The notes of Gospel music did not simply leave the singer’s mouth; the melodies lingered on the faces of the choir through the entire song.

“We’re all here to sing to you,” said Restoration Chaplain Chardonnay Jones, addressing both the attendees and God at Unplugged to get Plugged In on Saturday.

Through a night of gospel music, the Grand Valley State University Restoration Gospel choir encouraged: “unplug yourself from the cares of the world and get plugged into Christ,” according to the Restoration website.

Restoration coordinated the event with participation from Intervarsity and the Voices of GVSU choir.

Visiting choirs included Ferris State University, Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan. They each came with a few prepared songs of worship and led an audience in the Fountain Street Church in more than three hours of religious celebration.

Jakia Johnson, another Restoration chaplain, led a prayer before the music began. She told people to get out their Bibles – or their iPhones. “Bible” is a free downloadable application.

“Everybody out there that doesn’t have the app, please get it!” she shouted.

Johnson read from Ephesians 2:1 from her cell phone.

Three singers and a few musicians from GVSU’s Intervarsity sang the first songs of the night. The crowd was getting into it, and following the first song, one of their singers grabbed the microphone.

“Can we get a shout for God right now please?” the singer shouted.

The night’s master of ceremonies, GVSU alumnus Kenneth Henderson, encouraged everyone to shout, clap and move to the music.

“God has moved on our behalf, so why don’t we move for Him?” he said.

The Ferris choir performed “You Can Change” by Tye Tribbett and G.A., a song with a message for many college students: it is not too late to change.

“You don’t have to smoke that weed no more,” they sang.

The Ferris students sang about hope and trust in God for help to become a better person.

Nefeteria Aleem, a member of the Ferris choir, said she thought Unplugged to get Plugged In gave her the spiritual guidance she needed this weekend.

“I loved it. It was absolutely wonderful,” she said. “We did our best performance here that we have done!”

During each performance, other choir members and some in the audience stood, swayed to the music and interjected, “Yes, Lord!” and “Yes, God!” when a lyric touched them.

“The decision to get unplugged from the world and plugged into the Lord is yours … get tapped into his presence,” Henderson said.

Pastor Rik Stevenson concluded the evening with a few words.

“What’s most important is that you and I seek the kingdom of God,” he said.

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