Benefit concert rocks Moses Lake
Carolyn Williamson, of New Bride Missionary Baptist Church, performs during the Serve Moses Lake benefit concert Saturday.
MOSES LAKE - Rocking music filled Big Bend Community College's Wallenstein Theater Saturday night during the Serve Moses Lake benefit concert.
Concert-goers milled about the theater in anticipation for the opening notes. When the lights dimmed, the Serve Moses Lake Gospel Choir made its way to the front of the theater, the crowd hushed and the space was filled with songs of worship.
The night kicked off with the first section of the program, "This is Our God," which featured four songs as well as remarks from the Rev. Mike Alvarado of the Sendero Life Center.
Ken McClain, of Moses Lake Alliance Church, served on the planning team for the concert and also lent his musical talents to the show performing "Blessed Be Your Name."
The second part of the night, titled "We Have Waited for Him," began with remarks from Tim Cloyd, director of Serve Moses Lake, and a video testimonial by a member of the Serve Moses Lake Transformation House.
Cloyd was unsure how much money that concert raised, but said the attendance of 550-600 people was the largest in the event's history.
"I loved every part of it and I felt like there was a good connection with the audience," he said. "We really wanted to uplift the name of Jesus and we felt like we did that."
The Transformation House, which opened in August 2012, provides those recovering from drug addiction or time in jail a place to regain control of their lives, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald article.
"We felt like we were able to tell the stories clearly with the videos and also have that personal touch with our Transformation House guests being there live and I was thrilled with the way it came together," he said.
Men's Transformation House director and pastor, the Rev. Gary Pierce, also addressed the crowd. The audience was very receptive to the message and music being presented Saturday night, with most standing up and singing along as the lyrics of every song flashed across the screen.
The evening closed with more music, the prayer of thanksgiving and a scripture reading.
The concert was free to the public with any donation going toward Serve Moses Lake. Fundraising totals were unavailable Sunday.
"It was our goal to glorify God and tell the stories and I felt like we accomplished that well," Cloyd said.