Contemporary Christian artist Jason Gray’s “With Every Act of Love Tour” will grace Gainesville tonight.
Gray is bringing his Centricity Music labelmates Unspoken, Lindsay McCaul and Carrollton to join in a soulful, infectious performance tonight at 7 p.m. at Abundant Grace Community Church, 12505 NW 39th Ave. Tickets can be purchased through iTickets.com for $15 today.
His latest album, “Love Will Have the Final Word,” debuted on Billboard’s Christian Albums at No. 10 and includes his first No. 1 single, which the tour is named after, on Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart.
“I write from that place of wanting to tell my story authentically where people hear and say, ‘Ah, me too,’” Gray said. “I usually write the songs that I want to hear and be true to my experience of grace, and do it in a way that’s authentic.”
He has a speech impediment, but it’s lost when he starts to sing.
“What I’m the most interested in being a part of is healing,” he said. “I care about music, it helps promote healing.”
Mike Gilland, associate pastor of Abundant Grace Community Church and assistant program director for 106.9 The Pulse, said Gray is a man with a “mission and a message.”
“The fact that he stutters, he’s made that a part of his ministry, he uses it in his concerts, and he talks about serving a God who is able to overcome whatever people feel are their boundaries,” Gilland said.
The 61-year-old Gainesville resident said he is humbled by the privilege of having such top-notch artists perform at his church.
“If you listen to any Christian radio station at all, the music is going to be very recognizable, very familiar,” Gilland said.
Gray promises it will be a night to remember for his audience.
“The experience of the night will be a lot of joy and a lot of laughter,” Gray said. “You’ll be crying one moment and laughing the next, and it’s something I’m grateful to be a part of.”
[A version of this story ran on page 7 on 10/16/2014]