Inspirational Music Show Builds Texas Missionary Efforts
By Greg Hansen

FORT WORTH, Texas — The feeling in the concert hall was electric as the cast for “An Evening of Entertainment and Inspiration” joined together singing a medley of “We’ll Bring the World His Truth” and “Called to Serve.“  Those two songs built into an emotional climax as 100 missionaries from the Texas Ft. Worth Mission marched up on stage singing along, with their mission president accompanying them on the piano.

This was a missionary-centered event like no other, sponsored by several area stakes on October 15th in the Will Rogers auditorium in Ft. Worth. Many investigators and nonmembers were touched by the evening of inspiring music and light comedy, with singers and instrumentalists from the LDS music company, Sounds of Zion, donating their time and talents to the effort.

The missionaries manned tables stocked with copies of the Book of Mormon during and after the concert, and reported more than 100 given away. Young man brought his nonmember girlfriend, and reported that she said afterwards that, ”She felt something different, and wanted to begin taking the discussions.”

A nonmember African-American woman in charge of the auditorium said, “When all those young men came up on stage singing, I felt something I’ve never felt before!”

The show was the brainchild of Texas-Ft. Worth Mission President Denny Crockett, who felt that an event of this kind would both bring added enthusiasm to the members in their missionary efforts, as well as bring people to feel the Spirit in a way they may never have before. President Crockett is no stranger to the power of music and testimony, having spent years as music director for the Osmond show, and is an accomplished composer and keyboardist himself. The concert had more than 2,500 in attendance.

Pianist/ master of ceremonies Marvin Goldstein, guitarist Michael Dowdle, vocalists Dave and La Rene Tinney, Jessie Clark Funk and her husband Jim, Rebecca Lopez, Tammy Simister Robinson, and Clint Poulsen performed a variety of songs and shared their feelings about music and the gospel. The show was produced by Greg Hansen, directed by Dave Tinney and managed by Earl Madsen and Doyl Peck.

“It was like going on a mini-mission”, said Rebecca Lopez, who performed and shared her testimony completely in Spanish to the Hispanic members of the audience. “I was singing to teach and uplift, but even more to share a gospel message that perhaps many of them had never heard before. What a responsibility, and what a great opportunity! The Spirit was present in a way I had never experienced before. It was a spirit of peace, love and conviction, and I knew the Lord was with me, and guiding me because I knew what we were all doing was His will, no matter what our individual weaknesses may have been. Everyone had the same goal, to share the message of Christ and our testimonies of Him through our music, words and examples.”

Not just the performers gladly donated their time and resources, but also the private sponsors of the event and the families who hosted the cast during their stay. The performers presented musical numbers in various wards the next day, and a special musical fireside was held Sunday evening. Of that fireside, Hana, a 25-year old single girl, said:" I feel so happy right now. It's a joy to be with people that radiate such hope and faith in Christ. I'm more excited than ever to become a member of the Church." Hana was scheduled to be baptized on October 30.

To learn more about Greg Hansen and the Inspirational Music Showcase, go to his website: www.greg-hansen.com.