Christian Music Online

Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James called his small-town churc

August 5, 2007 – 1:21 pm

Sean Donnelly was as surprised as anyone when someone representing Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James called his small-town church, asking if she could sing there.

“Rebecca St. James is one of the biggest stars in Christian music,” Donnelly says. “We didn’t expect it. It was out of the blue.”

But it all panned out, and St. James will be at Grace Community Church in Overbrook on Monday.

It’s part of SHE (Safe, Healthy, Empowered), a gathering of Christian women that is hitting sites across the country. The Overbrook event, which begins at 7 p.m., follows recent tour stops in the much larger cities of Macon, Ga., and Panama City, Fla.

Donnelly, who is coordinator of the nondenominational church’s special events team, figures someone involved with another large, national event at the church in February — World View Weekend — might have passed Grace Community Church’s name on to the organizers of SHE.

The event, which is expected to draw 650 to 850 people, is intended for women, though men who want to bring their daughters will be allowed to do so. St. James will perform and speak, and she’ll be joined by Evie, another Christian singer who has recorded more than 30 albums.

St. James was named favorite female artist by a vote of readers of CCM magazine. She has recorded 17 top-10 singles on Christian charts, nine of which reached the top spot. She has won three Dove Awards — the top award ceremony for Christian music — and won a 2000 Grammy for best rock gospel album.

Donnelly says church members are excited.

“You don’t get an opportunity to see Rebecca St. James very often,” he says.

General-admission tickets are available for $18 by calling (785) 793-2141. More information can be found at www.sheevent.com.

Overbrook is 30 miles southwest of Lawrence. The church is located at 310 E. Eighth St., on the eastern edge of Overbrook along U.S. Highway 56.

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