Gospel explodes outside City Hall

Kennedy Plaza was full of soul, in the food, art and music that was offered there last Saturday.

More than 400 people, including participants from five Long Beach churches, attended the eighth annual Gospel Explosion, organized, staged and sponsored by the Evangel Revival Community Church on National Boulevard.

Accompanied by a friendly atmosphere and beautiful weather outside City Hall, the festival celebrated different varieties of gospel music, including Latin, hip hop, and traditional sounds. “A gospel night is not always seen, and it gives young people the opportunity to show their gifts,” said ERCC Pastor Delores Miller, who hopes the annual festival will help promote church attendance and create a positive atmosphere where artists can perform.

Musical groups from throughout the state performed. Monica Fontanez of Uniondale is a singer and co-founder of the group Felix and Ultimate Power. The group has been invited to the Gospel Explosion for the past three years, ministering through their Latin gospel pieces.

“This event was an encouragement and celebratory time to come together and spread the word through gospel,” Fontanez said. “It was a very nice time, and there were a lot of people there enjoying it.”Stirring up the fun was Tiny Tots, an Evangel Revival dance group with members ages 3 to 5. The children paired their routines with the instrumental and vocals of gospel sounds.

Among the many things for sale were the delicious offerings for Long Beach Civil Service Commissioner Leary Wade’s fried fish, and the Ligon family’s soul food. Long Beach Gospel Explosion shirts, sporting an urban purple graffiti style, were sold.

Along with Pastor Miller, co-coordinator Ronnie Myles, a teacher’s assistant at Long Beach High School, was more than happy with the turn-out.

“It was a huge success; everyone who was invited showed up, and more,” Myles said. “We wanted to unify Long Beach and have a celebration that dealt with the diversity of gospel ... It is all about unity in the community.”

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