Turn Your Radio On: Celebrating Vintage Gospel Radio Hymn Sing Concert

“TURN YOUR RADIO ON: CELEBRATING VINTAGE GOSPEL RADIO” HYMN SING

The Orchard Evangelical Free Church will host the free, semi-annual Hymn Sing Concert on Sunday, October 21 at 6 p.m.

The theme of the evening is “Turn Your Radio On: Celebrating Vintage Gospel Radio” and will feature four radio broadcasts; Old Fashioned Revival Hour, Revivaltime, Haven of Rest, and Rev. R.R Brown and the World Radio Congregation. The original soundtracks from the broadcasts merged with photos, live performances and impromptu sing-alongs, will provide a nostalgic visual and audio experience for the audience.

Performances include; an inspiring piano and organ prelude, Sunday Night Singers, Hymn Sing Teens, and the Hymn Sing 80 voice choir and orchestra.

In years past, over 750 people have attended at one time, including over 80 different Chicago-land churches, 12 of which are represented in the choir. We welcome all to attend this free event and to join us for fellowship and refreshments following the concert.

The Hymn Sign Music Director, Glen Ramsborg, said, “Hymn Sing was first created to bring the community together to sing the songs of our Christian heritage, we hope we can continue that culture.”

More details about the featured radio broadcasts include:

• The Old Fashioned Revival Hour (OFRH) with Dr & Mrs. Charles E Fuller - For many years, the broadcast originated from the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium and attracted 5,000 each Sunday and carried by the Mutual Broadcasting Company. Since the port of Long Beach was close to the point of deployment of WWII soldiers to the Pacific Theater, their ministry was highly attended by these military personnel. One of the features of the program was the letters from listeners read by Mrs. Fuller. We have requested letters from past attendees of the Hymn Sing as to how this ministry impacted their lives and will be read by a Mrs. Fuller "look alike."

• Revivaltime with Rev. C.M. Ward and the Revivaltime Choir - For over 25 years, this program originating from the Assembly of God headquarters in Springfield, MO with the recordings of the Revivaltime Choir where they had a distinctive Gospel style.

• The Haven of Rest with the Haven of Rest Quartet - Paul Meyers was the original radio pastor along with the close harmony of The Haven of Rest Quartet. The opening leader of the original program will be heard with a brief greeting from its current pastor to the Hymn Sing attendees. The program is heard today on WMBI here in Chicago.

• Rev. R.R. Brown and the World Radio Congregation and a ministry of the Omaha Gospel Tabernacle - The ministry of RR Brown began as a one-time initial radio church service on the first Sunday following WOW radio went on the air in Omaha, Nebraska in 1923. The number of letters that came to the station resulted in the continuation of over 2,000 consecutive broadcasts. His legacy continues today with a Bible Conference at Lake Okoboji, Iowa, some 75 years later. A short video clip has been integrated into the video of VeggieTales which was created by Phil Vischer, great-grandson of Rev. Brown.