Philippine Gospel Singer Arnel DePano to Perform at First United Methodist Church

Widely known for his hit composition “Dakilang Katapatan” (Great is God’s Faithfulness), Philippine Gospel singer Arnel DePano, will be making a stop at Pasadena First UMC on Sunday, July 15th, as a part of his “Golden Year” concert tour. The tour is in celebration of his latest album “Fifty”. Other hits include “Lead Me, Lord”, “Itatawid sa Landas” (To Cross the Path), “Lipad ng Pangarap” (Flight of Dreams), and “Bayani” (Hero), which DePano co-wrote with Soc Villanueva, the grand prize winner at the Himig Handog sa Bayaning Pilipino songwriting contest.

The tour will bring DePano, Pastor Adiel DePano’s younger brother, to towns and cities in the Philippines, New Zealand, the United States and Canada, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

DePano’s concert, part of Pasadena First’s ‘Open Door’ Sunday activities, is scheduled for 1 PM in the Fellowship Hall and will include praise and worship music, testimonies, a section with Filipino culture color, and DePano’s unique brand of original Pilipino contemporary gospel music. Also joining the ensemble performance will be local Filipino saxophonist Noel Lopez and the hip-hop dance ministry The Message Movement will also be providing supporting acts.

The concert seeks to raise funds for the Wesley Divinity School in the Philippines (a United Methodist seminary), the music ministry of Kamuning First UMC in Metro-Manila where DePano is the director of music, and the Philippine Advocacy Team under the auspices of the Cal-Pac Filipino Caucus that is traveling to Davao City, Philippines, in August on a medical mission. Rev. Allison Mark and members of the Mission, Peace & Justice Committee will be part of the Team.

DePano’s concerts have always revolved around the faithfulness of God in people’s lives. DePano has said of his performances that “I am not a performer but a music minister.” His concerts are a means to minister to the uprooted, displaced overseas Filipinos by bringing them a piece of “home” through his music. DePano’s music is best in intimate settings such as the FUMC Pasadena Fellowship hall where he can directly interact with the audience and congregation.

For more information visit http://fumcpasadenanews.blogspot.com.

First United Methodist Church, 500 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, (626) 796-0157 or visit http://fumcpasadena.org/.