It was definitely a New Year’s Eve to remember. An
evening filled with great music,
most of it of the praise and worship flavor. This was an
event for the entire family
which included special activities and games for the kids.
This New Year’s bash took
place at Allen Arena on the campus of David Lipscomb
University.
The festivities began at 7:00 in a large recreational
room with fun and games for the
youngsters. Music followed at 8:30.
Rebecca St. James, the headliner for the end of the year
celebration, brought with her
some friends to help ring in 2003, including one of her
Ausie friends and BG vocalist
Charmaine. Charmaine just recently released her debut
album “All About Jesus.”
Her set consisted of a few songs from the new CD which is
a worship record that is
on the modern edge of contemporary. Charmaine’s vocals
soared and are reminiscent
to that of a young Rebecca, Jaci Velasquez, and Crystal
Lewis. She shared with the
audience, “All in All, and “Acceptable.” This was the
first time I had heard her sing
and let me tell you, it won’t be the last. I can say with
assurance that she has a prom-
ising future in Christian music.
Next on the bill was Ginny Owens. Ginny gave us yet
another great worshipful acoustic
set that always pleases the Ginny Owen fan. Ginny’s songs
included her number one
debut single and song of the year, “Free,” “If You Want
Me To,” and the smash “I Am,”
from her current project ‘Something More.’
Now, it was time to move. Worship leader Jeff Deyo got
the crowd on its feet and in
the ‘worship’ mode. His set was lively and explosive.
Deyo and band added a rock
flair to some original as well as familiar worship
material. Songs such as “More Love
More Power,” “Lose Myself,” and “Sing To You” were well
received.
Jeff encouraged and invited the audience to get serious
about God and to make Him
top priority in our lives as we enter 2003. He briefly
talked about how we as a people
and we as a nation need to come together and put God,
‘First’ in our lives and carry
Him with us wherever we go and be ‘Light’ in our
churches, communities, and the
world.
Finally, the time had come. Rebecca St. James and band
took to the stage. Rebecca,
one of CCM’s most beloved artists, was ready to rock in
the new year. She performed
for about an hour, took a short break and came back out
to help Way-FM’s Ace McKay
countdown the final minute of 2002 and at the stroke of
midnight, white and blue balloons
fell from the ceiling and it was 2003. Then, Rebecca
concluded the New Year celebration
with a short second half performance to her concert.
Rebecca’s two sets featured a mixture of her pop songs
and worship songs. She covered
everything from “Pray,” and “Reborn,” to “Let My Words Be
Few,” and mega hit “Song
of Love.” As she does most of the time, she ended the
show with “God.” Rebecca, then
led the audience into an acappella version of “O Come All
Ye Faithful” and as was the
custom for Rich Mullins, she very quietly walked off
stage.
What a humbling experience from a humble artist. This was
without a doubt the place to
be on New Year’s Eve.
