LU Praise to perform at Inaugural Prayer Service

Liberty University’s gospel choir, LU Praise, will perform two songs this Saturday as part of the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the Washington National Cathedral.

The 28-student singing group was asked by the 58th President’s Inaugural Committee 2017 to attend the invitation-only prayer service for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, along with the first families. The service starts at 10 a.m. A live stream will be available.

“Of the thousands of groups in America that could have been chosen, we understand that the vice president-elect personally chose LU Praise to sing for the event,” said Dr. Vernon Whaley, dean of Liberty’s School of Music. “I truly hope the students see that they have the privilege to make a contribution to a truly historic and uniquely American event.”

Liberty President Jerry Falwell, his wife, Becki, and family will be in attendance for the service and a number of inauguration events throughout the weekend.

“We are just honored and humbled that Liberty had such a prominent role in such an important event for our nation,” Falwell said.

LU Praise will sing the prelude, “Total Praise,” as well as “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” Whaley said the songs were requested by the president’s inauguration committee. Other groups performing during the service include The United States Army Band, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and the Washington National Cathedral Choir.

“We feel totally honored to have this opportunity,” Whaley said. “We are thrilled to sing in the service that honors the president and vice president’s tenure of service for our nation. However, we are even more excited to present Jesus on this important national platform.”

Graduate music student and LU Praise member KyLisa Freeman said the group is humbled to be given this platform to not only perform, but also to represent the Gospel.

“We look forward to being able to serve our country in this manner,” Freeman said. “This experience will have a lasting effect on all of us and on future LU Praise members. Our goal is to make Christ known and leave confident that people had an encounter with God.”

LU Praise was formed in 2006. The group, which blends gospel and worship music, has led worship and performed across the country.

Many other Liberty students and faculty members will also witness history in the nation’s capital this weekend. The university reserved five buses for 200 students to attend the swearing in ceremony and parade on Friday. The Department of History is sending 52 people on Friday. The College Republicans at Liberty University will also have a group attending. There are also 14 Eagle Scholars (part of the university’s two-year leadership program) who have already arrived in Washington and will be there through Saturday.

Liberty’s Convocation on Friday will include reports from the event a time of prayer for the city, state, nation, and world.