off the evening were the Portuguese Hot Dancers; Cia Spence; Ricky Spence's Salsa Dance Group; Debbie-Kay Martin and Gina's good friends, the Spiritual Pace Quartette.