CINDY MORGAN TO PERFORM AT LOCAL METHODIST CHURCH

Staff members at La Croix United Methodist Church wanted a way to reach young people, and a Christian music concert came to mind.

Contemporary Christian artist Cindy Morgan will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at La Croix United Methodist Church.

Tickets for the event are $9 in advance and $10 at the door and are available at the church, 3102 Lexington, or Living Water Books and Gifts. About 300 tickets already have been sold.

"She matches our demographics," said Jim Beise, discipleship pastor for the church. "We feel like she will connect with a lot of people."

Morgan is a four-time Dove Award winner -- the Gospel Music Association's version of a Grammy award. Her latest album, "Listen," includes many songs she has written.

"Listen" is a change for Morgan. But she says, "I've been moving in this direction for a while, and the timing of it all came together, with a lot of new beginnings and changes for me in the past few years."

Morgan debuted in Christian music with the hit "Let It Be Love." She followed with eight No. 1 songs and five more albums. She was chosen as New Artist of the Year by the Gospel Music Association in 1994.

Because of Morgan's ability, talent, and recognition, she was a perfect concert choice, Beise said. The concert gives Christians a chance to invite friends to church to hear the gospel message without having a speaker, he said.

The music Morgan performs "will be a reflection on the gospel, and also on the church," Beise said.