On Sunday, July 24, 2011, the sanctuary at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park will be filled with beautiful, joyful sounds of praise, for the 5th Annual Inspiration Showcase.
This evening of powerful and inspirational music features performances by young men and women, who are utilizing their talent and passion for the Lord in a mighty way. Vocal group, The Messengers, sing original music, written and arranged by an ambitious, talented young man named Randy C. Bonds.
Randy, a senior at Columbia College, began producing these summer showcases since entering college in 2007, as a way to help finance his education. These shows have been quite successful, featuring artists like gospel music entertainer Jonathan McReynolds, and B.E.T. Sunday Best finalist, Trevon Davis, who also toured the nation and Japan in the first official Broadway revival of “Dreamgirls”, and is now getting ready to star in Porgy and Bess with Audra McDonald.
Randy C. Bonds is a Vocal Performance and Music Business Manager who has produced five showcases in the last four years, including his most recent event, a Christmas Charity performance for the children of Hephzibah Home in Oak Park. He directs and produces each production, writes and arranges the music, and handles his own promotion and marketing.
The upcoming Inspiration Showcase on Sunday, July 24th, is very special to Randy because it will be his last one as a college student, and he celebrates his 22nd birthday that day.
When I asked Randy what we could expect to see, he replied: “This upcoming event is going to be great! It’s the first time I’m premiering a new group of singers that I’ve put together called “The Messengers”, and they’ll be singing about 10 of my original songs, and then I have a couple of my class mates singing a couple of my other songs as well.”
This showcase will also feature spoken word and songs from local artists, with the majority of the participants college aged young adults. “We’re all about doing something positive with our gifts, and serving the Lord in doing so,” said Randy.
We are inspired in different ways in order to achieve our goals in life. For Randy, he is, first and foremost, inspired by the Word of God. “It charges up my faith, and keeps me motivated when I want to give up.”
In an interesting comment, Randy also cites inspiration from “…failure and haters, because their discouraging words encourages me to do better, and prove them wrong.”
These showcases have resulted in several incredible moments, including the first gospel showcase Randy produced where he looked out into the hall to see people who were “crying, and praising God, and it was very amazing to know that they were so blessed and moved emotionally by the show that I put together. That’s when I realized how much of a blessing this was not just for me, but for others as well.”
Another powerful and emotional moment was when a close friend of Randy turned her life over to Christ as a result of the show. “It was the first time that I released original music, so to know that my music ministered to someone and encouraged them to surrender their life to Christ really inspired me to keep producing shows, despite of the hardships, for winning souls is the reason we minister.”
When Randy graduates college, he said he would love to be a young Tyler Perry. He has the desire to produce, direct and write positive, spiritually uplifting films, music, plays and books.
“I want to create a platform for people of all races and ethnic backgrounds and social levels to live their dreams despite of low income. I don’t believe that a lack of money should hold people in bondage, and prohibit them from living their dreams.” Randy aims toward the goal of being in the position one day to give to the less fortunate, to allow them to use their gifts to gain income.
After graduation, Randy will continue to produce his musical showcases. He is excited about his last show as a college student and looking forward to sharing his 22nd birthday with family and friends. “What better way celebrate my birthday than with people I love, doing what I love to do and showcasing my talents that I’m so passionate about?”
The Fifth Annual Inspiration Showcase will be held on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 5:00 p.m., Calvary Memorial Church, 931 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois.
For more information on this upcoming event, please contact Randy C. Bonds at
708-415-6409. Email: [email protected]
Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
