Gospel Night at Saints lets you skate while you praise
By Anisha Coleman
For the St. Louis American
If your body craves a workout and your soul yearns for gospel (and you are at least 21), you can roll into Saints Roller Rink in Olivette on Friday nights between 11:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. You’re sure to feel blessed.
Friends as well as cozy couples can be seen gracing the floor until the wee hours of the morning, never tiring because they have the soul-stirring tunes of the deejay to keep them refreshed, lap after lap.
In the deejay booth, you’ll see slim and trim D.J. Wanablesu, his electrifying voice lighting up the mic with spiritual shout-outs as he guides the crowd around the rink with gospel favorites.
D.J. Wanablesu characterizes his style as “fresh, new, energetic, for the new Israelites, for those who are serious about going to the Promised Land.” He is serious about putting souls on fire by blasting such local gospel groups as Divine Daughters of Zion and, for hip-hop fans, J’son.
His fresh style incorporated elements of all musical genres last Friday, as was obvious from the energized, upscale crowd on the skating rink. Not one soul could resist partying with the mix of jazz, traditional gospel from the Chicago Mass Choir, and the R&B-tinged hit “Shackles” from the famed female group Mary Mary. Wanablesu also blessed the crowd with intermittent moments of prayer.
Brandie Gholson, age 27, who is originally from Olivette, said she has been faithfully going to Gospel Night at Saints on Fridays for the past four years, since she returned home from college.
Brandie said, “It’s not only a great way to fellowship with other saints and get my praise on, but it’s also a great way to get my workout on!” Brandie said she maintains her ideal weight simply by coming to Gospel Night.
Tracy Stone, sponsor of As You Go Development Group, which makes Gospel Night happen, is an anointed young woman with a mission. She strives to give people a chance to come out from the confines of their church walls and denominations to unite in fellowship and be blessed in a sea of diversity. People from all races, creeds and backgrounds come together each Friday at Saints.
Stone has teamed up with D.J. Wanablesu for the summer to add a fresh twist to Gospel Night. Indeed, with Tracy’s mission and Wanablesu’s talents, Gospel Night is a powerhouse.
Stone founded As You Go Development Group in August of 2004 as a result of her personal battle with depression. Its mission statement is “Go Somewhere, Do Something, Make a difference,” which is precisely what Stone is doing with Gospel Night at Saints.
Stone and her group also sponsor the Back to School Gospel Skate Extravaganza at Saints Roller Rink each August. This year, it will be held on Sunday, August 7. The purpose of the event is to feed children’s spiritual needs through fellowship and their financial needs through school supply donation.
To learn more about As You Go Development Group, call (314) 494-9828 or email asyougo2004@aol.com. For D.J. Wanablesu, email djwanablesu@gmail.com.
Holy crunk this weekend
Murchison Tabernacle invites all youth, young adults and “young at heart” to its Holy Ghost Crunkfest 2005 this weekend, from Thursday, July 7 through Sunday, July 10.
The theme is to get “F.I.R.E.D. (Filled, Inspired, Revived, Empowered and Delivered) Up!”
On Thursday and Friday, Empowerment workshops will be held at 5:45 p.m. and worship and praise sessions at 7 p.m. On Friday night, games, food and fellowship will follow at 10 p.m. On Saturday, a roundtable brunch will be offered at 11 a.m.
Murchison Tabernacle (Marvin C. Lue Jr., pastor) is located at 7629 Bridge Road in Normandy. Call (314) 383-4855.
