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A Night of Jazz, Comedy And Dinner Designed For Christians
The Weekly Challenger
Originally posted 7/22/2010
By Blanche L. Ganey
Special to the Challenger
ST. PETERSBURG – Pastor Deborah Hill of New Hope of Glory Ministries, a woman of tremendous faith on a mission to make a difference in the lives of all, is the visionary behind an upcoming dinner, jazz and comedy extravaganza. She hopes the event will help bridge the denominational divide between churches. This latest mission, involving a large step of faith for both Hill and her small congregation, offers a night of jazz with renowned saxophonist, Ron Brown and comedy featuring nationally known comedian, Michael Jr. known for a Christian friendly repertoire funny enough for the club yet clean enough for the pulpit.
“People think it takes a whole lot to do a whole lot and that’s just not true,” said Pastor Deborah Hill. “I’ve learned that if I approach people respectfully and honestly they respond the same way. So, when I made phone calls and sent emails to invite the artists to be a part of our event they already had an idea of what type of person they would be doing business with.”
Several years ago when working for Lockheed Martin, Deborah Hill, through a Worknet grant, titled “Welfare to Work” as the deputy director of community relations, got the opportunity to work with young single mothers trying to get off public assistance. While on the program many of the women earned either diplomas and or college degrees enabling them to get jobs thus fueling their dream to get off public assistance. Excited and pleased for the graduating participants Hill set out to put on an event honoring and celebrating the accomplishments of the graduates and even the employers who hired them. Not only did the well attended event come together as she planned, but Hill was able to attract Bernice King, daughter of slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as keynote speaker even though many doubted she would.
Capturing the attention of a national icon at an affordable price seemed impossible to some but Deborah Hill, now known as Pastor Deborah to the members of New Hope of Glory Ministries since April 2007, exercises the faith of a mustard seed about which she often preaches. And as a result of that faith and determination saxophonist Ron Brown and comedian Michael Jr. will come to town for a night of entertainment and fun unlike any event offered by the local Christian community in a very long time.
Ron Brown has played behind stellar performers like Natalie Cole, Al Jarreau, Anita Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Joe Sample, David Benoit and Stevie Wonder. Due to some turn of events that turned his world upside down Brown reached out to God and in doing so was lead to add Christian music to his performances. “I’m still a jazz musician, a studio musician,” explains Brown, “but 90 percent of what I do is playing in churches and doing the ministry, and God is sustaining me.” Pairing music with worship is an age-old practice. “I feel like music is the one that opens your heart, then the pastor goes in with the message. It works in combination,” he said.
Comedian Michael Jr. was given his big break when veteran comedian George Wallace took him to the legendary Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, home of Jay Leno and “The Tonight Show” staff. His career catapulted after that resulting in appearances on “”The Tonight Show”, Comedy Central, “The Late, Late Show”, “BET”, “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “The Byron Allen Show” and many more. Also Michael’s versatility takes him from major universities such as Notre Dame, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Alabama, to church events ranging from the 60,000 member Willow Creek Church in Chicago to the 17,000 member West Angeles Church in L.A.
“It concerns me people think just because we are Christian we don’t get to have fun,” said Pastor Hill. “The word of God speaks of God’s children being a chosen people, part of a royal priesthood and a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. ( 1 Peter 2:9). We know that laughter is good for the soul and a merry heart does a body good. We enjoy good music, good clean jokes and we certainly like a well prepared meal and our upcoming event has all of these things, so we’re believing for a sold out event.”
Pastor Hill’s vision of a night of entertainment bridging the denominational divide between churches is picking up steam on both sides of the bay.
“When Pastor Deborah came to us about the event,” said member and caterer of the event, Sofia Forte, “it never dawned on us this wasn’t something we as a church could do. When Pastor Deborah shares her vision and assures us it can be done we all get on board with the idea and we’ve never been disappointed.”
“We may be a small church,” added member Prince O’Neal, “but we’ve never failed on anything we’ve set out to do and we are always doing events to either reach out to or aide our community and as small as we are God continues to bless New Hope of Glory financially and we have no debt.”
Pastor Hill and her husband Ludell are opposites in the way they approach issues. Pastor Hill reaches for the stars and asks questions later but Lu, as he’s known by family and friends, is the anchor that helps to keep her and the congregation grounded as he deals with all the reasons things might not work out as planned.
“I’ve seen what our church can do,” said Ludell Hill and I know what my wife can do, but I’m the one with the questions.”
The question this time isn’t will it happen, but when and where. The gospel jazz and comedy event of the year will be held Friday, July 30, 7 p.m. at the Gulfport Casino & Ballroom, 5500 Shore Blvd. South, Gulfport, Fl 33707. Tickets are $50 including dinner. For more information about this star studded event contact Prince O’ Neal at 813-477-1400.
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