"Sing for Jesus and let the whole world feel His Power" is the aim and motto of Metro Praiz. Formed in January 1996 with about 25 willing voices (ages 16 and up), this ministry has flourished under several directors. The members are mostly from the Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hyattsville, Maryland, a congregation of mostly West Indian background under the guidance of Pastors Michael Bernard and David Defoe. While the music of the choir incorporates their heritage, they have transcended all cultural boundaries in their earnest search for the voice of God in music.
Over the years, Metro Praiz has been blessed to carry its ministry around the Washington, DC metropolitan area and abroad. Most notable are: the 2001 SDA Youth Congress, the American Tennis Championship Week in 2002, the first annual DC Gospel Fest in June 2004, and the National Urban League Conference. They have also toured London, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Metro Praiz also gives back to the community. During the 3rd Annual Anniversary Concert, a donation was taken for the area U.S. Postal workers families who lost members during the anthrax attacks. During the choir's 4th Annual Anniversary Concert, the choir presented a monetary gift to the spouse of Conrad Johnson, the last victim of the Washington Metro Area sniper attacks. The events were covered by the local media, which gave the choir another opportunity to minister to the public. Nursing homes, local churches and other venues of the community have also been blessed with the ministry of Metro Praiz.
It is exciting to experience the ministry of Metro Praiz! The choir’s music has a message of hope that lifts the listener from a place of despair to an understanding that God is an ever-present force in their lives. The choir’s current Director, Rhonda Tsoi-A-Fatt, emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with God in her leadership of the choir. She believes that, "young people need to put that personal relationship in place now, so that as life gets harder (and it will get harder!), they already have that connection." Their 2006 Anniversary concert, themed "Jesus Is Real" is a testament to that idea of personal relationship. The 2007 Anniversary concert celebrates the fact that, through God, "I’m Still Standing!" Through it all, it is the prayer of Metro Praiz that their ministry will draw you to a closer relationship with God.
Please visit Metro Praiz online at www.metropraiz.com.
