Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church will host a Summer Gospel Fest at the end of the month featuring several local groups and a touring group from the East Coast. Local gospel groups include The Divine Messengers, Bibleway Praise Team, Temple-based group The Spiritual Lights, True Deliverance Praise Team, and The Gospel Travelers, along with special guests: Pastor Bass and the Delaware Boyz from Bear, Delaware. The Gospel Fest which will be at 6 p.
m. Aug. 30 at The Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church at 2306 FM 116 in Copperas Cove.
Performing the event is a way to give back to the community, according to Roger Blakes, who has sung with The Divine Messengers since 2009. “It’s a great event for the community,” Blakes said. “The community really loves quartet music.
Because it is a military town, we have people from various parts of the United States — and many of them love quartet music.” Tickets are available for purchase for $10 from Blakes directly at 254-702-4769 or by calling Gay’s House of Beauty at 254-699-6935. The doors open at 5 p.
m. with Big Rob’s Catfish & Wings and PJ’s Tabletop Southern Cuisine food trucks on site. Blakes said The Divine Messengers’ last performance was at the Killeen Arts and Activities Center downtown, to celebrate the anniversary of their group last October.
The nine-member group Divine Messengers was started in 2002 by Richard Price with co-founder Leonard Lowery, who passed away earlier this year. The group has continued to perform across Central Texas for almost 20 years. The mission of the gospel quartet group is to minister to souls through music.
“It’s a family group; we enjoy singing throughout the community and at various churches,” Blakes said. “We want to make sure people hear good music and the message of Jesus Christ through what we sing.” The Divine Messengers have changed through the years as members move away, pass away, or join the group, Blakes said.
“We have had to start over with different members as those changes come,” Blakes said. “COVID impacted the group as well. We had to do virtual meetings, and we didn’t take any engagements until COVID rates went down.
” The Divine Messengers are excited to get back to touring and performing across the state. The group is available to be booked for events by contacting Blakes, as well. “It means a lot to get the chance to get back to touring different cities and meeting new people and spreading the word of Jesus Christ through our music,” Blakes said.
“We enjoy experiencing the talents God has given the guys in our group — it is a very talented group of guys.” The Divine Messengers will celebrate their 22nd anniversary on Oct. 12 at Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church with a free performance, open to the public.
To keep up with The Divine Messengers travel schedule and other news, go to divinemessengers.net ..
