American IDOL finalist, Lacey Brown, to sing at Stevens Creek Augusta

It's no secret that Patty and I have been huge American Idol fans through the years.  We love to see young talent take the stage and watch them develop as the weeks pass. I am not like so many Americans that love watch American Idol's opening weeks where they showcase all of the horrendous singers.  I cringe as I watch knowing that those awful singers have been lied too by their parents or their friends.  


My excitement develops as the show transitions to Hollywood. It is in Holly wood that you start to see the potential.  It is also at this time that I like to read blogs and bios to see if there are any passionate Christ followers in the mix. The 2009 season featured several worship leaders with the winner, Kris Allen, being the worship leader at Rick Bezet's church, New Life Church, in Little Rock Arkansas.


As the 2010 season developed, I knew that there were a few potential worship leaders in the mix. In fact, I was with one of them two days before he flew to Hollywood.  Jermaine Purifory, a Lee University student, was a groomsman and soloist in J T and Brittany Black's wedding. After the wedding, Jermaine boarded a plane for California.  He made it through several cuts and was highly touted in the trio with Casey James.  He has been seen several times on the Ellen Degeneres Show.  In the end, Jermaine did not become a finalist but was encouraged by Randy Jackson to try again in 2011.

When the finalist were revealed, a Pastor's Daughter from Amarillo, Texas, Lacey Brown made the Top Twelve.  I was thrilled for Lacey.  She did a great job on the Idol stage. When her time there was over, she made the media circuit appearing on The Ellen Show, Wendy Williams and David Letterman and so forth.  A few weeks before she sang on the American Idol Finale, I attended the All Access 2010 Conference at Healing Place Church in Baton Rogue, LA.  As I walked through the atrium at Healing Place, I ran into Lacey.  She was there attending the conference. I asked her if she would come to Stevens Creek.  She was very kind and told me to contact her with some potential dates.  We eventually landed on Sunday, July 18th.


So, make sure to invite your friends to come and enjoy one of our services at the Augusta campus on July 18th: 8:30, 10:00 or 11:30.  Now, if you do not have a friend coming with you, would you please consider attending the 8:30 AM.   Let's start the day off with enthusiastic worship and open hearts so that we can hear what the Lord is saying to us. 


This Sunday I will be starting a new series call DECIDE. This series will feature messages that will help you determine God's will for your life. This will be a great series to invite your friends.


As you go through the week, begin praying that God will be present with us this Sunday and that people will take their next step spiritually.


~ Marty