National Gathering of UM Men to have Tennessee flavor
Vince Gill and Steve Hornbeak to sing at July event

NASHVILLE, Tenn.––For the past 36 years, UM Men have held their quadrennial gatherings at Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind.

When the General Commission on UM Men moved their 10th National Gathering to Nashville, music for the event took on a distinctively Nashville flavor.

Vince Gill and Steve Hornbeak, two Nashville-based recording artists, will perform at the July 10-11, 2009, assembly at Belmont University. They will be joined by Sheltered Reality, a national youth percussion band that includes youngsters from a Nashville inner-city church.

Paul Saik, a well known vocalist and pianist from the Nashville Area, will serve as the music leader. He recently released a live recording of hymns recorded at Brentwood (Tenn.) United Methodist Church.

Richard Alegria, former president of the Rio Grande Conference United Methodist Men, will serve as organist for the event. This will be his seventh men’s national gathering.

Speakers at the event will include Chicago Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung; Dr. Patrick Morley, founder of Man in the Mirror ministries; and the Rev. Kevass Harding, pastor of a Wichita, Kans., congregation that grew from 25 members to more than 800 in eight years.

While the event officially closes Saturday, July 11, persons staying over in Nashville may attend a July 12 morning worship service led by Bishop William W. Morris, a retired UM bishop residing in the Nashville area.

For information, and to register for the event, visit the web site UnitedMethodistMen.org or call toll free (866)-297-4313 or (615)-340-7145.