The Rev. Jerry Falwell said the presence of two nationally known recording artists will enhance worship programs at and in the coming year. Charles Billingsley and Alicia Williamson Garcia become the first two artists-in-residence to serve simultaneously at the Lynchburg church and school.
Garcia, a Dove Award-nominated Christian music artist, author, teacher and co-founder of the national Women in Worship conference ministry, directs a 50-voice university choir named LU Praise.
Billingsley, who served for three years as TRBC s worship leader, will return to the church next month after spending the last 1 years at the Rev. David Jeremiah s Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego.
Before launching his solo career, he was a member of the award-winning contemporary Christian music group, Newsong. He performs about 200 concerts a year.
Our goal is two-fold, said Falwell, LU s co-founder and chancellor and TRBC pastor.
Both artists will work at the worship institute at Liberty training worship leaders for America s churches. And both of them will work for Thomas Road Baptist Church. We feel we are strengthening the music programs both at Liberty and Thomas Road.
Falwell said the hiring of Garcia and Billingsley strengthens the ministries television productions.
Our convocations from Liberty on Wednesday and our Thomas Road services on Sunday are televised nationally, he said. Obviously their music enhances both programs.
Our viewership is growing. The ministry s music is helping us build a strong audience.
Falwell said Billingsley has particular appeal to young people.
He is probably the leading male soloist in the church today, he said.
Garcia has appeal throughout the general public from children to senior adults.
This should be our best- watched year ever on television, Falwell said.
The Rev. Jonathan Falwell, TRBC executive pastor, said Billingsley and Garcia will build on the ministries musical history.
Thomas Road has always had great music talents in all the programs we have had over the years, he said.
Certainly, I don t know of any other church in America that has the caliber of people we have on stage every week. We re pretty blessed by that.
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