REPORT ON INDIANA GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL, 25TH ANNIVERSARY (JULY 27, '24)

Me with Divinity Trio.

 Okay, how is it that a music lover like me spends a quarter of a century in Indianapolis being unaware of either the Kingdom Come Festival (KCF) or the Indiana Gospel Music Festival? Well, I managed to go to both this year!

You can say I in a sense attended an IGMF event. In '21, they had a set at my home church (Northside Baptist Church) which featured the Victorious Trio, Devin Cunningham (then IGMF President), and the Divinity Trio, with my friend and fellow church member Eric Shaw emceeing. After the three artists finished their set, Devin led the group in  various songs.

The next year, they were back at having the festival at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. I didn't get to go then or last year, but this year I made up my mind to go. After all, I've enjoyed hanging out with the rockers at KCF; I definitely should have a turn at IGMF!

The artists this year were Revival Road Quartet, His Grace Trio, The Sinclairs, Victorious Trio, By Faith Quartet, Ginny Pugh Spillman, Witness Quartet, Judith Montgomery, The Riddells, Curtis Pruett, David Melton Family Singers, The Cunninghams (Devin got married between '21 and now), and Divinity Trio.

I can write a blog comparing the two festivals, so I won't deal with that now. But I do want to share some highlights from the IGMF, which happened to be the 25th Anniversary edition:

• There were several great songs. Some of them were written by the artists, some may not have been, but these include "I'm Going There" (Revival Road Quartet), "Broken Ones," Somebody Oughta Testify (both by Victorious Trio), "My King Is Known By His Love" (By Faith Quartet), "Pull Up A Chair," "Called Out" (both by Witness Quartet), "Won't Stay In The Boat Anymore" (the Riddells), "Do You Know Who I Am," "At The Foot Of The Cross" (both by Curtis Pruett), "Walk By Faith," and "There Is A River" (both by Divinity Trio)
• On the Sinclairs final song, they were accompanied by a friend who signed the song while they were singing.
• Most of the songs were accompanied by tracks; there were only two artists that had any live instrumentalists (though both also had tracks.) Divinity Trio had a pianist (so if you were wondering why there were four people with me in my above picture with a trio). Curtis Pruett played piano and guitar. On the same song.
• I forgot to mention the emceeing. This was done by Eric Shaw and Devin Cunningham.
• We had three soloists, two duets, four trios, three quartets, and a sextet do the first thirteen sets. For those who like math, you'd realize that included 37 people. The final set had... 38 people. Yes, that included all the artists that sang plus Eric, with Devin leading them  and the audience in some familiar songs: "Victory In Jesus," "Amazing Grace," and a medley of "Soon and Very Soon" and the chorus of Russ Taff's "We Will Stand." This wasn't the first festival I attended that closed with "We Will Stand" - in December of '88 I attended a benefit which concluded with the involved artists - Steve Camp, Steven Curtis Chapman, First Call, Geoff Moore, White Heart, Margaret Becker, Michael Card, Paul Overstreet, and BeBe and CeCe Winan - join Russ Taff on that song, with Petra's John Lawry on the piano. That definitely brought back memories.

As for comparing the two festivals... that's another blog that will be coming shortly. 

ALBUM REVIEW - "ON THE RIGHT ROAD" BY THE RIGHT ROAD QUARTET

 

 In the fall of 2021, I had the privilege of attending an Indiana Gospel Music Festival event at my home church, Northside Baptist Church. One of the three performers was then IGMF President, Devin Cunningham. (By the way, it was hosted by Indiana Gospel Music Association President and good friend Eric Shaw.) A large part included Cunningham leading in impromptu singings mixing him and Eric with the members of the other groups (the Victorious Trio and the Divinity Trio). Cunningham made an impression on me and I've added him to my regular prayer list and keep up with him on Facebook.(You can click on this link to see my interview with Devin from Nov. '21.)

Devin Cunningham is currently tenor for the Right Road Quartet, and I'm honored to review their project "On The Right Road." If you like good quartet singing, you'll enjoy this. It starts with the Michael Card song "I Have Decided" (maybe better known for Amy Grant covering it on "Age to Age"), and goes through with a few jazzy songs and some country sounding songs, closing with a delightful aca pella "Jesus Name Medley."

My favorite songs on the project are "Sing A Little Bit More," "Step Out Of The Boat" (both co-written by Cunningham) and the needs-to-be-listened-to "Pray For Revival."

I highly recommend this album.

By the way, I recently met Jerrod Cunningham of the Christian rock band I Am The Pendragon. Are Devin and Jerrod related? Maybe not, but I'd love to hear a collaboration of the two.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022

Courtesy of Enclave Publishing

 

Okay, I've spent a few days looking back at 2021. What am I looking forward to the next year?

First off, since I'm a writer and do a lot of writing, I'll start off with what I'm looking forward to reading. As I did last year, I'll set the goal of reading one non-fiction and two fiction books a month.  

As far as non-fiction, I have a few on deck. Last year, I read three 9-Marks: Building A Healthy Church books, and I'm considering reading four more. I also discovered "New Studies in Biblical Theology," and I'm planning on reading more (though I'm not planning on reading all in the series, which is at 52 last time I checked). Plus, I might reread some books such as Discipled Warriors by Chuck Lawless and Superheroes Can't Save You by Todd Miles.

On the fiction end - am I through with my reading a lot of Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense? Probably not next year. I read 9 in '19 (only 3 before that), 11 in '20, and 18 in '21; I've got 21 on my docket for next year. Nancy Mehl and Donna Fletcher Crow are tied for second on my most-read-novelist list with 16 each, and the competition will occur next year, and there's an Agatha Christie book I plan to read, slightly increasing her lead at 23. Kerry Nietz has a couple of books I'm planning to read as well, and the long awaited third installment of Janet Sketchley's Green Dory Inn is due out. Of course, I'm hoping for something new by favorite authors like Randy Singer, John Otte, Julianna Deering, J.P. Leck, J.M. Hackman, and Allistair MacLean. (Okay, I don't expect a new MacLean book.)

Three of my favorite interviews this year were with Angie Leyda of Always 1 Ministries, which hosts the Kingdom Come and Pitt Fest music festivals Becca Sugg of the band Reclaim The Day, and Devin Cunningham.  Hopefully, I can get to one of those two festivals this year and be blessed with a RTD concert either at the festival or elsewhere. There's also the Indiana Gospel Music Festival which is different stylistically, where I can hear Cunningham again. Finally, I'm looking forward to judging NCFCA speech/debate contests, and hopefully live this year.

Finally, Becky and I are talking about various ministry opportunities we can get involved with, and I'm planning on taking the next step with what seems like the never ending road to publication. 

The one thing I haven't talked about are this blog. This will be the topic for New Year's Eve, which is also known as tomorrow. 

How about you? What do you plan to read this year? Is there anything on your to do list?

INTERVIEW WITH GOSPEL SINGER AND PODCAST HOST DEVIN CUNNINGHAM

 

I faced a tough decision one Saturday, late September. Do I travel an hour and hear some good Christian rock 'n' roll, including Reclaim The Day (click here to see my interview with their lead vocalist Becca Sugg) or drive a few minutes to my home church and hear my friend Eric Shaw of His Voice Through Us, Victorious Trio, Divinity Trio, and Devin Cunningham? I don't believe there was a wrong choice, but I was blessed when I stayed close to home. I also was blessed to meet and interview Devin Cunningham.

JR: Let me start with the most important question. How did you come to faith in Jesus Christ? How is He at work in you? What has He been teaching you recently? And who has God been using to show what following Jesus looks like (e.g Preachers, authors, musicians, family/friends)?

DC: First off, thank for asking me to share a bit of my testimony.

I more or less have grown up in church my entire life. Even though I didn’t go routinely until I was 11 my grandparents made sure I always made it to the house of God every weekend I was with them, which was quite often. I would not be saved today it wasn’t for their witness in my life.

God is constantly working on me. LOL. Lately I have felt so burdened to encourage and remind The Body that God still knows exactly what is happening, He is still God and our faith in His love will see us through. My Pastor Rev. Josh Carson, recently preached and reminded me, “This world is dark, but we know the answer.” If we will remember who God is then we, through Jesus and overcome. If you have the knowledge of the power of the name of Jesus then you have all you need. “When we speak His name (Jesus) we invoke mercy.”- Rev. Josh Carson

JR: Your education journey took you from a private Christian School to a public High School to studying music performance at University of Indianapolis. How has the difference in the schools made an impact on your life, both in ways of challenges and blessings?

DC: Though I did end up graduating from a private institution I actually was in public school quite a bit growing up as well. Academically I have never been a great student, socially I had a well rounded education. LOL.

My time in a public high school changed the trajectory of my life. It was during that time I realized I love to sing and that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It wasn’t until I returned to Calvary Christian School that I accepted my call to minister in song.

I taught myself how to sing up until I attended the University of Indianapolis. What I learned there has carried me to this day.

JR: I had the honor of hearing you do a solo set at an Indiana Music Festival event last September 25. Besides being a soloist and evangelist, you also are credited of singing with the AQUA (Apostolic Quartet United Association) Quartet and with the Master's Legacy Quartet. I could be a smart aleck and ask what you do in your free time, but instead I'll ask this: How do the two different quartets and your solo ministry compare with each other?

DC: Well AQUA doesn’t really travel anymore. Sadly we are just too spread apart.

The difference between my solo ministry and Master’s Legacy is style and presentation. The material during my solo presentation is more eclectic. It has a bit of everything. MLQ, although versatile, is still mainly southern gospel.

JR: Actually, I think I know what you do with at least some of your free time: Could you tell us about the To Be Determined podcast?

DC: Like most things in my life, TBD was birthed from a burden. I felt called to capture the incredible testimonies I have around me. the Bible says the we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. How will someone overcome by the blood until they hear about it. Everybody has a story and everyone needs to hear. So stayed tune because new episodes are coming out after the first of the year.

JR: We're living in interesting times, between COVID, the political division, the drastic changes in our culture. What concerns do you have, and what should the Church's response be?

DC: I know I’m repeating myself, but remember your resource. Don’t let the the failures of your past hold you back from today’s blessings. If you are reading this then you are alive and that means that God has given you another opportunity to to overcome through Him. Acts 2:38

JR: Thank you for your time. What is on the calendar for your solo ministry, your quartet, and for the Indiana Gospel Music Festival? Am I correct that you have a new solo music project out as well? How can we keep up to date with your activities?

DC: Thank you again for having me. You can follow me on Facebook and all other social media outlets to keep up with posts and upcoming dates.

Master’s Legacy is sadly disbanding but a new trio is forming out of it called Faithful First. It made up of myself on Tenor, Adam Faulkner on Lead, and Matt Denney on Baritone. We will have new music out next year so stay plugged in.

I did release a new project, "Light Up The World," which is available on Apple Music and Spotify. Hard copies available at every live concert event.

The Indiana Gospel Music Festival is scheduled to happen next summer.