Michael W. Smith
(photo: provided)
The Good News Festival with Franklin Graham is seeking singers from across the state to join the Festival Choir which will perform on the second day of the Festival, Sun., Aug. 23, and also sing back-up for Grammy award-winning musical artist Michael W. Smith.
Oklahoma City will host the first local choir to perform at a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Festival since 2008. The choir will be singing multiple selections, three of which will be with Smith. The Good News Festival will take place Sat., Aug. 22 and Sun., Aug. 23 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City.
Singers must attend two of the three scheduled rehearsals Aug. 6, 11, 13, and 17 and need to be at least 13 years of age. Participants do not have to be a member of a church or civic choir to participate. However, whole choirs are encouraged to join, as well as individuals. Both individuals and groups can register online at okcgoodnews.org/choir-sign-ups.
Rehearsals will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the following locations:
• Thur., Aug. 6, Moore, First, 301 NE 27th St.
• Tue., Aug. 11, Fairview Missionary Baptist Church, 1700 NE 7th St., Oklahoma City.
• Thur., Aug. 13, Oklahoma City, Putnam City, 11401 N. Rockwell Ave.
• Mon., Aug. 17, Lawton, First, 501 SW B Ave.
Choirs located 40 miles or more outside Oklahoma City who want to participate in the Festival Choir and for whom transportation to rehearsals is prohibitive are encouraged to contact Festival Associate Melinda Strickland at 405/702-0320, or email mstrickland@bgea.org to make alternate rehearsal arrangements. Randy Lind, director of the Festival Choir, is happy to conduct rehearsals for groups of 50 or more outside Oklahoma City, and encourages choirs to invite neighboring churches and choirs to join them. The Festival does not want distance to prevent choirs in outlying areas from participating.
Lind, worship and music specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, also directs the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and the Singing ChurchWomen of Oklahoma.
“There is a rich history of sacred music in Oklahoma and the Billy Graham Crusades,” Lind said. “I encourage everyone who enjoys singing to join the Festival Choir, whether they sing in a church choir or not. God uses music to change the heart, and we are praying that many hearts will be opened to the Lord through song.”
Other musical guests at the Festival include Grammy nominated band Skillet and singer songwriter Lacey on Saturday, and the worship duo All Sons and Daughters on Sunday.
Leading up to the Festival, a city-wide prayer service has been set for 5:30-7 p.m., Aug. 16 at Oklahoma City, First, 131 NW 4th St.
For more information, call the Festival office at 405/702-0320, email
okcgoodnews@bgea.org, or visit OKCgoodnews on Twitter.
To join the choir, register online at okcgoodnews.org/choir-sign-ups.
