Hallelujah-palooza

>> Gospel Festival 2000 brings the holy noise

by GERARD DEE

"The word 'gospel' actually means good news," says Logos Deliverance Ministry administrator Pamela Thompson. "So what we're actually doing is having a good news festival for the community."

The best news is that this local church is once again spearheading their annual outdoor gospel celebration this Friday and Saturday in Nelson Mandela Park in Cote-des-Neiges. The free event, known as Gospel Festival 2000, is a combined effort on the part of the Logos Deliverance Ministry and other churches. "We have been having [the festival] for the past three years and we invite all other churches to be a part of it. This year we invited as many as we could. It's an interdenominational event. The main aim is to get gospel out into the community."

About a dozen local artists will help deliver that message. Thompson promises the festival will have something for everyone. "We'll be having contemporary and traditional presentations of the gospel, so whether you're young or old, you can participate with us and enjoy the evening. For the traditional, of course, we'll have traditional choirs singing. For the contemporary, we will have gospel rock, dancing and rap."

The band Everflow will deliver gospel rock, soloist Andrew Thomas will bring the noise via rap, and the Daughters of Zion Worship Dancers will groove down for God. "For people who don't know, worship dancing is manifesting worship songs in an expression of dance. Whatever the song may be, you can actually interpret it by watching the artists. It's like theatre, a live description of whatever the song is about."

Besides providing free entertainment, Thompson stresses that the festival's goal is twofold. "It gives the gospel community in Montreal another outlet in the summer. They can gladly invite their friends and hear music. They can gladly invite their neighbours--come and see what it's all about when I tell you about Christ, when I tell you about Christianity, when I tell you about God. Come and see how we enjoy ourselves.

"For the gospel community in Montreal, it's a booster, and for the entire community at large, it's a way of fulfilling our commission. We want the people of Montreal to know that there are still some people that are concerned with their spiritual welfare."

The Ministry's Reverend Thompson is equally enthused about the event. "It's like the Jazz Festival," he says, "people just come and be entertained. It's for the body, soul and spirit. It's like satisfaction guaranteed."

Friday's events get underway at 6 p.m.--there'll be gospel music, though no live shows. Saturday's performances kick off at 4 p.m. Both evenings wind up around 8 p.m. And although the festival is an outdoor event, Pamela Thompson isn't worried about rain. "I have total faith in God. According to our beliefs, the weather will be in our favour." :

Gospel Festival 2000 happens Friday, July 28 at 6pm and Saturday, July 29 at 4pm, at Nelson Mandela Park, free