August 5, 2004

On last night, Wednesday, August 4, 2004, the storyteller, Dorothy Norwood was in concert at St John Baptist Church, 3404 West Beltline Boulevard, Columbia.  This concert was the kickoff program for L. C. Ministries’ 11^th anniversary celebration

The Anointed Angels of Columbia opened the program.  .  It was a free concert and was well supported by the community.

*******

August 9, 2004

Bethlehem Baptist Church Family Life Center was the place to be on Sunday, August 8, 2004.  For it was at the Family Life Center that L. C. Ministries culminated the celebration of their eleventh (11^th) year of serving the Columbia community.  And what a celebration!

Each year L. C. Ministries sponsors a back to school program.  At the program deserving students are given book bags and other school supplies.  In addition, L. C. Ministries provides scholarships to deserving college students.  So, Sunday night was a celebration and an opportunity to bless many in the community. 

The program began at 5:05 PM with a very spirited devotion.  The devotion was followed by an inspirational instrumental praise by Terrance Young.  Mr. Young is very talented and for 15 minutes he instrumentally praised and worship our Lord and Savior.

Thereafter, the emcees for the evening, Pastor Curtis Young and Ms. Virginia Harris took over.  Pastor Young, a former member of The Five Singing Sons of North, is on 95.3 FM on Saturday mornings.  Ms. Harris is from Lancaster, South Carolina.  She can be heard playing the best in gospel quartet music on WAGL, 1560 AM, on Sundays from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

The first group to take the stage was the Bethlehem Men Chorus.  These 12 gentlemen can really sing.  They began with “The Storm Is Passing Over” and ended with “Going Over Yonder.”  They got the program off to a great start.

The Men Chorus was followed by Big Mack & The Harmonettes.  This is one of the groups that participated in the Women of Unity program in July.  They just picked up were they left off in July.  They only sang three (3) songs, but kept the crowd on their feet the entire time. 

And then, four ball of nothing but Holy Ghost filled energized gentlemen hit the stage, The Voices of Faith.  These gentlemen are good.  They have been singing together for sometime now, and they have horned their talents to the point that they are now ready for primetime. All they need is original material.  However, no song is out of their collective range to sing. 

They began with Slim and The Supreme Angels’ version of “One Of These Days.”  The audience immediately, without being prompted, responded by standing to their feet.  The group really sang this song.  They left the stage singing Lee’s version of I’ve Learn To Lean.”  Group member Ron Best led this song, and if you closed your eyes you would have thought that Lee and the QC’s were on stage.  As they left the stage, they walked through the audience singing this song.  There was nothing but toe tapping, hand clapping and praises going up.  If you are a promoter you owe it to your community to bring these guys to your city.  You will not be disappointed.  As I said, these guys are good.

Next, the Gospel Redeemers ministered.  Their harmony was tight.  They began with “We The Redeemers.”  For those of you that have never heard this song, it does for The Gospel Redeemers what “Who Are We” does for the Dixie Hummingbirds.  It was followed by The Jackson Southernaires’ version of “Beulah Land.”  They closed with their signature song, which asks the question “Will You Be Ready?”  We must commend their musicians for not overshadowing the singers.

Deacon Pelham Meyers & The Five Singing Stars was the next group to sing.  It is obvious that this group has been singing together for a long time, with very few, if any, personnel changes.  They were able to sing four (4) songs during their allotted time.  They did a version of “How Great Thou Art” that was just awesome.  I have attended many gospel quartet concerts and I can only recall a few groups ever trying to sing this song.  But on last night, The Five Singing Stars did and it was a great gospel quartet rendition of a wonderful hymn.

After a fifteen minutes intermission, the Wonderboy and The Spiritual Voices took to the stage.  Keith was at his best.  It may have been because his mother and aunt were in the audience, or maybe because his father sang with him.  No matter what caused it, Keith really ministered.  He described himself as “an old man in a young man body.”  Therefore, he loves to sing the old songs.  And last night he did. 

He sang songs such as “Send A Revival,” and “Hide Behind The Mountain.”  Of course, he also sang songs from his new project titled “New Season.”  “Let Go and Let God” was one of the crowds’ favorite.  In all, he sang nine different songs.  Keith ministered for about forty minutes.  During his ministering the mikes and instruments went silenced twice because of electrical problems.  However, Keith continued to minister.  The Wonderboy showed why he is such a favorite in South Carolina.       

The “Brothers” from Smithdale, Mississippi closed the program.  Doug, Green, and Melvin ministered for over an hour.  The Williams Brothers began with “Come As You Are.”  They sung other songs from their new project, “Still Here,” including the title song.  Thereafter, they took a trip down memory land and did some of their most popular songs from past projects.  They closed the program with Cooling Water.

The program was well supported by people from Columbia and beyond.  Of note, State Senator Kay Patterson; Richland School District I Chairperson, Vince Ford; State Representative Leon Howard; and L. C. Ministries’ Board Member, Bobby Gist were in the audience.  Also, many of the local groups that were not on program also supported this event.  Members of The Ballard Sisters, Brain Mayes and Heaven Bound, Rev. Matthew Mickens and The New Highway Travelers were in the audience.

The program ended about 9:40 PM.  Pastor Curtis Young did the closing prayer and benediction. 

Finally, it should be noted that there was very little down time between groups.  The musicians took the stage with excitement, did not waste time, and kept the program moving.  Congratulation to L. C. Ministries for a great concert, remembering those in the community that can certainly use the school supplies, and for eleven (11) years of service to the community. 

*******

August 16, 2004

By:  Gospel Correspondent Loretta Coleman

Our prayers and heart felt sympathy goes out to Bro. Doc McKenzie in the home going of his sister "Telitha McKenzie Horne" in Patterson, New Jersey on yesterday, Sunday, August 15, 2004. 

All cards, donations, and other expression of sympathy should be mailed to Doc McKenzie at 325 Lincoln Avenue, Lake City, S.C.  29560.  Please keep Doc and his family in prayer.