Two years ago, Gloria Argue could not possibly know how far-reaching her work with the Senior Adults choir at Central Assembly in Springfield, Missouri, might be.

At the beginning of 2005, Gloria agreed to direct the Heritage Praise Singers, a group of 65 senior adults in Central Assembly Church.  The group prepared and sang for the congregation of the church, as well as some other churches in the Greater Springfield Area.  Gloria, with her husband, Jim, began to envision and pray for an outreach of Praise Gatherings that would affect the churches of the entire Springfield area.  On November 18, singers from five churches joined together with the Heritage Praise Singers at Central Assembly and saw 400 people from 20 churches from many denominations in the Springfield Area attend a night of music on the theme of "The Blood of Christ."

The response to the Praise Gathering was beyond all expectations.  The interest grew to have another city-wide Praise Gathering, so on May 26, 2006, 500 people from 25 churches in the Springfield Area gathered and heard singers from five area churches minister on the theme "The Second Coming of Christ."

Our National Director of Senior Adult Ministries, Rev. Dave Weston, has been very supportive of the city-wide Praise Gatherings, participating with his wife, Ladonna.  Their duets on piano and marimba have lifted hearts and glorified God. 

An announcement was made at the May 26 event to tell everyone that the well-known singer, Lillie Knauls, would participate in the next city-wide Springfield Praise Gathering on November 10, 2006.  Excitement continues to build in the hearts of senior adults in the Springfield Area. People from throughout the city are showing that they want to unite their hearts and voices to worship God.  We trust God to change lives and manifest His glorious presence in the midst of praise. 

Written by Hubert Morris, Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults at Central Assembly, Springfield, Missouri