PRAISE GATHERING 2004

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

NOVEMBER 11-13, 2004

A couple of weeks before Praise Gathering this year, I was in a hectic 8 day stretch. I e-mailed a series of "reports" to a few friends describing some of the events. I named the series "8 days of insanity". It being that was so well-received, I thought I would name this Praise Gathering 2004 recap "3 Days of Insomnia."  The title is appropriate because not only am I not yet used to this time change back to standard time, but my body still thought it was in the Central time zone. It woke me accordingly at 4 a.m. each morning!

The biggest event for me at Praise Gathering was working Mark Lowry's product table.  I try to be sensitive in writing about being part of these experiences, in order to avoid causing jealousy issues among fans or appear as if I am privileged or favored. But without this experience I wouldn't have much of a report. I'll just say that I did have choices on how to spend my time at Praise Gathering... but I truly believe God spun the circumstances that got me the opportunity to work Mark's table. And, I want to give folks a perspective on what it's like to do this.

It was great fun working at Mark's table and for me, a great honor as well.  But it was also a huge time commitment and a lot of hard work. When we weren't getting food or at concerts (I was a bit selective about those this time--I didn't make it to parts of every evening concert), Bob, Lucy, Jan, Mary and I spent from early morning to late in the evening selling (business was booming and we were breaking in some new credit card sale technology!), stickering and restocking. This didn't leave time for me to do the usual after concert dinners with folks, or to make Russ Taff's birthday party (I caught up with Russ later). So, I really do apologize to those I missed (but some of you knew where I was!) and I hope no one felt snubbed. I was grateful to see those I had time to find, though!

It was a real joy to work with Mark's "merch guy", Bob Sauer...dedicated hard worker and super person. Mark's table was next to LordSong's. Besides being gifted and talented singers, Michael, Kim and Amber are also three of the sweetest people you'll find anywhere (and thanks, Michael, for explaining the wi-fi access for my handheld device...even though I didn't end up using it!). I also got to observe Mark over the three days meeting and greeting the many fans who came by the table and ramped up business. He is the "real deal"--warm, friendly, down to earth and genuine to everyone.

With the arrival of Penny Lisle on Saturday, our afternoon concert seat-saving tradition was intact. We successfully staked out the front row for the afternoon concert which featured Mark and LordSong, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, Taylor Mason, El Trio de Hoy, and Out of Eden. I was at Friday's edition of this concert as well (further back). These were two of the best shows I've ever seen at Praise Gathering. Denver and El Trio rocked the house, (hey, they even had Mark dancing!), Taylor and the puppets brought the kids forward. I tell you, I am not a fan of rap...but if it had the message and the fun spirit that the three young ladies of Out of Eden brought it ("where my soldiers at? RIGHT HERE!"), I might give it a chance. For those who, like me, didn't have the chance to see the "God Is Crazy About You" tour this year, this concert gave you a sample. Just enough to give you the message, but you find yourself wishing you could get the whole show. The music, Mark's voice...well, you know the rest. Just insert for the 3,123rd time...

Unfortunately, there was a dark cloud on the weekend as well. Many people know I have two seriously ill elderly parents on the East coast. While at the hall on Thursday I received a voice mail message from my sister asking me to call because there were problems. I feared this was "the call" I'm expecting to hear any day at this stage, and I would have to leave Praise Gathering and fly to Connecticut. "Why now, God?", I thought. But, after a while I reached my sister...and fortunately it was not about a critical situation which would force me to leave. The next day, I saw Stephen Hill (who my sister says resembled the husband of one of our cousins), told him about my family, and right then and there he called over two people he had been talking to and led us all in prayer for my family. Stephen, I will never forget or thank you enough for your kind gesture.

This was a different Praise Gathering experience for me than in the last two years.  However, I've made the same decision about next year in Indy as I have with Dallas...don't try to top it, gonna leave this one right where it is.

--Wendy V

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