The Church of God in San Diego held the concert, “Comforting Hands for Heroes,” on Sunday, November 19, 2023. This event was put together not only by the church members in San Diego, but throughout the Southern California region, and even Las Vegas. The concert aimed to provide sincere appreciation and support to both veteran and active-duty military personnel through music and performance.
San Diego has many military bases and people from all over the country are stationed there. Even within the Church of God in San Diego, many military members make up the International Military Bible Academy, IMBA. IMBA, together with the regional choir and orchestra, planned this heartfelt event to encourage their comrades, family, and friends who may be weighed down by the struggles of military life.
The choir was made up of 36 members and the orchestra had another 36 members. It started with a piano solo and led into powerful orchestra performances of “Oh My Dear Heavenly Home” and “The Staff of Moses.” There were many performances that not only acknowledged the service of our military guests but also uplifted them with the hope for heaven and faith in God the Father and God the Mother. The choir and orchestra performances of Amazing Grace, There is Only Heaven in My Heart, and Heaven’s Armies Like the Dew of Dawn were among those that displayed the true hope for Heaven. Many guests were moved by the music and all the preparation that went into hosting this concert.
After the concert, attendees enjoyed the sweet and savory treats prepared by dozens of volunteers from the church. There were also presentations going on about the timeline of the Church of God and guests could learn that the love that was shared with them through this concert ultimately comes from the love of God.
This event even caught the attention of San Diego’s local news station, KUSI News, and the concert was highlighted that evening. The church also received a special award from Supervisor Joel Anderson’s office in recognition of promoting our nation’s values and civil liberties.
In total, there were 350 people in attendance with about 100 military who were honored and comforted through this Comforting Hands for Heroes event. With Veterans’ Day being in November, the International Military Bible Academy delivered sincere gratitude to those who have served and are currently serving our country and the good news of salvation.
