Christian music superstar Francesca Battistelli headlines Kettering Health Network’s GospelFest at The Fraze in Kettering on Sunday, August 23. Ten local Christian music artists and bands begin performing at 3:00 p.m. Francesca Battistelli takes the stage at 7:30 p.m.
The local bands were selected by a panel of judges during auditions in May. The seven judges represented Kettering Health Network, the City of Kettering, the Kettering Seventh-day Adventist Church, 93.7 WFCJ-FM, and Faith and Friends Radio.
The event is free and open to the public. Food is available for purchase at the venue.
About Francesca Battistelli
Take a close listen to If We’re Honest—the stunning, soulful and openhearted third album by Francesca Battistelli, a GRAMMY® Award nominee and six time Dove Award winner—and you will hear that her latest song cycle is a deeply honest and powerful piece of work vividly reflecting the 28-year-old singer-songwriter’s own journey. If We’re Honest also displays a great rhythmic range than Battistelli’s previous work, which she admits may reflect her life living with her husband, drummer Matthew Goodwin. Indeed, while proud to be a leading Christian recording artist, Battistelli is happy to see her musical message connect with all sorts of music lovers. “Some of the most inspiring moments come when someone comes up to you and says, ‘I wasn’t a believer until I heard your music on a TV show or playing in a store, and it prompted me to look you up, to find your music, and eventually to find the Lord.’ Sometimes they simply say, ‘Your music helped me find through a difficult time.’ To me that’s what it’s all about.”
About the 10 Local Bands
The Gathering Worship Band
The Gathering Church in Centerville, Ohio is a church that is centered on Christ and focused on loving people. The church offers hope and fresh starts and wants everyone to simply come as they are. However, they hope that no one leaves as they were. The church wants to see people's lives changed and improved by their encounters with God's Word, God's worship and God's family at The Gathering.
Redeemed Trio
Redeemed Trio is a Southern Gospel group that has been together for more than ten years. Barney McFadden, Redeemed’s lead singer, serves as the Music Director at the Church of the Nazarene in West Milton, Ohio. Tenor Dale Boreing sang with the Sonmen Quartet and the Mission Quartet. Pastor Gary Bayes, the baritone and group owner, serves in the Ohio District and regional ministry with the Assemblies of God.
A New Creation
A New Creation (ANC) is an independent Christian Rock band from Dayton. Blending elements of progressive rock, pop, and jazz with lyrics that detail the struggles and success of the Christian spiritual journey to both challenge and uplift the listener. With a deep conviction in the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, ANC uses the language of music to connect with their listeners.
Berachah Valley
Berachah Valley was created in the spring of 2005 when a few friends came together searching for a place to play traditional bluegrass, gospel, and traditional renditions of current favorites. Audiences quickly see the result as a uniquely smooth combination of musicianship and female vocal harmonies.
John Stone – (Country Side Church of the Nazarene)
Jonathan Stone is a singer/songwriter from Lebanon, Ohio, and music has always been a part of his life. He was honored in the year 2000, as his song titled “Come to the Water” was designated as one of the top 100 songs of that decade within the Southern Gospel market. He is debuting a new recording titled “Everything,” and will be performing at Kettering College on August 30.
Apex Band
The Apex Band is based out of Apex Community Church in Dayton. Most weekends are spent serving at Apex’s two campuses, but the band also plays at various camps, conferences, and events in the region throughout the year.
Shawanda Smith
Shawanda began singing at the age of five and had the opportunity to lead her first song with the church’s adult choir. While a student at Wright State University, she sang with The Paul Lawrence Dunbar Chorale. During her third year of college Shawanda became a solo artist.
TCaF (The Church at Farmersville)
Pastor J. Todd Smith a leap of faith four years ago when he and a small group of believers began The Church at Farmersville. From a congregation of about forty people, the small, rural church has grown to approximately 200 people and continues to grow as families hear about TCaF’s unique mix of contemporary, upbeat worship music paired with relevant, relatable teachings from the Bible.
Aaron Clark & Ministry
Aaron Clark & Ministry is a talented group of singers and musicians based out of Springfield, Ohio. Singing together for over seven years, this group produces a sound that is unified and causes God to be glorified. With songs that address real life circumstances and direct the listener to Jesus Christ, it is apparent that Aaron Clark & Ministry are on a mission to reach the masses for the Kingdom of God through music.
SouthBrook Church
The SouthBrook Worship Band is composed of staff and volunteers from the Worship Arts Ministry of SouthBrook Christian Church in Miamisburg, Ohio. The group has one goal: To tell the story of Jesus as creatively and passionately as possible in order for people who are far away from God to come close to Him. But the band members know that great storytelling won't stand up on its own. To participate in God’s restoration of the world, members have committed themselves to challenge, resource & lead others.
