Multicultural Church Builds Bridge With Praise

By: Andrea Williams

Jon Jones, the Worship and Fine Arts Pastor of Christian Life Center in suburbs of Chicago, feels that praise should be colorblind.  Influenced by Contemporary Christian Music and Contemporary and Traditional Gospel, Jones can't help but express music the way God gives it to him.  The church's multi-ethnic congregation and Pastors Jerry & Chris McQuay's vision of heaven on earth is represented on Christian Life Center's Servants of Praise brand new CD called CLC: Live.  Releasing online on iTunes and Amazon on Tuesday, July 30th, the new project is a feast of unforgettable praise and dynamic worship.
 
The new single from the project is the island-styled "Higha", a song about lifting the name of Jesus higher.  It's just one of the many songs that leave the listener wanting more.  Ricardo Sanchez's hit, "I Am Forgiven" (co-written by Israel Houghton) is given a rock remake with a powerful, guitar-jamming arrangement followed by the liberating, hyperactive cut, "I Am Free". Worship is present on the record as well with "Higha Flow", a medley of well-known Gospel songs including Bill & Gloria Gaither's "There's Something About That Name" and Kirk Franklin's "Something About The Name".  A sweet atmosphere permeates the record as Lamar Campbell's "More Than Anything" and a new song, "Raise Us Up" round out the moving medley.  "The Anthem" opens with spine-tingling acapella vocals from Jones, and "All He Says I Am", sung by up-and-coming songwriter/worship leader Dee Wilson, is worthy of the repeat button.
 
A live recording, the new CD truly captures the experience church members are accustomed to at Christian Life Center.  Plans for the recording began when members started requesting copies of the music after Sunday morning service, wanting to bottle the worship experience for the week.  Initially slated to be an in-house production, Jones felt the world needed to experience what this little slice of heaven experiences week after week.  He took the lead in production, arranging and songwriting; two of the albums' songs are penned by him.
 
Jones is director of Servants of Praise, a 30-member vocal ensemble and the church's mass choir.  A blend of nationalities, the choir is a direct reflection of the church's diversity.  As a matter of fact, Pastor Jerry McQuay, a Caucasian, was vocal about wanting all types of people as members of his church and commissioned members to help his mission of diversity.  With the new CD, it seems that his mission has been accomplished.  For more information about Servants of Praise, log on to www.facebook.com/clc2day or on Twitter (@CLCSOP).