LAS VEGAS – Local gospel sensation Spirit of Praise Ministries will break ground as Las Vegas’ premiere gospel recording artist during an appreciation concert at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Great Commission Interdenominational Church, 3329 Coleman Street in North Las Vegas.
The event, open to the public, will introduce the Las Vegas community to the group’s latest single “You Are God,” written by the team’s musical director Rochelle Schoener. “We wanted to share what God has given us to our church family and the community first. They are the people who have supported us throughout this project,” Schoener said.
The song, inspired by Schoener’s appreciation and love for God, features the group’s vocal dynasty Nina Hooks, and is scheduled for release the evening of the concert. “We will share other original music as well,” Schoener said. “But our main focus for the evening is to create a total worship experience for our guests. We want people to feel the presence of God in this place.”
Birthed from an annual women’s retreat hosted by the team’s home church, Spirit of Praise Ministries has recently taken the Las Vegas area by storm. From its kickoff praise and worship set during the Gospel Music Workshop of America in October to the breathtaking worship injection at True Love Baptist Church’s Gospel Explosion last month – the group packs a powerful atmosphere of worship in song.
“This group is phenomenal,” said Alice Tugwell, KCEP’s Godmother of Gospel. “Everybody was talking about them after they sang during a live remote broadcast for our station’s fundraiser last month.”
The concert, a free event, will also feature renowned Soprano Petrina Willams Rush; Sacramento’s own musical genius Chris “Keys” Rhone; Calvary Chapel’s Melanie Carroll; vocalist Scott Nellis and featured Mandalay Bay musician Gilo Morgan. “We have the best of the best to serve our guests a feast of talent and harmonious gifts,” Schoener added.
Listeners can expect an explosion of voices to suck all worries dry; a calypso beat that will ring Morse code amongst the praisers and a gut-wrenching note from Hooks’ rich vocal range to set the tone – let the praise begin. 
“Being covered under the blood of Jesus brings about a Spirit of Praise,” Schoener declares, “We represent that spirit.”
The Spirit of Praise Ministries is comprised of seven women total – Denise James, Tara Tatum, Kenyatta Lewis, Evelyn Kline,  Sonya Smith, Hooks and Schoener.
Hooks believes ministering to the people should prepare hearts for a change. “We want people to witness God in us and wonder what they must do to be saved,” She said.
Known for standing on her tip toes as she sings, Schoener possesses a voice that commands attention upon the first note. Her powerful delivery - coupled with her masterful runs from one end of the musical scale to the other - rank superior on any stage. But the perfection in her sound and the spiritual sincerity she displays never change her humility. “This is my life I’m singing about. If He hadn’t first loved me, I don’t know where I would be.
 “People need to know He can heal, He can save, and you can be delivered. Every time I sing a song, I am pressing to get that message out there,” She stressed. “This is not a joke and I’m not messing around. I’ve seen too many good people turning bad because they don’t know where to go and how to get there.”
The team, the epitome of harmony perfected, can cultivate uncharted soil in any arena and hearts are sure to be ripe for sowing seeds of salvation.
It’s no wonder team members have been able to grace stages from Las Vegas to Hollywood with greats such as Stevie Wonder and others including several well known artists during worldwide performances of the play “Your Arm’s Too Short to Box with God.” All are sure to have a spiritual experience while under the influence of the sound of Spirit of Praise Ministries.
For booking or media information, contact Toni Terrell at 916 533-6215 or Rochelle Schoener at 702 561-3937.