From beginning to end the music at the Alabama Baptist State Evangelism Conference provided a beautifully blended mix of traditional and contemporary styles. It also conveyed the gospel message as plainly as a three-point Sunday morning sermon and praised Jesus to the rafters and beyond.
Congregational singing was led by Roy McNiel, worship leader at Gardendale First Baptist Church, accompanied by music evangelist Frank Jones on piano. Choirs and praise teams from First Baptist Church, Trussville, and Crosspoint Baptist Church, Trussville, sang during the conference’s opening night session.
Gardendale First Baptist’s choir provided a 45-minute concert complete with interpretive dance and a special youth feature during the closing night session. The driving rhythms from the accompanying orchestra as well as the intensity with which every song was poured out pulled conference participants into a high-energy time of singing and shouting.
Daniel Crews, resident artist at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., served as special musical guest. The 30-year-old singer was accompanied at the conference by wife Angela, who runs the sound board for his singing ministry.
Sammy Gilbreath, director of the office of evangelism for the Alabama State Board of Missions, invited Crews to the conference after hearing him sing in Florida.
Gifted with a powerful tenor voice and an extensive vocal range, Crews unfailingly provided exceptional performances in which his love for the Lord shone through. His ability to effectively deliver traditional hymns with a contemporary flair extended his appeal to young and old alike.
Beginning with a full-out rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” Crews captivated and held conference participants with his classical yet contemporary style. Subsequent performances of “Jesus Saves,” “Glory to His Name” and “It Is Well with My Soul” among other old favorites were met with an equally favorable amount of audience approval.
Newer selections included an a capella rendering of the late Andrae Crouch’s “My Tribute,” as well as songs from Crews’ latest album, “Blameless Before You,” including “Faithful” and “Face to Face.”
Standing ovation
Crews’ simple but stunning version of “Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)” prompted a standing ovation.
Appearance-wise, Crews has at least one quality of particular interest to some of the female members of his audiences.
“The question I get most of all is whether my hair is natural, and yes, it is,” the curly-haired singer joked. “Little old ladies will come up to me and say, ‘Who did your permanent?’”
“God did,” he tells them.
For more information on Crews and his music, visit danielcrews.com.
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