The night of Jan. 28, people from all around campus and outside of Biola poured into Chase Gymnasium to celebrate an annual Biola tradition: Gospel Fest. The crowd gathered at the bleachers or the center of the gym, clapping and cheering as the Gospel Choir strode up to the front.

The band struck out in song, and the choir lifted their voices. Special guests Kourtney Kimbrough and Cory Henry, a Grammy award-winning artist, also came to the front, worshiping alongside the choir and the crowd. Soon the whole gymnasium rang with singing, clapping and joyful noise.

A VIBRANT WAY OF WORSHIP

Gospel Fest is an annual celebration of the Lord’s goodness and grace, hosted by Student Enrichment and Intercultural Department (SEID)’s Gospel Choir.

Lorelei Hart, a first-year biology pre-med student, experienced Gospel Fest for the first time. Having participated in music groups for eight years, she joined Biola’s Gospel Choir her first semester and has stuck around ever since.

“This group worked with my schedule best, but even after staying those first couple of weeks, I became wonderfully invested in the community and way of worship,” said Hart.

Gospel Choir’s style of worship is vibrant with energy, dancing and even shouting, inviting all to celebrate God’s goodness with all kinds of expression.

“As long as you’re worshiping God whole-heartedly, there is no one right way to do it, and no way is better than another,” said Hart. “Our director, Roman Colins, often says that ‘We don’t have an insecure God’ who only wants us to worship him one way, and it is through this confidence of worship and diversity that I see Christ at work.”

Hart saw this unfold even more throughout her time at Gospel Fest as she witnessed the audience celebrating alongside the choir.

“My most memorable experience from Gospel Fest is performing within the choir of course, but more so getting to stand in the audience and worship with them — dancing, singing and shouting.” said Hart. “The energy was so present in the music and the room and the crowd were so moving, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget.”

GOSPEL CHOIR

Gospel Fest is not the only time the Gospel Choir meets. Every Thursday from 6–8 p.m. you can find them in the Crowell Music Building. Everyone is invited to join, regardless of worship background or musical experience.

“Gospel Choir is full of amazing, fun, welcoming people who have made the experience so entirely worthwhile,” said Hart. “To anyone letting nervousness keep them from the experience, I invite them to try it for at least a week, but I almost guarantee they’ll be hooked.”

Learn more about Gospel Choir from their Instagram @biolagospelchoir, or contact them through their email [email protected].