NEWS RELEASE FOR OCT OBER 2012 FROM BARKING BAPTIST CHURCH

BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT MUSICIAN THRILLS BARKING CHURCH

AUDIENCE

Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Paul Gbegbaje thrilled a Barking church

audience with his virtuouso performance on the piano at a Sunday evening

church concert.

The gifted musician was one of the attractions at a concert organised

by the young people of the Barking Baptist Church, in Linton Road, Barking,

Essex, on Sunday 28th October 2012.

In addition to demonstrating his musical ability, Paul spoke about his

Christian faith and acknowledged that his talent came from God. He

encouraged his youthful audience to make use of the talents that they had

been given, while recognising the challenges that faced Christians working in

the entertainment industry.

The twenty year old Barking-based pianist appeared on the same

stage as the evening’s other main attraction, the gospel rap artist known as

S.O. The Kid: Nigerian born and London raised Seun “S.O.” Otukpe, signed

by Lamp Mode Recordings in 2011 as their first international artist.

Other performers during the evening were drawn from churches and

schools in Barking and Dagenham and other local boroughs. Contemporary

dance played a major role in the evening with memorable performances from

Shreeya Makwana and the twin sisters Teckisha and Aeysha.

The Baptist Church’s own resident singing group started and closed the

proceedings with contemporary gospel songs. They were joined on stage by

the church’s minister, Brazilian born Andre Oliveira, who exchanged his

lectern for a lead guitar and proved himself to be a musician of no mean

ability.

Other musical highlights of the evening included the soulful vocals of

Lukene, who performed a Mariah Carey song, and the Baptist church’s own

Nosa, who performed “You Raise Me Up”. The concert’s main organiser,

twenty year old law student Yemi Aderigbe, also took to the stage to perform

a song backed by other musicians from the church.

Young people from the church also performed a short play, highlighting

the dangers of youth gang culture but stressing the possibility of forgiveness

and new life offered by Jesus Christ.

The evening closed with the presentation of trophies to the young

performers who had taken part, prayer, and a few closing words from Andre

Oliveira.

The “Light Entertainment” concert was arranged as a follow up to an earlier

youth concert organised in 2011 in the aftermath of the London riots to draw

attention to the more positive aspects of youth culture. Further

information about the event, can be obtained from Janet Williams on 0793

2672 109 or from Shade Aderibigbe on 0794 7300 927.

Graham Hedges.