Comments on: Being frank on the GMWA

By: Dr. Richard L. Reid

Dr. Richard L. Reid — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:52:51 +0000

Surely this is a person, Christopher Priest, who has never been to GMWA and has not read our website. I guess this is just Satan raising his ugly head again trying to turn around God’s work. Yes, we pay lots of money to get there but the joy that we get out of it is well worth coming together once a year to praise the Lord together.

It is very evident to me that this person who has written this article does not know of the Evangelist Board and the Spread the Word events that we have, the classes we teach, the scholarships we give and the overall ministry we spread to each city that we visit. They have only heard of the musical aspect of this convention. He needs to join us in Cinn.,OH this year and witness for himself instead of listening to someone else or what he has read. He certainly should visit our website. He has taken a part truth and turned it into something negitive.

If it was as he says, I would not been attending for 25 years and would not be a teacher on this great staff.

I really hope he reads my post and visit our website immediately so that he will be better informed about us and help us build instead of tearing down. Yes, many of us are saved and some come for the music but every effort is given to help with our salvation from the time we get there with Holy Communion to Holy Convecation.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:40:01 +0000

There is a lot of talk about the good and bad of GMWA. I believe that GMWA is a good opportunity for the saints of God to gather in one place and have a good time. I have been to the convention twice, and I have definitely seen ministry happening there. There were several calls to salvation each day, and you can walk down the hall of the convention center and see people praying for one another. There are elderly people mentoring young people, families on vacation together, and even members of the armed forces who come to show respect for the work being done there. The fees are definitely difficult for some to manage, but they have to be paid. GMWA is not a charity…it’s a private organization…a club with fees and dues, and operating costs. I am not a member of any GMWA chapter, and I’m not affiliated with anyone who is. I’m just speaking the truth from experience. I loved seeing the various levels of choirs performing, and I learned a lot about God’s movement around the world through music.

By: Mimi

Mimi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:00:01 +0000

I totally agree with Priest. Lot’s of star struck people being taken advantage of. It reminds me of the Gold Rush.

By: FRANK HEY

FRANK HEY — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:59:02 +0000

As a GMWA attendee, ministry is being done there. There are free worship services all day and all night. Yes, there are fees for just about everything, but the fact of the matter is the places at which these conventions take place are top of the line locations, which require money. Most of the people in the Gospel industry, wouldn’t step foot in the places at which the conventions take place, i.e. The Grand Opry Hotel and Convention Center, in Nashville, TN, the location of 2008′s convention. As I don’t remember scholarships being given directly by the GMWA, there is an education department that allows students to meet with schools. Berklee, a world reknown institute and Julliard gave out scholarships last year, free of charge. There’s nothing wrong with charging fees for singing in the choir, there are production fees, distribution fees, studio fees. Musicians are paid, directors are paid. Any time you go out of town, you know you will be spending money. Just because this is an event with church folks involved, it shouldn’t mean that everything should be handed over for free. Expect to pay money for different services – for DVDs and CDs, just as you would do at a church. Yes. But, if you go with the right mindset, aside from a way to solicit your own music, though the networking opportunities are amazing if you know what you are doing, you will leave blessed and uplifted; especially after attending services with dynamic preachers and messages, all day, where there is no FEE required. God Bless!

By: Frank, Dayton, Ohio

Frank, Dayton, Ohio — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:10:08 +0000

Priest’s article did not go far enough. GMWA has made it very difficult in these difficult economic times for anyone to attend their convention. The latest is a $400 surcharge to anyone not staying in the sanctioned convention housing, and another $400 surcharge to anyone not affiliated with a local GMWA chapter.

As much as they worship GMWA Founder Rev. James Cleveland, they are completely shredding his original mission in forming the GMWA, which is to share the gospel art form so that it can flourish in our churches. Anymore, regular church musicians and choir members can not afford to take part in this forum unless they have deep pockets.