It was a night of worship and praise through song as Sandi Patty blessed East County with four decades of music in her “Forever Grateful: The Farewell Tour” on Feb. 17 at Faith Chapel in Spring Valley. Calling San Diego her home from her middle school through college years, the audience was filled with people that not only loved her music, but also knew her and loved her as much. This made this evening of song intimate, powerful and inspirational.
It was a night of worship and praise through song as Sandi Patty blessed East County with four decades of music in her “Forever Grateful: The Farewell Tour” on Feb. 17 at Faith Chapel in Spring Valley. Calling San Diego her home from her middle school through college years, the audience was filled with people that not only loved her music, but also knew her and loved her as much. This made this evening of song intimate, powerful and inspirational.
Patty had a lot of help in entertaining the crowd for the evening with her family on the stage, in the background and the audience. With her husband Don Peslis at her side, they sang a beautiful rendition of “The Prayer,” a song that her daughter Aly said has been a rock for this blended family during good times and the bad times. Patty said that they were passing the torch to their children as Aly and her son Jon both took the stage with her. Both, with remarkable voices stood out with their vocals, even next to their 39 Dove Awards, five Grammys and four Billboard Music Awards with more than 11 million records sold mother. Patty said that she loves her “blended and broken” family, and that their trials have brought them closer to God and to each other.
Every song was a highlight, and in covering four decades, the choices of what went into melodies, and had to be sung alone were perfect. In doing so, we heard parts of years of favorites like “Upon this Rock,” “How Majestic is your Name,” and “How Great Thou Art.” But happily, there were some that she said had to stand alone, and with such grace and ease “Love in Any Language” and “We shall Behold Him” were as beautiful as the first time ever heard. Hands in praise lifted as her gift of song filled the air. She took us all to church with some wonderful good ole gospel music and had the crowd on their feet as much as in the chairs. Her performance was interactive, personal and encouraging throughout the evening, delivering a message of love, hope and triumph, both through song and personal testament.
Also joining her for this tour was a remarkable “newcomer” to the Christian music industry, the group Veritas. This young group of five men, all who met each other at the University of Mobile, AL., stunned the audience with their perfect harmonies and distinctive voices. “The Lord’s Prayer” was nothing short of breathtaking as each of them sang their prayer with heart and conviction. They also accompanied Patty with her family in many songs, and individually stood in in a melody of her greatest duets. Patty said she was instantly drawn to this group when she first heard them and it was a surety that they should be with her on her farewell tour. And she was right. Veritas made its impression here in East County and I expect to hear much from them in the coming years.
Although this was a farewell from touring, it is not a goodbye to her music. It has stood the test of time since her first album in 1979, and its message is a clear today as it was then.
