The Gospel Lighthouse is a nightspot without the sin
By Gerald Pace
For the St. Louis American
The Gospel Lighthouse, a Christian club on North Broadway, offers a variety of family entertainment every first Friday and Saturday. This past weekend the club featured over 40 gospel artists, comedians, dancers, musicians and poets from St. Louis and other cities. There were over 100 people in attendance each night.
Many local artists performed, such as Joila Dance Ministries, Signs and Wonders, Mutual Praise, Chozzen, and others. Out-of-town guests Friday night were Kashuna, a Christian comedienne and Donny, a singer, both from Chicago, and Ambitious, a guest rapper from Decatur, Ill. Jimmie Cameron, Jr. (whose stage name is Big 7) was a guest rapper Saturday night from Des Moines, Iowa.
The club is operated by Chuck Spearman and Terri Gold, both leaders of the Missouri Gospel Announcers Guild (GAG). Gold, Spearman and Merdean Gales, Bobby Jones Gospel Show co-host, founded the club. It has been in operation since 2001 and holds office space for the Missouri GAG. Before moving to its present location, the gospel club was originally called Club G and located on the 12th floor of a building on Locust Street.
“The concept of a Christian club started years ago when the Church of God in Christ would have a coffeehouse at the Chisca Hotel in downtown Memphis during its annual convocation. We decided to try one in St. Louis and felt Club G would represent us best,” Spearman said.
“I see the word ‘club’ as an acronym for Christians Living Under the Blood. We changed the name to The Gospel Lighthouse when some pastors in the city had a problem with the word ‘club.’”
The secular club alternative has served as a stepping stone for many national gospel artists. The popular gospel group Rizen, Rodney Bryant and Malcolm Williams all performed at The Gospel Lighthouse during the beginning stages of their careers.
The weekend was sponsored by Divine Dzion, a faith-based business that specializes in clothing and hosiery for women of color. Each month the club solicits sponsorship of businesses to offset the costs of maintaining an admission-free family environment.
“We are members of the Missouri GAG and we saw it as a way of giving back to the community,” Al Parks, owner of Divine Dzion, said.
“The club allows gospel talent nourished through an atmosphere of acceptance. We give those artists the opportunity to be heard.”
Big 7 said, “You get to see a lot of talent as well as display your own. There’s a lot of love in St. Louis.”
Adorned with flashing disco lights and retro décor, The Gospel Lighthouse usually opens the night with a movie playing on its big screen video projector. Patrons can dine on food prepared by the club staff or Spearman himself. The diner also offers non-alcoholic frozen daiquiris. Local and out-of-town DJ’s play the latest in gospel music.
The club is viewed as a family environment by many patrons. Entire families attend. The club takes a moment to honor all birthdays of the month and opens up the dance floor for the Cha Cha Slide and Electric Slide.
“It’s not an Apollo atmosphere. It boosts their ego,” said Sheila Randall, parent of 10- and 16-year-old daughters who often perform at the club. “You don’t have the smoking and drinking, and you can have a good time without all that.”
Spearman said that many Christians have not fully embraced the concept of going to a club.
“We are trying to get pastors to see that our secular nightclubs are full of church people, and we’re providing an alternative to Christians that are going to places that they don’t fit in,” he said.
“A lot of people think when they come to Christ, all the dancing and fun stops, but it doesn’t. We just say we’ve changed partners.”
For more information about The Gospel Lighthouse, call (314) 436-7424.
