"City" To Meet "Country" Concert Event At CAFE ABLAZE Christian Coffeehouse

Two very different music ministry styles will grace the stage at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection’s Christian Coffeehouse, CAFE ABLAZE, the evening of Saturday, March 24. Young Jeannie Ortega is debuting as a Christian artist and will sing to the urban hip-hop/rhythm and blues beat that made her a teen star. The Paul Paoli Band, with its namesake singer, fiddler, and guitarist, will bring to the “café” their acclaimed upbeat Southern Delta bluegrass/jazz grounded in Scripture. “City” will meet “Country” that night!

Jeannie Ortega has a fascinating story.  As a child, to mentally escape life in a tough city neighborhood where violence was common, she sang along to the radio.  Doing so in a taxicab got her “discovered” at age eleven. The cabbie had clients who were talent scouts. This put her on the fast track to stardom. Before long, songs of hers were heard on the radio; then, between 2003 and 2007, on Disney movie soundtracks. She got to sing, dance, and act in music videos. She also appeared, as herself, on a soap opera in 2006, singing a hit. Jeannie toured nationwide that same year and saw her album top music charts. Her youthful enthusiasm even got her a fragrance endorsement. Some of this happened even before graduating from high school. Fast forward five years. Now, Jeannie is using the same urban beat for music ministry that shines a spotlight on God’s love. This change, which began with a return to church, inspired her in 2010 to write a song called “Savior.” After being asked to appear, sing it, and tell her story on Christian cable network, TBN, huge ratings resulted. She is now a TV personality with their subsidiary, JCTV, as well as a Worship Leader for Revival Outreach Ministries International. Her first album of purely inspirational songs, titled “Perfect Love,” was released just this January.

Cowboy-hat wearing Paul Paoli began fiddling at age eighteen, mastering it in two years, and spent the next eight in bands opening for The Gregg Allman Band, The Oakridge Boys, and even Johnny Cash. He also sang and played guitar and mandolin in the country western style. In 1995, he joined his church’s worship team, pursued theological studies, and became an interim pastor for a while. In 2001, he joined contemporary Christian music group, JGnFriends.  Between 2004 and 2005, Paul wrote songs and assembled his own band. Describing their music as “a sermon in every song,” Paul considers its present members the best yet. They are Dave Cutrone on piano/keyboard, Rob Grosso on guitar, Robbie Mays on bass guitar, and Roberto Hewitt on drums/percussion.  Like Paul, their goal is to bring glory to God, and the band’s 2006 CD, “Trophy of Grace,” and 2009 CD, “Seasons,” have both received critical acclaim. A third CD will follow later this year. The band has ministered in settings as diverse as churches, Rikers Island, Central Park, and Jones Beach. They also raise money for worthy causes. Audiences respond to their enthusiasm onstage; hand-clapping and even square dancing have been known to erupt!

Consider joining Emcee Pastor Browning and the many volunteers who make CAFE ABLAZE possible when “city” meets “country” from 7:00 to 10:15 p.m. on March 24th. The café, open once in Spring and twice in Autumn on designated Saturdays, gets its name from Resurrection’s Ablaze movement, whose mission is Christian outreach. The lighted neon “Café Ablaze” sign outside the entrance to Resurrection’s auditorium/gym signals the metamorphosis taking place within. Once doors open, singles, couples, and groups of friends sit and relax at beautifully decorated candlelit tables in a friendly, casual atmosphere. Great coffee and tea, bottled water, and a generous selection of scrumptious desserts, now to include cheeses alongside the healthy fruit salad, are available. When lights dim, audiences are treated to contemporary Christian music by professional-quality musicians. Intermission offers still more to enjoy with ice cream and door prize drawings for great Christian gifts.

Reservations are suggested and can be made through Lori at cafeablaze@resgc.org or 516-739-1537. Tickets are $10 each, or two for $15, and are sold at the door. CAFÉ ABLAZE is free for children age 12 and under if accompanied by an adult. A separate “freewill” offering is collected for the talent.

Resurrection Lutheran Church is located at 420 Stewart Avenue in Garden City. Enter on the Emmet Place side of the church. Parking is available on side streets bordering the church or in the semi-circular parking area by the Fire House at the end of Emmet Place.

Resurrection is a multi-site Christian community of faith, with a main campus located at 420 Stewart Ave., near Clinton Rd., in Garden City. All are invited to worship at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday mornings, with Christian Education at 9:45 a.m. A second campus, THE LIFE Lutheran Church, is located at 1 Old Westbury Rd., on Jericho Tpke., in Old Westbury. All are welcome Thursdays at THE LIFE, beginning with a Free Family Style Dinner at 6 p.m., followed by Worship and Holy Communion at 7 p.m. Sunday morning worship will begin at THE LIFE on Easter Sunday, April 8, at 10 a.m., with Children’s Sunday School starting Sunday, April 15, at 9:45 a.m. For more information, call 516.746.4426, visit resgc.org or thelifeny.org.