Neal E. Boyd surprises audience at La Croix United Methodist Church Christmas concert

Christmas at La Croix, an annual concert at Cape Girardeau's La Croix United Methodist Church, is designed to reach out to those who don't have a home church. This year, it reached someone special.

Brad Aycock, a church member and organizer, said the concert was the most successful yet, thanks in part to a high attendance and a surprise guest.

He said the reaction from the crowd was priceless when they recognized a familiar silhouette during the concert.

Neal E. Boyd -- Sikeston, Mo., native and "America's Got Talent" winner -- appeared to perform several songs and stayed afterward to meet concert attendees and sign copies of his album "My American Dream."

Boyd has a history of friendship with the church dating back to 1994.

He performed several times for the congregation in its former location in the theater of West Park Mall.

"This is the first time I've been back at this church in a decade," Boyd said. "It was a nice idea set up by Brad Aycock. We wanted to surprise the area and make it even more special than it already was.

"It's really fun to give back to the community. I came because I want to celebrate my faith with my family and the place where I grew up."

Boyd is traveling through the area after spending Saturday evening in St. Louis at fundraiser hosted by St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols for the Pujols Family Foundation, a charity that benefits children with Down syndrome, disabilities and illnesses and children living in poverty in the Dominican Republic.

Musical groups from within the church performed in the La Croix concert, as well as national recording artists including Dub Pierce, a Christian contemporary acoustic artist. Pierce has performed at the church several times and said he keeps returning because of the friends he has made.

"There's nothing like this in the state of Missouri, and I play a lot of churches," Pierce said. He said there is also no place that compares to La Croix Church because of the relationships and fellowship between the church members.

Greg Klund, a church member who sang in the concert with the choir, said a different concept this year that focused on the "light of the world" was a good experience for him and an eye-opener at Christmastime.

Another church member, Mandi Brink, helped with prop setup and refreshment service for the event.

"Overall the whole performance was phenomenal from every aspect," she said.