For local gospel group Unity of Navasota, Saturday, April 21, was similar to so many other days. The four men and three women performed on stage for a packed audience, using their God-given gifts to spread His love and show their faith before returning their seats in the church pews.
The term ‘altar call’ is traditionally used by Evangelicals who feel “called” by the Holy Spirit to make a new spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ in a public setting near the front, or altar, of a church. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and sometimes that call takes on a whole new meaning. That Saturday in Decatur, Georgia, Bryant Harris, Perishia Harris, Marquisha Culbreath, Carriesa Porch, Devaughn Stuart, Patrick Jones and Shannon Harris were called to the front of the New Life Church, not by the Holy Spirit, but by the emcee of the 2018 Steeple Awards. The group had been named the ‘Quartet of the Year,’ beating out such top recording gospel artists as The Wardlaw Brothers, Keith “Wonder Boy” Johnson and many others.
Disbelief, speechless, shocked, honored, happy and overwhelmed are just a few of the emotions that surged through them as they took the stage to receive their award. The journey to that stage has been 14 years in the making and has its roots in a small group that began singing in the bleachers during a Navasota Rattler basketball game. Culbreath and Perishia Harris are the only two remaining members of that group of teenage girls who raised their voices for God in the gym of a public junior high. However, their devotion to God has been unwavering and they have melded a family out of the musicians and singers who have joined them in the past 12 years. Each one brings a unique balance to the group both musically and emotionally and together they have reached heights that may be unattainable without the camaraderie and faith leading them through every venture.
“There are two slogans we live by – majoring in ministry and minoring in music and outcome over income,” said Perishia. “No amount of money could pay us to do what we do, because all we want to do is spread the gospel.”
They have played in 30 states, from New York to San Diego, and bring the joy of music and of God to every venue. Manager Carolyn Harris’ defining moment for the group was not the Steeple Award given April 21, but rather the inherent rapture that overcomes the young members of the audiences.
“Sometimes the older can’t reach the young, but with them knowing who Christ is and going all over to perform, I have seen kids be captivated - young people, young adults, little kids,” said Harris. “They are fascinated and at the end of their seats watching every move that the group makes and every sound that comes out of their mouths.”
Balancing personal lives, careers outside of music – both Culbreath and Perishia are coaches with Navasota ISD and the others have ‘day jobs’ of their own – and a touring schedule, Unity of Navasota still finds time in studio to record albums through Jones’ label, Work Son Music. The group has multiple singles and albums on every major promotional site, including Amazon and Pandora, and will be heading back to the studio this summer for another project.
Whether called by the Lord or by an emcee, Unity of Navasota is happy to answer every call.
“I knew that in my life there was a call to preach, but I didn’t want to be called a preacher and I didn’t want to live under that microscope and now I am a preacher and I embrace that as my passion,” said Culbreath. “Through singing with this group, I was able to come into the ministry without knowing at the time that it was what I was doing.”
Unity of Navasota will be holding a reception in the coming weeks to celebrate their achievement and to thank the community for their support. For more on Unity or to purchase their music, go to www.worksonmusic.com or their Facebook page
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