The Bethlehem Center is celebrating its 90th birthday with a weekend of events, highlighted by Gospelfest tonight at the Tivoli Theatre.
A dozen acts – ranging from church choirs to gospel soloists to the Voices of Lee, who placed third on NBC’s reality show “The Sing-Off” – are on the program of praise.
Lurone Jennings, The Beth’s executive director, said proceeds from tonight’s concert will go toward the agency’s educational, literacy and leadership academy for children. The year-round program serves 100 after-school youth and 125 in the summer, he said.
Jennings knows the impact The Beth can have on a young life. He is a product of the program.
“I came through this ministry,” he said. “I was a first-grader when this building (the current location on 38th Street) was built in 1960. My grandparents lived across the street. I came here as a child and was here all the way through school.