Jana Haas

The Wayman A.M.E. Praise Team of Minneapolis, Minn, engaged an audience of nearly 100 with contemporary gospel music at the Morningside Community Church Saturday afternoon.

The three men and seven women of the Praise Team received a warm welcome as they entered the church.

Morningside Community Church member Sandra Diedrich, who has a cousin on the Praise Team, introduced the group.

“We’re so blessed and so thankful to havethem here today,” she said.

The Praise Team had the audience clapping their hands, bobbing their heads and tapping their feet when they opened with an energizing number, Selah, featuring Matthew Bailey on drums and his mother, Delores Williams at the piano.

Lillie Garrett’s powerful soprano soared as she led a friendly yet hearty vocal battle between the sections as she sang Look Where God Has Brought Us.

“A friend came over to my house with a problem and as I was ministering to her, I wrote this song,” said Matthews of Long As I Got King Jesus, a song featuring Chuck Williams.

Organized three years ago under the direction of Matthews, The Wayman A.M.E. Praise Team recently released an album titled Lord I’m Depending On You. Most of the songs were written or arranged by Matthews, originally from Omaha, NE.

“God blessed me with these songs a long time ago and I’m very thankful to be able to share them with the people of Minnesota and South Dakota,” said Matthews.

Morningside regularly presents musical performing groups. “We try to offer a variety.

We’ve had more contemporary performers for youth and we’ve had quartet groups,” said Morningside’s Head Pastor John Long.

“I thought they were good. It was nice to hear something different,” said SDSU Junior, Kellie Christensen.