The voices rose almost spontaneously at a community potluck in 2023. One song turned into another, and laughter mixed with harmony as neighbors discovered the joy of gospel music together. Out of that moment, what seemed like a passing suggestion — Why not start a gospel choir? — begun to transform into a movement at Lakeside.
At the center of that seed is Dr. Deborah Davis Jones, founder of Day 4 Life Ministries International, an online teaching ministry. Although she had no formal musical training, she recognized the unifying power of gospel.
“It wasn’t about perfect voices or professional choirs,” she recalled. “It was about people coming together, lifting their spirits and finding joy in song.”
Gospel music has long carried that role. Born from the African American church tradition in the early 20th century, gospel fused spirituals, blues, and jazz into a music of hope, resilience, and praise. For many communities, gospel has been both a form of worship and a cultural lifeline — a way to endure hardship, celebrate faith, and unite people across divides. Today, its influence is global, reaching far beyond the pews of churches.
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