Shawn Thomas
Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church
7 p.m. May 31
Tickets: Free, donations encouraged
PONTIAC – Shawn Thomas will be performing songs off of his well-known recording "Everything I am" as well as his recently released CD "Changed" at 7 p.m. May 31 at Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church.
Last year, Thomas admitted to Between The Lines he felt that by being gay he'd lose God's love. "I hear people talk about trying to come to terms with it. For some reason even as a kid I never felt condemned, like someone was coming down on me or God was going to hate me," Thomas said. "In fact, I used to pray to God to help me understand."
Now, his music explores what Thomas took a while to understand: That God loves regardless of sexual orientation. "I know from meeting other people that … they really feel that God hates them," he said. "I don't believe that's what God is about. I don't believe that homosexuality is a sin."
"Everything I Am" was released in the fall of 2003 and has peaked online Top 40 and Top 20 charts for over 12 months. Thomas' newest album, "Changed," has been nominated for the 2006 OutMusic awards as Outstanding New Inspirational Recording, and features the driving title track and an upbeat cover of Amy Grant's "What About The Love."
Awarded "Best Independent Songwriter" by the Spring 2004 Indie Awards and labeled as "groovin,"wholesome," and "inspirational" by Pride Christian Music, Thomas continues to develop his music career in a new direction of spirituality and ministry.
"I actually resisted writing Contemporary Christian type music in the past because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to still perform the style of music that I enjoy," he said.
That style of music, as featured on "Everything I Am" and "Changed," included a wide variety from traditional ballads, to praise music, to pop/rock, to club-dance, to country.
"Everything I Am" and "Changed" are available for sale on popular Internet sites including BestBuy.com, TowerRecords.com and EDBaby.com and is distributed by Aaron's Rainbow Project and Shawn Thomas Studio in North Little Rock, Ark.
The concert is free of charge. The church is requesting non-perishable food items and hygiene products to benefit The Ruth Ellis Center. A love offering will be taken in support of Shawn Thomas.
