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Illustrations Frontispiece: The performed power of the Word. iv 1. The Branchettes singing at their twenty-third anniversary. 6 2. The Long Branch Disciple Church in rural Johnston County, North Carolina. 31 3. Sister Ethel Elliott opens the service with quiet words of invitation. 35 4. Mother Eunice Nixon leads the congregation in the service's opening song. 37 5. Mother Edna Lofton reads the Twenty-third Psalm. 44 6. All heads bow as the saints extend the thanks and entreaty of prayer. 57 7. Deacon Willie Eldridge attributes his gift for prayer entirely to the Spirit. 76 8. The raised voices of the congregation push the singing to a passionate peak. 86 9. The roles of singer and congregation dissolve as Brother Kenneth Nichols presses into his second song. 114 10. Sister Lena Mae Perry welcomes the congregation to the Branchettes' anniversary. 128 11. Caught up in the Spirit, Sister Perry's son and mother join in the rapture of holy dance. 158 12. William Coley, singer and guitarist with the William Coley Trio, plays guitar for the Ebenezer Gospel Choir. 186 13. The director of the St. Amanda Gospel Choir testifies to her experience as she sings «Something got a-hold of me!" 195 14. The Clouds of Harmony draw their set to a powerful close. 197 15. Clearly feeling the fire, the Bracey Singers begin their slow march down the center aisle. 209 16. Brother Sonnie Stevens and the Jerusalem Travelers invite saints to join the intensity of their singing. 231 17. Singing the "old-time way,"the William Coley Trio closes their set with "My LifeWill Be Sweeter By and By." 234 18. Church sisters stand to the hushed harmonies of "No Tears in Heaven." 247 19. The Gospel Tones open their set with voices locked in sweet harmony. 265 20. Pushing into the percussive drive, Brother Johnnie Faison seems lost in song. 271 21. The Branchettes' Lena Mae Perry seems lost in the Spirit's passionate embrace. 287 22. Saints sit in rapt attention as Evangelist Lofton extends the invitation. 312 23. At the anniversary's close, Sister Elliott calls family members forward for special recognition. 316 24. Elder David N. Atkinson reminds programgoers that singing alone won't get them to heaven. 318 x Illustrations ...

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