Marcelly's Dream to Stream the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards

Marcelly's Dream, a special missionary project of the Church of God, became a reality in December of 2012. Launched by the newly elected director of World Missions, Dr. Tim Hill, the project helps fund needs on the mission field that could otherwise not be accomplished after the $1.1 million General Assembly-mandated reduction of funds from the tithe fund to World Missions.

It all started with a 7-year-old girl named Marcelly Thompson. The daughter of missionaries who were in transition at the time had a dream in which Jesus appeared and told her she would preach the gospel in Africa. She shared it with her parents. Within a few days, the Thompsons were transferred from their Latin American orphanage assignment to a new position in Liberia, Africa. Missions leaders who made the appointment did not know of Marcelly's dream. Director Hill was inspired by the story that revealed God as the guide and planner of our lives, and saw that it was His will for the gospel to go forward.

People for Care and Learning (PCL), Volunteers in Medical Missions (VIMM), and Men and Women of Action (MWOA) were only some of the missions that were set to be defunded, but after sharing Marcelly's Dream, the donations poured in. The three ministries are now safe for another year and several other projects are also secured:

Awarding new Bibles among 130 church-related orphanages
Distribution of 7,500 Fire Bibles, including junior youth camps in the USA
Drilling water wells in Senegal, Zambia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.
Building a boys dormitory in Indonesia
Assisting Phebe Grey Orphanage, Casa Hogar, El Shaddai, Kibera Kids, and other orphanages
Building a church in Cameroon and another in Niger
Undergirding Indian Ministries of North America
Initiating the African Firewall Project that will build churches and training centers across the continent
Building 50 homes in the Build a City project in Cambodia
Enhanced missionary resourcing
Entering a missionary care partnership with the Office of Ministerial Care.

Marcelly's Dream has been so blessed that the church is sharing their blessings. They have announced that they will be supporting the streaming of the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards to be held on April 15, 2014 at River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The Absolutely Gospel Music Awards are among the most prestigious awards presented in Southern Gospel Music. This is the 19th year for the awards and will be streamed reaching thousands of people in addition to the approximately 600 people in attendance.

The cream of the crop in Southern Gospel Music will be performing including the likes of The Isaacs, Karen Peck and New River, The Bowling Family, The Freemans, Tribute Quartet, The Nelons, Sisters, Adam Crabb, Jeff and Sheri Easter and more. The awards are presented based on the previous years accomplishments and not just the popularity of the fans.

In addition, the program is returning the multi-artist tribute to a legend in the Gospel music community this year. The tribute will be hosted by Jeff & Sheri Easter and feature a bevy of special guests.

In a press release, Dr. Tim Hill, said, "I couldn't be more pleased than for Church of God World Missions to share in such a wonderful event. In one sense, Gospel singers are missionaries and the awards program will be an unforgettable night celebrating the 'mission of music' as well as the 'music of missions'."

CEO and Publisher of Absolutely Gospel, Deon Unthank added, “We are thrilled to have a partner like Marcelly's Dream involved in this awards celebration. While we want to give credit where credit is due for the greatest artists in the world performing the greatest music in the world, we also want to remind those attending and watching by streaming that there are people in this world who are not as fortunate as those of us enjoying the big night. Marcelly's Dream is a great example of an organization reaching out in more ways than just sending money. They are working to provide water and medical care to the villages in the area in addition to presenting the Gospel. Thank you Marcelly's Dream for allowing us to share in getting the word out about what you are doing."