Gospel Fest Unifies Ohio State Through Faith

Credit: Arianna Smith

By: Arianna Smith

Gospel Fest performers and keynote speakers projected the message of unity while creating a space of worship for all attendees.

More than 100 people participated in Gospel Fest Sunday in the Ohio Union. The three-hour-long celebration was part of a week-long celebration under the 45th annual African American Heritage Festival. 

Kaylah Pitts, co-chairman for Gospel Fest and a second-year in neuroscience, said that they were selected to lead and organize the Gospel Fest event.

“I wouldn’t say I chose, I would say the position chose me, as well, last year I did OSU Reads but I really love praising the lord and too often on campus I see a lot of people that love to praise the lord as well, but they just don’t know where to go or where they feel comfortable,” Pitts said. “ So I feel like one service at least, to you know, set the bar for Ohio State and for the students and make them want to get more into the church spirit.”

Pitts and Khalea Cater, co-chairman for Gospel Fest and fifth-year in forensic biology,  said that they were aiming to pick performers and guest speakers who would bring good vibes and high energy. 

“So energy was definitely a factor, I think that’s pretty much what we based a lot of the show off of, who was going to bring the energy the most and make everybody feel comfortable within this space,” Cater said.

Each performance consisted of a multitude of gospel songs while the Ohio State Dance Department Ensemble performed a routine to kick start the line of performers. Performers included Ohio State’s Dance Department Ensemble, Kingdom First Praise Team, Miami University Gospel Singers, Tommy McGuffey and True Worship and TJ and Testimony. 

Other acts included Dr. Beavers, the director for the Center of Belonging and Social Change, who gave a university welcome speech, and a sermon by Bishop Christopher Woods Sr., senior pastor of Kingdom First Church.

Aniyah Rosemond, a second-year in neuroscience, said that Bishop Wood’s sermon really spoke to her as a college student navigating different relationships.

“He talked about relationships and not just having booty calls and having real engaging relationships and you really need that in college, whether it’s a love relationship or just a friendship,” Rosemond said. 

Rosemond said that this event allowed her to be closer to the church since her schedule as a college student hinders her ability to do so. She said that Sundays are when she allows herself to rest.

“Just being able to hear it in-person and actually come here and it be convenient for me to come to the Union and just worship God, like I should be doing more occasionally,” Rosemond said.

Rosemond said she came to the event to be surrounded by other Black individuals, including her sorority sister Pitts. 

Cater said that this event is important for the Black community due to the spiritual aspect of gospel. She said that they hope the event creates a space where the community can worship comfortably.

Pitts said that this event is important for the Black community because gospel music has been a way for them to communicate with each other and hold each other together since the times of slavery.

“I would say at Ohio State it’s definitely important, because we get to see what’s been holding us together since slavery, on our PWI (Predominantly White Institution) campus,” Pitts said.

Shayanna Hinkle-Moore, fourth-year in public affairs and city and regional planning, said she has been a singer in the African American Voices Gospel Choir since freshman year. Hinkle-Moore said she took a hiatus from singing until returning for Gospel fest on Sunday.

“This is a very good way to come back, you know, into this space at Gospel Fest as a performer instead of an attendee, to worship the lord, be able to have fellowship with my fellow choir members,” Hinkle-Moore said.

Moore said that she hopes that their performance allowed attendees to be present and share those moments of worship with others.

Pitts and Cater said that they hope this event helps attendees find confirmation and allows them to give praise and get their spirits high.

“I’m hoping that this is kind of a confirmation for a lot of people of who their God is and what their spiritual beings are,” said Cater.