Two Christian musicians come to Cape Girardeau with messages

Christian music fans in Southeast Missouri will have two options for entertainment this coming week, including a concert with a Grammy-nominated artist.

Nicole C. Mullen, whose album "Everday People" has been nominated for a Grammy and two Dove awards, will perform Thursday at La Croix Church. Rap music fans can hear John Reuben perform at the University Center Ballroom on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University on the same night.

Both concerts begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for the Reuben concert, but the Mullen show is sold out.

The Mullen concert will be the first big public event for La Croix since building a new state-of-the-art sanctuary. "We're really excited and one of the big things with building the new auditorium was to make sure more people could come and enjoy entertainment like this," said Kelly Myers, arts production manager at the church.

Mullen's album has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary album of the year. She's also received two Dove nominations, which are the Christian recording industry's version of a Grammy award. She was recognized for female vocalist of the year and for best urban album of the year.

With bigger-name artists like Mullen coming to Cape Girardeau, people don't have to travel for a good show, nor do they have to pay top dollar for tickets, Myers said.

The La Croix worship sanctuary will seat 960 people for the Mullen show.

There won't be quite as many people at the university campus concert, but that's partly because the event is the first of its kind for the Baptist Student Union, which is sponsoring the event.

Bob Houchins, campus minister, said concerts haven't typically been part of the events the Baptist Student Center sponsors each year. "But the freshman council wanted to do something as an outreach that would cross over and reach people," he said.

Reuben has released a new album titled "Professional Rapper" that shows human life and the struggles that people face. He started out in the business at 16. Instead of getting a car as a teen, he bought recording equipment and started making music.

"If somebody said that they wanted to do what I did, I'd tell them it's not a very bright idea. Of course I was totally unrealistic myself, but it was in God's plan."

Myers and Houchins both said the concerts will help them with outreach efforts in the community. "We're hoping that getting different types of artists will help us bring good entertainment to Cape and culturally reach out to different areas."

In June, the Latin band Salvadore will perform at the church. A family concert is planned for March with a Christian ventriloquist.

Houchins said the rap concert will help educate students about the minstries available on campus and reaches a broader audience.

"It's another opportunity to come and hear the word," Myers said.

ljohnston@ semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126