By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— While Christian musician Jason Crabb makes his way through the south on tour, the Grammy and GMA Dove Award winner is taking time to perform at Pelham Church of God March 24 at 7 p.m.

This event is free and open to the community, but Donna Boyd, the church’s clerk, said people will want to get there early because it’s first-come-first- serve seating.

“I think there is a lot of people in the community that are going to be coming,” she said. “Jason is, I think, the No. 1 Christian artist right now. So he’s a big name.”

Crabb was voted Favorite Male Vocalist at the first annual Harmony Honors Awards and Favorite Young Artist at the 2000 Singing News Fan Awards, according to his website.

In 2004, he was also voted Gospel Music Male Vocalist of the Year. Crabb has been nominated for many other awards during his career and has worked extensively with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir as a soloist.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. at the church, and Boyd said the congregation area has a capacity of 400 people.  Although the event is free to the public, Boyd said they will be taking a general offering during the show.

A nursery will also be provided for children under the age of 3.

Pastor Melvin Massey’s grandson, Micah, is also a GMA Dove Award winner for his song: “Your Presence is Heaven to me.” The two musicians are friends, so Crabb agreed to visit Pelham Church of God during his tour.

Boyd said Crabb recently performed at another church in the area and drew thousands of people, so her congregation is preparing for the amount of people Crabb will likely draw.

“It’s just a free outreach to the community we just wanted to share with everybody,” Boyd said. “We want people to realize we are here for them. Whatever we can to help out, we are willing to do what we can.”

Pelham Church of God is located at 2100 Shelby County 52 East. For more information, call 664-0120.