Lipscomb Gospel Choir celebrates release of second album “Just the Hymns”

To celebrate the release of the album “Just the Hymns,” the Lipscomb Gospel Choir (LGC) hosted a listening party complete with Kahoot, cupcakes and praise.

LGC hosted the party Saturday, Sept. 5, in Shamblin Theatre. Choir member Madison Rayburn organized the event, which featured Mediterranean catering and candlelit tables. Beyond the doors of Shamblin, a merch stand with t-shirts designed by choir member Hannah Varghese greeted attendees.

Attendees included the members of the LGC, as well as family and friends. Aaron Howard, the director of the choir, brought along his wife, children and granddaughter. 

After guests filled their plates, Howard took the stage. He thanked his family and collaborators before sharing the mission behind the choir’s second album.

“The goal was to take hymns, which everybody knows and loves, and rearrange them in gospel styles,” Howard said. “And to use them as a tool to bring about racial reconciliation in the body of Christ.”

This message of racial unity not only motivates Howard’s work, but made this album possible. Calvin University’s Institute of Christian Worship awarded LGC a grant to make a record preaching unification of the church.

“The grant was to do a hymn album that featured a hymn of unity,” said Howard. LGC is a multiracial group. “We consider ourselves to be ambassadors of racial conciliation.”

The first song of the night was “Revive Us Again,” with choir member Amy McCune as lead vocalist. Howard said he made the classic “a little gospel and a little urban.”

Howard then invited LloydBarry onto the stage. Barry did the string arrangements on “Just the Hymns,” but his relationship with Howards reaches beyond this record.

Barry also did the arrangements for gospel group Milton Brunson and Thompson Community Singers. The group served as an inspiration for young Howard and shaped his interest in gospel music.

“So the guy that inspired me, in terms of gospel music, is the one… on this album,” said Howard.

Barry brought in seven string players for the project. Working with Howard proved to be a unique experience.

“I told Aaron (Howard) that he asked for a lot of changes on all these songs that we did,” said Barry. “And I did more changes for him, then I’ve done for anybody, in all the years pulling the strings. And that’s a lot of years.”

The payoff of these tweaks is what Howard called his favorite song on the record: “Jesus Paid it All.” Rayburn sang the lead on this song. 

The stong strikes a chord with Howard due to its reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice.  “Sometimes we just need to hear about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and the fact that the gospel is the reason why we’re sitting here tonight,” he said. “We can never become too accustomed to the gospel that we forget its power and its impact and its supernatural significance.”

The night saw a change in energy as Howard introduced hip-hop into the hymnal mix. He invited rapper Nick Edgerson, who goes by Legend, onto the stage to perform their track “I Need Thee.” The track features LGC’s Carlos Lamoutte as its lead singer.

Between songs, the audience played a game of gospel-themed Kahoot. They answered questions about the origins and writers of hymns. The team that came in first place won a free t-shirt.

Howard then returned to his message of racial reconciliation as he shared the story behind the original song on the album, “Hymn of Unity.” 

“If I was to leave a message behind, it would be the words of this song,” said Howard of the track. The track’s lyrics are a call to put aside differences and come together as one in Christ.

“When you are with believers and you just worship the Lord, you don’t have to do a whole lot of talking about race,” said Howard about the message of the song. “You just come together and worship him.”

For choir member, Ariana Miller, this coming together is at the heart of LGC. 

“The choir is really community before anything else,” she said. “It’s such a blessing to be part of that community, and … with that community of my friends around me, to be able to share the gospel with other people.”

The night ended with guest gospel singer Calvin Nowell leading the audience in “Amazing Grace.” The room sang the hymn together after Howard prayed over attendees. 

LGC’s album “Just the Hymns” is not yet available on streaming services. Starting Sept. 6, however, all eight tracks will be accessible via LGC’s website LipscombGospelChoir.com. 

On the website, videos of the songs and the full tracklist can be accessed.

Feature image courtesy of Lipscomb Gospel Choir.