He soon, however, finds himself being taken in by the members of a local gospel church.

As a five year old, he began singing in his mother's Gospel Church.

And her huge versatile voice, trained in the gospel church, is unbeatable.

The show opens with a 30-member choir performing the invocation in a contemporary gospel church.

It used to be devoted entirely to singing, but in recent years gospel churches have encouraged other kinds of participation.

Without partners, Ms. Franklin turned the theater into a gospel church.

"We are at peace with the Full Gospel Church," a representative of the federation said.

It started performing this summer at black gospel churches and ethnic arts festivals in New York.

She began attending a small gospel church with her Father at a young age, and that's where Cassidy began singing.

Dr. Kilbride calls it "an evangelical congregation" and "a gospel church."