A free concert is coming to Henderson.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that the tickets are all already taken.
But according to Joey Davenport, who organized the event, there will probably be cancellations and a wait list has been started.
Davenport, with The Davenport Group at the local Baird Private Wealth Management, is paying for the singer Stephen McWhirter to perform at the Preston Arts Center.
Davenport said he wanted to do something good for the community and for his clients. When he reached out to McWhirter, the singer was initially hesitant to commit.
But once Davenport explained that many in the audience will be people who are in recovery or even still battling addiction, McWhirter readily agreed, Davenport said. Davenport estimated that 250-300 people at the concert will be those who are in recovery or battling addiction, including from the WARM center, Teen Challenge in Dixon and some who’ve been through the New Genesis Jaily Ministry that is offered at Henderson County Detention Center.
McWhirter’s story is filled with redemption. A Christian singer, McWhirter will tell his story in between singing his songs, which include the hit “Come Jesus Come.” His story includes abuse suffered when he was young and drug abuse when he was older, Davenport said. Part of the show will be McWhirter’s telling of what he has overcome, he said.
McWhirter wrote “Come Jesus Come” and it’s been recorded by gospel singer CeCe Winans.
“That’s when he really blew up,” Davenport said.
McWhirter, with a raspy voice and distinct reddish beard, gets a lot of play on the Christian radio station K-LOVE.
After getting the concert scheduled, Davenport—in addition to reaching out to those in the recovery community—also approached numerous churches in town and offered tickets to them, as well. And he said that’s basically left all the tickets for the show at the 900-plus seat PAC taken. He said he was surprised when all the tickets were snatched up.
“I didn’t expect that response,” he said.
The wait list can be accessed here. Stephen McWhirter Event Wait List
