The colorful procession of international flags that accompanied Southern Baptist missionaries dressed in the native costumes of their adopted countries was an appropriate launching of the state convention’s Tuesday evening session which included the presentation of Crosswalk (see story, page 6).
The highlight of the evening, however, was the long anticipated concert of Larnelle Harris, the Grammy award-winning performer of contemporary Christian music who is best known for such hits as “Were It Not for Grace.”
Harris repeatedly gave his grateful audience a spine-tingling experience as he belted out song after song that displayed his vocal range, musical talent and dynamic Christian testimony.
A crowd favorite that triggered a standing ovation was the gospel hymn “How Great Thou Art.”
Age was no barrier to members of the audience who willingly swayed and clapped to the upbeat rhythm of “Oh Happy Day,” which allowed Harris’ accomplished piano player, Mark Payne, to show off his musical ability as his fingers danced across the keyboard.
Harris effectively wove his testimony into his songs as he chatted with the audience about his parents’ influence in his life. “My mother used to come into my room on Sunday mornings and tell me that everyone living under her roof was going to church,” he said as the crowd responded with laughter. “And of course,” he added, “she always followed it with ‘one of these days you’re going to thank me for this.’ And I did,” he confessed.
Illustrating his point he sang “I Want to Go Where You Are Going, Lord,” a ballad about the tapestry of life.
Another melody that caused misty eyes in the audience was a moving love song to Jesus — “You Would Not Bring Me This Far to Leave Me Now.”
Harris concluded his songfest with an encore performance of “Freedom’s Dream” where he belted out in musical fireworks — “Let freedom ring from the hill of Calvary.”
In an interview following the concert, Harris said his favorite song depended on the day, but added that “Were It Not for Grace” would certainly be one of them.
Music has been part of Harris’ life since an early age starting out as a boy soprano and then a tenor in his youth.
He performed his first concert at the age of 9 and has since held concerts around the world including the Kremlin, South Africa, Korea and Brazil.
Surprisingly, Harris’ initial ambitions were not ones of a performer but of teaching. He received an undergraduate degree in music education but shortly after college he spent a three-year touring stint as a drummer with a group of young Christian performers. That experience led him in a different direction.
The Kentucky native attributes his success and Christian upbringing to his parents. “Although my father only finished the eighth grade and my mother the third, they had more intuition and street smarts than anyone I’ve ever known. They’re my heroes,” he said.
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