Jeff Roberts & Associates: Your Concert Ministry Partner

On the closing day of GMA Music Week 2008, Jeff Roberts & Associates hosted our annual luncheon at the Hilton Ballroom in downtown Nashville. Attendees enjoyed great music and great food while witnessing performances by a mixture of up-and-coming artists and seasoned Christian music veterans. The event was hosted by our own Rebecca St. James and her brother Joel who shared artist highlights and stories between performances. The performers were also asked earlier in the week to introduce themselves on film and share a little bit of their hearts and purposes; those videos were played before each artist took the stage.

The luncheon included 15-20 minute sets by After Edmund, Mikeschair, Newworldson, Michael English, and 33Miles. Each artist brought their own unique personality and style to the day, and offered something to everyone as they shared their ministries with the crowd.

After Edmund (Mitch Parks), Mikeschair (Mike Grayson), Newworldson

After Edmund kicked off the luncheon with a high flying and high energy set, performing songs off their new album Hello, including their soon-to-be-released single, “Clouds.” Mitch Parks (lead vocals and guitar) introduced the band on the video screen with a thankful note, saying “We’ve seen God do some amazing things through the past couple of tours, and it’s really cool to be able to minister through music. The fact that God would use us for that is amazing.”

The next act to rock the stage was Curb Records’ newcomer, Mikeschair, entertaining the crowd with their top 30 single “Otherside.” “A big thing for us, based out of 1 Corinthians 13, is ‘we can speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but if we don’t have love,’ then we just add to the noise,” explained Mike Grayson (lead vocals) in their video introduction. “And for us, it’s so much more than a concert. The music for us is a tool for our ministry, not the ministry itself, because our goal in what we do is that when people come to a show that they partake in the gospel, and it’s not about just coming for a concert experience.”

Midway through the luncheon, Newworldson took us for a 15 minute journey back to the very roots of soul, gospel and blues music with sampling from their recently released, Salvation Station. Joel Parisien (lead vocals and keys) gave preview to the group’s ministry while introducing their set, explaining, “Our ministry is about dancing, it’s about fun, it’s about people breaking free and being released. We love to see the spirit move through people and see their whole bodies used to celebrate what God has done in their lives.” The group then ‘jammed’ and danced their way to a standing ovation, entertaining the attendees with “Working Man,” “Sweet Holy Spirit,” and “Salvation Station.”

Michael English, 33Miles

Michael English’s performance will best be remembered by his heartfelt testimony and his amazing story of redemption and God’s grace. This story is poignantly documented in his autobiographical release, The Prodigal Comes Home: My Story of Failure and God’s Story of Redemption, which describes Michael’s rise and fall in the Christian music industry and in his personal life, offering an encouraging and important message about God’s forgiveness. He is currently out on tour with Avalon on the We Will Stand Tour in promotion of his most recent CD release, The Prodigal Comes Home (February 2008). Michael closed his set to a standing ovation with his long-standing classic hit, “In Christ Alone.”

Closing out the luncheon was the inspiring and talented vocal trio 33Miles, playing their current top 10 hit, “Thank You” along with some new music and a stunning rendition of a song originally made famous by Vince Gill, “Go Rest High on that Mountain.” The guys also shared a little of their ministry and hearts on the video screen prior to their performance. “This journey started for us about two and a half years ago with a dream and a calling to sing great songs of the faith that really encourage people to hold onto their beliefs, to hold onto their faith in Christ no matter what age group they are, and to really speak to the Church,” explained Jason Barton (lead vocals and guitar). “And here we are, two and a half years later with that same message, the same great songs, only now we are more passionate about the songs and about Jesus Christ and about the people we are reaching.”

JRA gave out nearly 2000 CDs and books to GMA MAPS registrants who attended the luncheon. We would like to extend a big “Thank you!” to all who attended and all those who support our artists and our agency. See you next year!

Photos by Kingsbury Film.