SAN FRANCISO, Ca—On July 17, 2010, 350 people attended a Gospel A Cappella concert at the Uptown Church of Christ to benefit Agape Villages Foster Family Agency. Agape Villages is the only foster family agency on the West Coast that is closely associated with the Churches of Christ. The Master of Ceremonies was Kinwood H. DeVore, Director of Metropolitan Fresh Start House in San Francisco, and Minister of the Metropolitan Church of Christ in San Francisco. Also, Dick Blythe, Minister of the Lake Merced Church of Christ in San Francisco, and long-time former President of Agape Villages, led the opening prayer. The event’s guest speaker was the Minister of the West Oakland Church of Christ, Dr. Ammar Saheli.
The concert included a cappella performances by Myron Tate, formally one of the lead soloists from the A Cappella group, Men in Christ, based in San Mateo, CA and Straight Company from Kentucky; the Anointed Voices, from Los Angeles, The COATS Singers, from the San Francisco Bay Area, and the group, First Day all the way from Little Rock, Arkansas. The concert was organized by Theris Coats, Sr., Agape Villages’ newest board member, also one of The COATS Singers, and a member of the Elk Grove Church of Christ congregation in Elk Grove, CA.
“This was the most excellent concert of Gospel songs that I have heard in 31 years,” said Marie Foster, a member of San Leandro Church of Christ, who attended the concert.
“The guys from Arkansas, First Day, brought the house down!” exclaimed concert goer Pam Aziz, also a San Leandro Church of Christ member.
Agape Villages (then known as Sierra Children’s Home) began its ministry to children in 1958. “More than 50 years and more than 5,000 children served later, our commitment to help children heal and to provide them with a nurturing environment continues to be the task that challenges us each new day,” said Janet Kleyn, Agape Villages President and CEO, who was in attendance.

Tags: Agape Villages, Anointed Voices, Benefit Concert, Coats Singers, First Day

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