Aretha's 7th annual church revival

Jet, July 7, 2008

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ARETHA'S 7TH ANNUAL CHURCH REVIVAL: Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (above) uplifts the spirit of churchgoers as she delivers powerful performances of traditional gospel classics Never Grow Old, Old Landmark and Old Ship of Zion during her recent three-day church revival at Detroit's Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. Also bringing the word of God in song are, clockwise from top, Stellar Award winner Vickie Winans with I Hear The Music In The Air, Franklin's son and noted gospel performer Eddie Franklin with I Won't Complain and the legendary Mighty Clouds of Joy with their big hit I've Been In The Storm Too Long. Other participants during the musical celebration of faith included Dorothy Norwood, Twinkle Clark, Evangelist Ruby Terry, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Brenda Corbett, Bill Moss Jr., Evangelist Sandra Riley, Evangelist Esther Smith, Rev. Edgar Vann Jr. and Rev. Donald Parson. The admission-free revival is Franklin's gift to Detroit. She tells JET: "I do this every year because I want to give back to the community that loved and supported me before people knew who I was." She adds, "I also wanted to provide something that will give them the strength, the power, the spiritual uplifting direction they need to deal with situations that they are going through these days, like escalating gas prices and foreclosure. They need the power to lead them through the storm that only the church can provide. Some things are free. You don't have to pay for everything and this is my gift to them."--Photos by Monica Morgan