AMERICUS - An enriching experience musically and spiritually, AmeriGospel, Inc. put on a gospel-infused concert that had a packed church dancing in their seats and jumping to their feet, giving praise to the Lord on New Years Eve 2009. "It was a great way to bring fellowship to the community," said Kelvin W. Pless, the organization's president. "I can't recall a crowd this big in our long history of gospel workshops."

The 23rd annual end-of-theyear gospel concert by AmeriGospel, Inc. was held this year at the Friendship Baptist Church in Americus. The show was the culmination of a few days of hard practice in a music and dance ministry workshop. Pless said from 15 to 20 area churches were involved, comprising about 10 different denominations.

"It wasn't about what denomination you're from, it's about giving praise to the Lord." The show included choir performances by Alesia Sanders Expression of Praise, as well as young and adult mass choir performances and dance ministries.

The concert also included a group singing of the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson. "Everyone really seemed to have enjoyed themselves this year," Pless said. New this year was a teen fashion show. Pless said it was a great twist for the event. "It's a way to get more of our youth involved in clean and wholesome activities," Pless said.

In fact, the children who participated really came out in record numbers to this year's concert - about 125 between the ages of 4-12 years old. Pless said a lot of adult participants had their own children perform; and a lot of children who had previously performed in the workshop remained with the group this go-around. "We had a number of generations performing together," Pless said.

This concert was put on by AmeriGospel, Inc., formerly known as the Americus Area Gospel Music & Cultural Arts Workshop, Inc. Each year in the latter part of December, the organization recruits residents and members from various area churches for an all-star gospel show - bursting at the seams with music, praises, dance and prayers.

It usually takes about three or four days of rehearsal before the finality, which is filled with various activities. The 2006 workshop united young and old on the stage and even brought back some of the workshop's founding fathers. The 2007 workshop expanded its youth involvement with the addition of the Angel Dance Group for ages 4-10.