Gospelfest Roars into Newark

With hands raised and shouting "amens," audience members at the Prudential Center in Newark transformed the arena into a revival meeting Saturday night as they soaked in inspiring songs at the 28th annual McDonald's Gospelfest.

Part talent show, musical production and church service, the event featured competing choir groups, rappers, dance troupes, and solo performers from all over the tri-state region who had auditioned to come to Gospelfest and compete for bragging rights. There were also several groups who had traveled from all over the world such as Canada, Japan and Barbados.

Gospelfest also featured star singers such as Newark native Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston's mother), Kirk Franklin, and Bishop Hezekiah Walker. The event also hosted popular pastor TD Jakes, who delivered a sermon, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

"You can use your faith to work around your dysfunction," Jakes shouted to the enthusiastic audience who were on their feet as he wiped his sweaty brow during the sermon about survival and strength.

"I can do all things through Christ," said Booker, quoting Philippians 4:13 from the Bible. Booker wished all the fathers in the audience Happy Father's Day and exhorted them to continuing setting an example for their children and other people's children.

Gospelfest started in 1983 by McDonald's in order to reach out to the community and raise money for scholarships, according to representatives from Irving Street, a Newark-based marketing and event planning firm. It was begun as a partnership between the corporate offices of McDonald's and the McDonald's Tri-State Owner/Operator Association.

Though there are other Gospelfest events throughout the country, this particular one is the oldest, according to Irving Street. Emmy award-winning producer A. Curtis Farrow, chief executive officer of Irving Street, directed the event and even served as emcee.

Dressed in a sleek silver suit, Farrow constantly flitted between the stage and the wings as he introduced performers and posed for pictures.

Asked if he was tired Saturday night, he quipped, "Not yet," in between shaking people's hands and picture taking.

Local performers from Newark included Charisa Rouse of the North Ward. Better known as the ViolinDiva, Rouse passionately played the old spiritual "Wade in the Water" on her hot pink electrified violin.

Joshua Williams, a Paterson resident, was excited to be back-up tenor for Cissy Houston, who sang the gospel song, "This Day."

"It's my first gig with her," he said. "I love it."

A few years ago, Williams had sung a solo at Gospelfest a few years ago.

Houston, who has performed with Elvis Presley and her daughter, was dressed in a soft metallic gown. She mentioned during an interview that she had grown up on Hillside Place in the Third Ward which is now known as the Central Ward. Houston currently lives in Northern New Jersey and still comes to Newark so frequently that she said she "never left."

On singing at the Gospelfest in her hometown, Houston smiled.

"It's wonderful," she said. "The Gospelfest is great. They do wonderful things."