Powerful music reverberated off the walls and filled the Chase Gymnasium on the night of Feb. 2. Clad in draping red and white robes, the Biola Gospel Choir (BGC) took to the stage to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Led by current Gospel Director Roman Collins — gospel singer and former American Idol contestant — BGC got hundreds of students to clap their hands and dance in the name of the Lord.

GIVE GOD PRAISE

A video was shown that featured interviews with former directors of BGC, including Aja Grant, Jimmy Fisher and Terry Croon, and the founder of BGC, Symone Starr Parker. Collins made a brief announcement that there will be a full-length Biola Gospel Choir Documentary later in February, which is also Black History Month.

Over the course of the evening, Biola welcomed some of the former directors and Parker onto the stage. Collins thanked them for trusting God and being a part of the BGC movement, exclaiming that the best is yet to come.

“To God be the glory for all things that he has done, and tonight I give him glory,” Parker said when she took the stage.

Musicians Kourtney Kimbrough and Judith Christie McAllister and Psalmist Felicia Walton gave special performances that filled the gym with the power of the Holy Spirit. Kimbrough shared a moving message about how God alone saved her from going down a path of darkness. McAllister reminded the crowd that God is in control, no matter the circumstances.

“Lifting our hands is a sign of surrender … It’s a sign of yielding. We say yes to the Lord tonight,” McAllister said.