Published by the Lake Union Herald | September 24, 2025
On Sabbath morning, nearly 70 voices stood shoulder to shoulder in the cavernous pavilion. Dressed in coordinated hues of red, white, and black, they belted out familiar songs such as “Faithful is Our God,” “Oh, It is Jesus,” “I Will Give Thanks,” and “Watch, Ye Saints.” The sound swelled to the rafters as the singers from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota experienced, for the first time, what it meant to sing as one.
A President’s Vision
For Lake Region President Garth Gabriel, music is more than a hobby—it is his second love. From 1973 to 1978, he sang bass with the Heritage Singers, and in his travels around the region as president he says he has heard “the best music and the best singers from different areas.”
He says he was impressed by God to bring together the most talented group of musicians, since he believed, “We have some of the best in Lake Region”
When the committee formed and singers began to be recruited, Gabriel was grateful for what he saw unfolding. “It was amazing how it worked,” he said. “The band sent out songs, people practiced, and even with just one rehearsal before the big day, I had a feeling this was going to work. What I heard was music from a lot of spiritually endowed people who are serious about the Lord.”
The sense of divine presence came through loud and clear in the testimonies that followed. “The biggest feedback I got,” said Enida Gabriel, chair of the mass choir committee, “was how excited people were to sing with others they had never sung with before. It was beautiful to see it all come together.”
How it Came Together
To make Gabriel’s idea a reality, a planning committee formed with representatives from each region: Enida Gabriel, Lyndsey Bryant, Zelda Solomon, and Ian Curly from Motor City; Enid Williams from Chicagoland; Avanel Dorant and Curtis Dominique Jr. from Illiana; and Ramona Minisee, Michael Gayle and LaShawne Suggs from Michiana.
Read the full article HERE
WATCH THEIR PERFORMANCE HERE.
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE 80TH CELEBRATION HERE.
Debbie Michel is editor of the Lake Union Herald.
