From North Carolina to NYC, Elevation Worship Gave a Memorable Performance
Photo by Alicia Lenea
The opinions reflected in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, faculty and students of The King's College.
(REVIEW) Elevation Church hosted a pop-up event in New York City at Terminal 5 featuring Elevation Worship and Steven Furtick on Sunday, March 26.
Elevation Worship is a famous worship band of Elevation Church based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It includes many prominent musicians, such as Chris Bown, Mack Brok, London Gatch, Jane Williams, Wade Joye, Jonsal Barrientes, Jenna Barrientes, Tiffany Hudson and many more. The band has released many albums, including the latest, "Graves Into Gardens," streamed over 3 million times on Spotify. The lyrics and melodies of their songs are known for being powerful and inspirational. A majority of Contemporary Christian music has been influenced greatly by Elevation Worship.
The Elevation Worship ministry organizes pop-up worship events throughout the United States. These events aim to bring people together in worship within their community. Gathering in one place creates a unique atmosphere of connection and community that encourages people to experience the presence of God.
When the doors opened at 11:30 am, a crowd surrounded two sides of the large city block. In person, thousands of people waited to hear Elevation Worship live. As the line moved forward, a woman came out to inform the crowd that no more seats were available. The attendees had to RSVP online for free before the event, but it was first come, first serve for seating. For attendees to be able to attend the event, they would have to stand. For those who remained, the lady said they would try to place chairs on the roof but would not be able to see the main stage, and they would have to stand outside in the strong wind. Nevertheless, most people in the crowd decided to stay and stand for the entire event.
Inside the venue were three floors of people trying to get a glimpse of the stage far in front of them. Chandler Moore’s deep voice boomed with power as he sang. An individual on the second-floor balcony attempted to capture a video of the performance by holding her phone high in the air.
Chandler Moore is a singer who partners with Maverick City Music, a Christian music collective based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are known for their unique blend of gospel, soul and hip-hop music. The collective has released several successful albums and continues to produce inspiring music. Moore is best known for his soulful and gospel-infused Christian music, as well as his powerful and dynamic vocal performances. His partnership with Maverick City has given him the platform to reach a wider audience, including Elevation Worship.
A short period of time was devoted to worship, and those at the back of the line only heard the last song, "More Than Able." On stage, Steven Furtick, the lead pastor at Elevation Chruch, wrapped his arm around Moore in a strong embrace as the song ended.
The worship band slowly left the stage to allow Furtick to deliver his prepared message. It was a matter of understanding the fact that a person's location does not define who they are. They are who God has created them to be, not what their environment has shaped them.
As Furtick preached, the crowd was enthralled by his words, shouting their own encouragement and yelling "YES!" and "AMEN!". As he concluded his message, the worship band returned to the stage to sing "More Than Able" one last time.
As Moore sang in his deep and powerful voice, the audience sang along to every word. During the performance, the crowd was in a state of bliss and awe as they continued to sing, shout and clap. The crowd erupted in thunderous applause as soon as the song ended, showering their love and appreciation for the message and the music. There was no doubt that it was a memorable event.
Alicia Lenea is the Live Music Columnist at The Empire State Tribune. She is a senior majoring in Journalism Culture and Society.