For the past 5 years, they have been blessed to have the Mass Choir present the concerts under the direction of Elder Gonelcha Askew.
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter
Mt.OliveMissionaryBaptistChurchheld its 46th Annual Scholarship Concert under the direction of Elder Gonelcha Askew. Askew, who is known to be a spirit-filled, no-nonsense worshipper, had a mix of old and new songs.
The concert consisted of music that made people stand to their feet and feel the spirit, especially at the end when Kimberly Harris sang “The Blood” then testified about how good God is.
Jesse Champion Sims was this year’s guest and was electrifying, singing Mahalia Jackson’s soulful rendition, “Move on UP a little Higher.”Mt.Olivehad a special duet with church deacons Gregory Robinson and Jeffrey Bell that had many comparing them to Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards from The Temptations.
GloriaTowersand her committee have worked hard each year to provide students with scholarship to continue their education. To date, the church has passed out over one million dollars in scholarships to deserving students.
Forty one years ago, in the year of 1967, The Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church saw a need to establish a scholarship fund for the purpose of encouraging the young people of the church and the community to consider continuing their education by going to college. The church was a haven for youth as they sought to define themselves as individuals and develop as young Christians.
During this period, the church had a robust Sunday school of children and young adults, as well as auxiliaries for the youth such as the Young Davids, the Guild Girls, Junior Ushers, Junior Deacons, Junior Deaconesses, Junior Trustees, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, Gentle Savior Choir, Celestial Choir, Young Adult Choir, Candy Stripe Girls (Junior Nurses), Sunshine Band, and the Baptist Training Union.
The first scholarships were presented at a concert on Sunday, September 8, 1968.
“The Voices of Hope,” a group of talentedJohnAdamsHigh Schoolstudents (many of whom were members ofMountOliveBaptistChurch), presented this concert under the direction of Joe Lynn.
Lynnwas also a student.
“The Voices of Hope” rendered the concert for the first three years. The Young Adult Choir later known as the LeRoy Kelly (LRK) Choir gave the concerts under the direction of Sister Thelma Pugh Burnett for over 25 years.
For the past 5 years, they have been blessed to have the Mass Choir present the concerts under the direction of Elder Gonelcha Askew. Other scholarship concert directors have included Frances Kelly, Tyrone McGuinea, Sheryl Walker, Carlton Fellows, Avis Graves, and Leesa Pugh Patterson.
Sister Burnett and Brother Lynn were responsible for securing the services of many outstanding, talented musicians from throughout the city to assist with the concert preparations and presentations. Most of these musicians volunteered their services as a favor for Sister Burnett, Brother Lynn, andMt.Olive.
Musicians for the concert have included James Washington, Michael Gulley, Gerald Maddox, Katherine Cooley, J.C. Wells, Joan Bacon, Frances Kelly, Jerry Thomas, Bobby Mitchell, Anne Ribbins Russ, Marcella McElroy Caffee, Stephen Gulley, Anna Bell, Avis Graves, Carlton Fellows, Elder Gonelcha Askew, Larry Harris. Jr., Jimmy Alexander, Charles Cotton, Jr., Minister Michael Dotson, and Robert White.
