Feature Articles

When the light stays up

When the light stays up - A look back at the inaugural Branson Gospel Music Convention

When I walked away from the ballroom at the Hilton Convention Center on Friday night, July 17, I honestly wondered if I had peaked.

The concert on Friday night had ended with my wife standing beside me as I began to sing a song very dear to me and written by my mentor in ministry. When I turned to walk during the song, I was taken aback by the number of faces behind me, artists singing along, joined together in the greatest promise we humans can make to each other: I’ll see you in the rapture.

It should not have surprised me, for that it was the week was all about.

The first Branson Gospel Music Convention was many things: a labor of love, a whim, a risk, a family project, a call to battle, a dream come true.

From its inception in October 2008, the convention grew beyond my personal and professional expectations. When I spoke with my then business partner and my now-business partner (my wife, Kelly), what I hoped to see the convention be was a modest gathering of like-minded artists, both national and regional, who would bring their music to the Branson platform not to entertain or be a commercial for the genre, but to promote the message of Jesus Christ.

That almost sounds trite, I suppose.. isn’t that what all gospel artists mean to do? I often get asked to compare Branson GMC to other conventions, and I know that comes with the territory, but the work and mission of this convention was never meant to be better than something else; it was simply designed to be intentional in several specific ways.

We envisioned an event without hierarchy of artists.

Without diminishing accomplishments of artists with songs on major charts or dates covering their calendars, we wanted to highlight some who aren’t always highlighted: namely, the “weekend warriors” who leave their full time jobs on Friday afternoons to drive hundreds of miles, pack as much singing in as possible over the weekend, and return to work on Monday morning. We also strove to give recognition to names that had helped pave the way for Southern Gospel music to bloom, but sometimes get lost in a genre so highly successful that only a few names at a time seem to rise to the top. And so, it was a vision turned reality to see groups such as Samaritan Revival and Crosspoint share a platform with the Chuck Wagon Gang and The Stamps, to see husband and wife teams like Young Harmony and McMillian and Life as well as Peaceful Hearts and Promises and Mike and Darla Cornell, to see soloists such as Kenny Bishop and Shannon Bunch as well as Darryl Marshall and Marla Conrad, to see SG veterans such as Kirk Talley and Eric Hinson seemingly revived right on the platform.

It was equally stunning, refreshing, and a blessing to see artists from all levels of the genre taking ownership in the convention, rolling up their sleeves to volunteer and work, helping each other with everything from car and bus trouble to songwriting and guitar licks, and above all, it seemed, sharing burdens. There wasn’t a day of the convention during which we didn’t see two or more artists gathered in a booth, in the food court, in a corner, praying together.

We envisioned a concert that elevated Christ

No one who has been to a multi-day convention is a stranger to the stress of preparation, the pressure to fit in as much productive time as possible, and the overall exhaustion. Despite that, on the day before Branson GMC started, over 40 artists gathered hours before setup of booths could even begin to volunteer for menial tasks like stuffing badge holders and to gather in an open upper room of the Hilton Hotel to pray together. We believe with our hearts that this prayer, at 9:30 am on a sleepy but somewhat electrical Monday morning, set a tone for the week that God would answer and honor with a sweet spirit that permeated each day and night. Christ was elevated in the devotional times that took place in the food court, in the artist-only chapel as well as the open chapel, and in the concerts that ran throughout each day and night.

No one in the room will forget when the schedule stopped as Anthony Facello of Beyond the Ashes sincerely shared a testimony that resonated with so many people in the audience and backstage. What a message of grace! But the unnoticed, non-show stopping testimonies have reached us as well. We’ve heard reports of a maintenance worked at the convention center who rededicated his life to Christ. We heard another of a homeless man who believes the music he was given by convention artists will change his life. We heard from many artists that they were approached by audience members who said, “Thank you for your song. It was just for me.” God uses whoever is willing to be used, and it seems He used every heart who obeyed and served Him from the platform at Branson GMC.

We envisioned a time of revival.

As a regional artist myself, when I thought of Year One of Branson GMC, I assumed that this “building year” would mainly be to encourage artists, and at that, I assumed that meant regional artists. Not only were my expectations exceeded when I saw audience members standing and raising hands, crying and praising, but when I heard individuals with songs in the top 80 saying, “I needed this week. I was burned out and this was revival for me,” I knew God had done a mighty work. I also know He did it for me, my ministry, and my family as well.

I say none of this to praise myself. We know the success of Branson GMC lies beyond our efforts. For starters, Kelly and I could not have pulled it together without generous help from other Southern Gospel organizations and businesses, artists, and promoters, without last-minute kindnesses from the Branson tourism industry, without our extended family and friends who pitched in to help with everything from ticket sales to food delivery. I want everyone to know the praise that is due to our Lord for the things He gives to us, allowing us to see our dreams become reality, allowing us to be used for His high purposes, allowing us to do it all over again in 2010.

When I walked from the concert hall as the lights went down, I wondered if I had experienced the best of myself and my fellow ministers of the gospel. In the weeks that have since passed, God has confirmed in me that if we continue to walk in His light, it will only shine brighter.

That said, I hope you will join us in Branson next June 28-July 2, as the Spotlight continues to be on the Message, and the message will be delivered by the likes of Blackwood Quartet, Dino, HisSong, Young Harmony, Kenny Bishop, Beyond the Ashes, 2nd Generation, Sunday Edition, McMillan and Life, and many more.

- By Kelly Burton, as told to by Rod Burton