Faith & Freedom Concert on Wednesday, July 1st was spectacular! This extraordinary event with the IBC Worship Choir and special guest Charles Billingsley commemorated the 250th Anniversary of America, blending uplifting melodies and lyrics to honor both God and Country.
Here are some personal thoughts as I reflect on an unforgettable evening and experience in my life:
To GOD be the glory! He is the One who has blessed America and the reason we enjoy life and liberty. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). My goal was to keep GOD central and truly express gratitude for His faithfulness and the blessings that He has provided. For us as Christians, the freedom to gather and worship openly is one of the clearest gifts to be thankful for!
The IBC Worship Choir is known for their excellence, passion, and uplifting worship. It is an absolute joy to pastor and direct this group of incredibly talented singers! They are wonderful people and friends. While the choir presents breathtaking music, their purpose is to bring people into the presence of God which they beautifully do each time they lift their voices.
It was an honor to have acclaimed recording artist and worship leader Charles Billingsley as our special guest. With his powerful voice, Charles led us in music, worship, and patriotic celebration.
“The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” were iconic renditions that I have always loved so those were musical highlights for me. Songs like “In God We Trust” and “Under God” clearly put our focus on our great God. They are not just mottos but strong beliefs for Christians. I tried to pack many favorite patriotic songs like “America the Beautiful” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” into the program so it was thrilling to see people waving the flags! “His truth is marching on.”
As we honored those who are in our military and celebrated our amazing veterans with the “Armed Forces Medley”, there was incredible patriotism and everyone was on their feet cheering. There are so many people who have made sacrifices for the freedoms we enjoy, that I believe we must stop and acknowledge them. My father was in the Army, my father-in-law was in the Navy, and my son was a Marine, so while I never personally served I have immense admiration and respect for those who do. We have many “hometown heroes” including West Virginia National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe that I wanted to take the time to recognize. These lyrics say what’s in my heart:
I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
In John 15:13 Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” A touching part of the concert was remembering those who sacrificed their lives for our nation through Charles playing Taps and the heart-felt song “Meet Me at Arlington”. Freedom is not free, but comes at a cost.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life so that we could have spiritual freedom. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The gospel was declared through “We Believe”, “Jesus Only Jesus”, and clearly shared through the challenge from Charles Billingsley.
Fantastic videos enhanced the presentation and kept the audience engaged throughout the evening. Ending the concert with “Until Then”, the eternal hope being with our Lord and Savior in Heaven brought an ovation and singing “Amen” left all of us inspired for the night!
My wife, Lisa, is an incredible partner behind the scenes in assisting me in ministry. I want to thank Pastor Bryan, Pastor Chris, the office staff, and custodians who helped with many logistics. We have a wonderful tech team who produced the sound, lighting, media, and livestream. I appreciate all of volunteers who used their spiritual gifts and served (decorating, hosting, greeting, parking, etc.). It takes a lot of people to pull off a BIG event and it wouldn’t happen without the body of Christ working together! Charles travels across the country and commented that our church is “full of good people”.
The concert was one of the highest-attended events at IBC since Covid (even with it being in summer and on a weeknight). We reached many people and had a lot of guests at our church. Pray that IBC will continue shining the light of Christ in our community, our country, and to all the world.
Happy 4th of July!