Enjoy these thoughts from Rachal Baker, who attended the Homecoming Concert in London!
Sunday the 25th October was the last night of a very long European Tour for the Gaither artists. We English had been waiting for the Homecoming tour to come back to London since 2000. It was a night to remember for all concerned.
…As the night approached the excitement grew and grew. We could read concert reports and view photos of the tour dates as they happened, and we knew our time was coming. We read what many of the artists were writing on Facebook and Twitter, and we knew they were tired and eager to get home but we were determined to give them a last night to remember.
The Royal Festival Hall was buzzing as concert time arrived. Many of the members of gaithercommunity.com had made badges so that we could recognise each other, and friendships that started in cyberspace were cemented in the flesh. I think Ernie Haase and the rest of the Signature Sound guys were slightly taken aback by the volume of the crowd when they went to their product table. They, along with Kevin and Gordon, were so gracious in signing autographs and posing for photograph after photograph.
The concert got underway at 7:30. Kevin Williams’s welcoming smile and gentle guitar playing was a beautiful introduction. He was joined by Greg Ritchie on drums and Buddy Greene’s harmonica as we all sang along with ‘When the Roll is Called Up Yonder’ and ‘There is Power in the Blood’. By the time Gordon Mote started to play and Bill Gaither walked on stage singing ‘Old Friends’ we were all ready to worship the Lord and to be blessed by the singers He was using. Bill led us all in ‘How Great Thou Art’ and the sound of thousands of voices proclaiming the greatness of God was enough to send tingles down your spine.
We knew the artists were tired, and they could have been forgiven for not giving 100%, but they gave more than I could have ever dreamed. Buddy Greene’s soft voice and magnificent harmonica playing is unique and delightful. Then Janet Paschal sang ‘God Rides on Wings of Love’ and ‘God Will Make A Way’. Her performance was flawless as her powerful voice resounded around the auditorium. I admit to wanting to have heard more.
After Janet we had the pleasure of hearing Gordon Mote sing two songs, including the very moving ‘Hold Me Up’. Then the concert hall erupted as Bill introduced Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. We were treated to six songs by the quartet. There was hardly a dry eye in the place as they sang ‘Thank God for Kids’. We were all so aware how much they were missing their families and how pleased they were to be going home the next day. My personal favourite performance of the whole evening was Signature Sound’s new arrangement of ‘Oh What A Saviour’. I grew up listening to the Cathedral Quartet singing this song and thought no one would ever be able to sing it so well, but Ernie’s new group surpassed his former one in this beautiful, beautiful song.
Lynda Randle’s wonderful voice asked God to search our hearts, and then reminded us of His faithfulness with the moving ‘He Will Carry You’. Then came the moment we had been waiting for. It was our opportunity to hear the ‘Big 5’, the all new Gaither Vocal Band. Everyone has their favourite Vocal Band from the past, but I honestly believe that no line-up has produced a sound like this before. The quality and depth produced by these five men is astonishing, and each one of them brought something special to the arrangements. They sang 11 songs for us and it was a treat from start to finish. We witnessed Mark’s humour and David’s classical training as they sang familiar songs reminding us of the power of our God, and the freedom and forgiveness He gives us. Michael English passionate voice excelled in ‘Jesus Loves Me’ and Wes beautiful tenor voice rang out praising our Saviour.
After a brief interval to stretch our legs and catch our breath the concert took on the feel of an old Homecoming concert. The audience and the performers became one in the family of God as we worshipped our Father. The Vocal Band and Signature Sound joined together to sing a couple of upbeat numbers and then Buddy Greene showed us that the harmonica can be used to play some serious music! The truth of the Gospel was proclaimed as we all sang ‘when I survey’ and we sang along as Lynda reminded us of God’s unchanging faithfulness with ‘God on the Mountain’. Mark Lowry will always be the finest performer of his remarkable song, ‘Mary Did You Know’.
Gloria used all of her God-given eloquence to make us laugh and cry as she reflected on those who have gone before us. She reminded us of what brings us all together, and told us so clearly of the love that God has for each one of us.
All of the artists then sang ‘Loving God, Loving Each Other’, ‘Holy, Holy’ Holy’ and the magnificent ‘I Then Shall Live’ before we all joined in one voice to sing ‘Because He Lives’ – the roof nearly came off the building. What a moment, what a night.
My abiding memory of the night will be of smiles. I could not stop grinning from the first chord strummed on Kevin’s guitar to the last note of the evening. It wasn’t just me though – looking around, everyone else was the same, and looking in front of me, so were the performers. The Spirit of God was in the room and the joy that only He can bring was so evident. Thank you, Bill Gaither, for coming to London; thank you to all the artists for giving your all when you were away from home for so long and for letting God use you to bless us. We hope we were a blessing to you too. Come back soon!
For Rachel’s photos and many other fan photo albums from the European Tour, check Gaither Community’s featured photo albums here!