The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Awakening Concert to celebrate a ‘merging of miracles’
God’s Kingdom at 1671 North Ridge Road in Lorain will host The Awakening Concert on Oct. 27 in a celebration of restoration, healing and deliverance.
Inspired by Lorain Pastor Valerie Howard, the evening concert will feature performances by Howard and appearances by the Body of Christ Choir and gospel recording artists.
The evening will feature six original songs produced with collaborator Aris Thomas.
“One morning I got awakened by God and so he says, ‘Valerie, you aren’t ready for what I have for you.’ But maybe this angel woke up the wrong Valerie because I’m always ready,” Howard said.
Howard said after being involved in a serious car accident and the death of a family member she received some creative inspiration. She immediately went to Wal-Mart and purchased a portable recording device and recorded six songs.
Howard called the twoyear development a ‘merging of miracles’ in the way Thomas was able to translate her ideas into completed works of music. She said Thomas put a lot of love into every song which includes a collaboration entitled “Respect the Process” about Thomas’ creative awakening.
“When he (Thomas) was a baby, he used to play pots while I was talking to his father in the background,” Howard said. “So we finally got together a year after we originally spoke about it and he said, ‘Are you ready to do this?’”
Thomas, 28, is a Lorain native now based in Shaker Heights and has been a musician his entire life. He knew Howard through her friendship with his father, pastor Rodney Thomas. Thomas started out playing drums, then transitioned to piano after developing his skills playing in church. He joined the project as a producer, recording musical arrangements to Howard’s songs.
“The focus has been music because that’s what I do. I’ve been doing music my whole life. I started out on those pots,” Thomas said.
The concert is being held on Howard’s birthday and is looking forward to use the day to encourage others in the community to embark on their own awakening.
“Instead of just celebrating my birth, let’s celebrate everyone’s rebirth. Let’s all just have a birthday,” she said. “My thing is, I just want to turn grapes and the pressure of what I’m going through. I want to give other people oil. So through my pain I can do something that can help somebody else.”
The Awakening Concert is free to the public and begins at 7:00 p.m. The evening will include a number of drawings and light refreshments.