By Rochelle Schoener
The Answer Staff Writer

More than 500 hundred people filled the True Love Missionary Baptist Church for the first ever Facebook chorale concert last month. Worshippers and onlookers alike were escorted into the throne room as the more than 70-voice choir filled the atmosphere with thunderous harmonies.

From the soul-stirring selection He Favored Me led by Pastor Maurice Phillips and Arthea Harden, to the hand clapping, foot stomping It’s Only a Test, attendees were served a gourmet musical meal fit for the king.
“This concert was done in excellence,” said Aaron Arrington, the brain-child behind the musical extravaganza. The event also included a praise dance team that took the filled-to-capacity church beyond the veil with a moving rendition of More Than Anything .The crowd jumped to their feet as the troupe escorted a heart draped cross decorated with red hearts in honor of Valentine’s Day through the sanctuary. According to Arrington, there were some naysayers, but the multitude made it difficult to dispute the power of Facebook.

Known not only as an internet chat site to reconnect with old friends and to make new ones, Facebook is being used to promote everything from baby showers to church services. Bedashed.com, a social community where people can connect with God on a daily basis, has extended its reach to all Facebook users by integrating Facebook connect technology.

“This is an important step forward in reaching out to the online community,” says Jacco de Vin, founder of Bedashed.com. “We understand that a lot people spend their quality time on Facebook, but it’s hard to spend quality time with God there. Now that we have integrated with Facebook, visitors to Bedashed.com can use their own Facebook account to login, post a praise, journal their prayers and respond to God’s Word.”

Furthermore, Facebook users can post their praises to their own Facebook wall to share with their friends and family, and this Sunday afternoon praise party was no exception.

Since the invitation was posted in last December, close to 80 respondents took advantage of what would turn out to be the collaboration of some of Las Vegas’ premiere psalmists and musicians.  The stellar list included keyboardist and director David Blakely, the Thomas brothers (Reconciliation Apostolic Ministries), keyboardist extraordinaire Ronnie “JL” Johnson and legendary drummer Brian James just to name a few.
 
“There were no egos, just a good time in the Lord,” said one of the chorale members, and a good time indeed seemed to be the consensus of all those in attendance evidenced by the standing ovations between musical numbers.
As invitations were extended for the chorale to minister one would certainly have to recognize the power of Facebook. For more information on upcoming Facebook Chorale events, or to become a part of the Facebook Chorale contact Aaron Arrington on Facebook or call (702) 641-1357.