Gospel Choir Reaches Out to All

For 45 students at Pacific Union College, a recent ministry has taken over their Wednesday nights. Each week, the members of the PUC Gospel Choir attend rehearsal in Scales Chapel, bringing the campus to life with their music ringing through its halls.

The gospel choir came into being fall quarter when a few members of the Black Student Union decided that a fresh sound was needed on campus. Senior business major Jonathan Young combined forces with PUC president Dr. Heather Knight to bring DeBrenia Williams of Capital City Church in Sacramento to conduct the group. With a talented leader lined up, the group organized at the end of the quarter.

After their first performance in front of the student body, the choir underwent a rapid growth in membership, jumping from about 20 members to 45 in a matter of weeks. “We have a little bit of everything in our members,” says alto Emily Wills. “We want to reach out to everyone, every race, and spread God’s word.”

And they have. Wills says that the diverse group of students has had the opportunity to “meet a lot of new folks” that they otherwise would never have met. “We get along,” she says. “We’ve all grown closer as a group and it shows in our improvement vocally, big-time!”

Meeting for two hours at a time, the group prepares to sing for worship services not only on campus, but also at churches all over northern California. From Vallejo to Carmichael, the gospel choir shares their gift, blessing congregations in their form of worship. “Our hope is just to spread God’s word,” Wills expresses. “It’s to spread God’s word and His love, and have fun while doing it!”