Chicago’s influential and vibrant church and gospel music communities are coming together to raise money for the survivors of the recent Haiti earthquake. Illinois State Senator Rev. James T. Meeks (Pastor of Salem Baptist Church) and Rev. Charles Jenkins (Pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church) are spearheading this effort and have enlisted Donald Lawrence, and Ricky Dillard of Chicago’s New G Chorale to organize the music for “Chicago’s Hope for Haiti” benefit concert.

“I woke up early Tuesday morning and said to myself I've heard what the NFL is doing, for Haiti,” Jenkins says of the idea to organize the benefit. “I've heard what the NBA is doing. I've heard what the Government is doing, but I haven't heard anything about what the church is doing. That's when I called Donald Lawrence. He said that he and Ricky Dillard wanted to do something and they would follow my lead. I think it is incredibly important for God's church to be visibly engaged, serving and sharing as Jesus would. As all other organizations have united, the body of Christ must have some united effort to respond to the devastation that we’ve witnessed in Haiti.”

The concert will take place February 8, 2010 @ 7:00 PM at the 10,000 seat House of Hope, 752 E. 114th Street in Chicago. The confirmed talent includes Donald Lawrence & Co., Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark Sheard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Maurette Brown Clark, Byron Cage with Mark Hubbard & the Voices, The Sweet Holy Spirit Choir under the direction of Ricky Dillard, Percy & Gerald Gray featuring (New Direction, Chicago Mass Choir and Joshua’s Troop), DeAndre Patterson. BET TV personality Dr. Bobby Jones, and John P. Kee who will close the rousing concert. The program will be emceed by WGRB 1390 AM on-air personalities Pastor John Hannah and Angela Martin.

The proceeds of the concert will go directly to Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) and Hospitals for Humanity (www.hospitalsforhumanity.org). Both organizations are currently on the ground in Haiti, providing immediate relief (ranging from food and water to medical care) to the survivors of this horrific earthquake.