First Harvest Honors Awards held Friday at Faith Church in SE G’ville. – Gainesville Sun
Music legends who have blessed gospel lovers with their voices were honored for sharing their gifts within their communities and the world.
Christ Harvest Fellowship of Churches hosted its inaugural Harvest Honors Award ceremony on Friday at Faith Church at 2905 SE 21st Ave.
Bishop Brian Dykes Sr., presiding prelate of CHFOC, said he created the event to honor gospel greats in the North Central Florida region.
“I am a firm believer of giving people their flowers while they’re living and not when they’re gone,” said Bishop Brian Dykes Sr., presiding prelate of CHFOC. He also said he created the event to honor gospel greats in North Central Florida.
“I believe it is a great idea to honor local legends who have been singing for as long as I can remember,” Dykes said.
Dykes, who has been in music ministry for more than 40 years, launched CFHOC eight years ago and said the ministry now has fellowship churches in South Carolina and St. Petersburg.
“The reason we are honoring these selected artists is because they have paved the way musically for a lot of us who work in music,” Dykes said. “They are very anointed and passionate about singing and ministering the Lord’s song.”
Candace Thomas, chairwoman of the women’s department of CFHOC, said the ceremony is inspiring to aspiring artists.
“They have a great powerful gift in their voices,” Thomas said. “It’s important to give people their flowers now. As an aspiring artist myself, I hope to be as great as the artists we’re honoring tonight.”
The Harvest Honors Award choir was led by Elder Dr. D. E. Richardson II, founder and pastor of Temple of Praise and Restoration Outreach Center Church of God In Christ in northwest Gainesville.
Ellis was introduced by her daughter, Charlotte Ellis Colbert, who said her mother is the founder of Divine Healing Ministry that helps people with rent, utilities and home repairs.
“These are dynamic women of God,” Colbert said. “We praise them for being an example. We don’t take that lightly.”
The award plaque given to the honorees was a replica of a glass microphone.
“I thank God for allowing me to see this day, a day I thought I would never see,” Ellis said.
Ellis said she was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis in 2021 and has recovered to continue to help the community while serving God.
The illness causes muscles under voluntary control to feel weak and get tired quickly. This happens when the communication between nerves and muscles breaks down, according to medical experts.
“We’re here to smell the flowers, see the flowers and see the love,” Ellis said. “I’m so appreciative tonight. I don’t take it for granted. When you’ve experienced what I’ve been through, you are serious about God.”
Dykes and Ruth Benjamin introduced Baldwin.
“She’s an outstanding woman of God,” said Benjamin, Baldwin’s sister. “She has given her life to God — that’s the beauty of her ministry. She is a loving and caring person. If she got it, it’s yours.
Dykes is Baldwin’s son and said he is proud to have worked with her all of these years.
“She’s not just anointed to sing but she’s anointed to cook,” Dykes said. “It’s a talented family and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
Baldwin is a consecrated minister in the Church of God by Faith, where Superintendent Phillip Thomas is her pastor.
She recorded her first live recording titled “Step Back and Let God Do It,” featuring the world renown Rev. Milton Biggham, founder and director of the Georgia Mass Choir, a Grammy award-winning choir.
Baldwin has performed on BET on the Bobby Jones Gospel Show, New York State Fair and on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).
She has received numerous awards such as the Florida Gospel Legends Award, the 2003 Outstanding Gospel Music Recording Artist Award and in 2010 was inducted into the Putnam County Hall of Fame.
“Thank you so much for this,” Baldwin said. “If nobody has your back, know that family has your back.”
The other honoree was pastor Beverly Crawford of Landmark Holy Temple of God in Gainesville.
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Crawford is a gospel singer arguably best known for singing with the New Life Singers on Bobby Jones Gospel on BET and for having well-known songs such as “Praise Jehovah,” “Run to the Water,” “He’s Done Enough” and “It’s About Time For A Miracle.”
She began singing at the age of three and joined her sisters as part of the Camp Sisters.
Crawford has recorded nine albums, and won her first Stellar Gospel Music Award in January of 2009 for “Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year” for “He’s Done Enough,” which was released in 2007 on Los Angeles-based JDI label.
Crawford, co-pastor with her husband Todd Crawford of Landmark Holy Temple of God in northeast Gainesville, was not present to receive the award, but Dykes said he is grateful to have been the vessel to honor three great women of God.
“I’m thankful to have worked with great people in this ministry,” Dykes said. “Thank you God for enabling us to honor the people who serve you.”
Source: News
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