Just Another Servant

My name is Avery Minor II. I am not a preacher, I am not a deacon, I am not on the trustee board, I am just another servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. I do, however, serve a Music Director (Organ/Keyboard) for Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of South Bend, IN under the leadership of Senior Pastor Keith D. Witherspoon.

I never really thought much about blogging, but I found reading and responding to other blog spots such as Pastor Witherspoons, Pastor Andre Mcgee, Pastor Lance Mann, and others was very relaxing and fulfilling, so I thought that I would give a try with my own blog. Now again, I am not a preacher, so my blogs will not be as deep as the fore mentioned bloggers.

I have organized a gospel group, we go by the name Avery Minor II and the Temples of Praise. We recently opened for national recording artist Vickie Winans this past Saturday. I was excited to be able to be apart of such a dynamic event. The concert was held in the auditorium of Washington High. They have beautiful auditorium and it seats about 600 people. When we arrived for sound check, I stood on the stage and just looked around the auditorium overwhelmed that we were about to take the stage in a place such as this and for a such notable artist! We were one of two groups to open, the first group was Debra Givens and High Praise. I really couldn't tell what they were singing, but I could tell the people were really getting with them, and that's when the nervousness set in for me. I begin worrying about that Sis. Givens had the audience at such a high level how can I keep it there? Am I really ready for this? I began doubting myself and second guessing my song list. Before I knew it, Sis. Givens and her group were done with their set and the M.C. was introducing us and I panicked. Then my wife said, "Hey! We haven't prayed yet!" In the heat of everything I totally forgot to look to God about what we were about to do. We circled up and Lady Tina Patton lead us in prayer. And at the end of that prayer, my mind was clear, I knew what I wanted to do. I recognized that the concert was not a show, but another opportunity to praise God and that's all that matters. We took the stage and it was such beautiful thing! I had not been out to the auditorium since sound check when no one was there. Now I am walking on stage to an audience of about 450-500. It was tight!!! I spot my Pastor and his wife, along with other minsters from my church. They all were standing applauding, and that made me feel great, because I knew no matter what happened, they had my back. This was actually going the first real test for songs that are going to be on our CD. We did three songs, my version of 'Lord, I Lift Your Name On High', 'I Need You Jesus' and 'Lift Him'. On every song we received great response from the congregation. The spirit of the Lord was in the place! At the end of 'I Need You Jesus', Pastor Witherspoon came to the stage and began ministering to the people and tore the place down in 5 minutes! People were falling out, screaming, shouting, dancing, just praising the Lord!! I have received multiple posts on my website asking about Pastor Witherspoon! He really brought home that song!! He likes to down play his preaching ability, but I don't know how he could think that way after a night like that!!!

So finally Vickie Winans took the stage. She did her thing! And she really made a connection with the audience with not only her songs, but with humor as well. She is hilarious!!! I count the whole program a success!!