St. John Baptist Church Mass Choir, Men’s Choir and Praise Dancers will perform the Beeville Concert Association’s next concert Sunday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. in the Gertrude R. Jones Performing Arts Auditorium.

The 75-member choir and 20 dancers will present a program of spirituals and gospel music which they have performed at many worship services and other special church events in Corpus Christi, where the historic church is located.

The musicians also have performed at Martin Luther King convocations at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, at NAACP banquets, for Black history programs and for other community events.

In 1885, when Indianola was destroyed by a tidal wave, refugees found shelter in Corpus Christi, where they organized the congregation which is now St. John Baptist Church.

“Music has always been an important part of our ministry,” explained music director Evelyn Cooper, who will direct the program.

Deborah Henry, director of the dance ministry, said that the women’s dance group “Sisters in Christ” includes teens and adult members. The men’s group is called “MIME (Men in Musical Evangelism).” Both groups perform in costume.

The program is free to all students through high school age and to CBC students with photo ID’s. Admission for adults who do not hold BCA memberships is $7 at the door.