Story by Paige Effinger, Staff Writer
Photos by Brock Kirk/The News
A benefit concert for the Marshall County community was held last week that showcased gospel music performers in a “Night of Healing” to honor the victims of the Marshall County High School shooting.
The main event was singer Zach Williams, and this stop was a part of his Chain Breaker Spring Revival Tour. Williams is a Grammy-nominated recording artist most famous for his debut single “Chain Breaker.”
One of the coordinators behind the event was Heartland Ministries, Inc. which owns and operates many of the Christian music radio stations in this area, including WVHM-FM, Elevate FM and Thrive FM. Matt Freeman, operations coordinator, said they have known about Williams for a while.
“Following the success of his single, other songs from the ‘Chain Breaker’ album have made it to the radio, leading to the continued success and development of his Christian music career,” Freeman said.
The three radio stations owned by Heartland Ministries, Inc. operate primarily in Western Kentucky. Most of this area was somehow affected by the shooting that took place on January 23. Freeman said the key purpose of the stations is to provide a positive, encouraging alternative to the negative nature of so much of today’s media.
“When the need arose to keep the community updated on the situation, it created countless opportunities for our organization to remind everyone to be encouraged by where our hope comes from,” Freeman said.
This concert is another opportunity for Heartland Ministries, Inc. to live out their key purpose. Freeman said they dove head first into working to put together an event that would honor and celebrate the lives lost during the tragic event while strengthening the relationships of the student body and the community.
“That’s what it all comes down to: loving and encouraging each other while keeping our hearts and minds focused on where our true source of hope comes from,” Freeman said.
