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Donate Life Gospelfest

Thank you to everyone who attended the second annual Donate Life GospelFest hosted by Donate Life Maryland and the Living Legacy Foundation. 

Voices united in celebration of life through organ, eye and tissue donation at GOSPELFEST! Church groups and community choirs as well as those who come together to create a joyful noise joined Donate Life Maryland with The Living Legacy Foundation to honor the legacy and generosity of donors, who are our neighbors, friends and family throughout the statewide community.

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We also want to thank all of the amazing performers who participated in this celebration of life.

I Am Angels

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:  and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you”.  Exodus 3:14

I AM Angels is a vocal ensemble comprised of young ladies ages 12 through 17 years old. The group was founded in 2009 to provide young girls a platform to minister and share God’s goodness through song and service. The group has evolved from a trio ensemble initially to its current six member group.

Over the past three years I AM Angels has ministered  at the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Annual Awards Ceremony, Six Flags Praise in the Park, She Matters Girls Empowerment Conference, The Celebrate The Life, The Dream, The Legacy MLK Memorial Dedication  and various local  churches, nursing homes and community events.

I AM Angels has been recognized for their community service by the Governor’s Office, Senator Barbara Mikulski, and Kohl’s Kids. They partnered with Girl Scout Troop 3148 and The Peoples Community Baptist Church Social Action Ministry to organize a first annual coat drive in which they raised $2,500 to purchase new coats for local school children.  As a result of this effort I AM Angels received the 2012 Community Impact Award.   

God has blessed the ensemble with a gifted songwriter and they are working on new original music.  God has also blessed one of the group’s performers, Olivia, with the gift of life through a heart transplant.

Brian Cook

Mr. Brian Cook, a voice that has been around locally for many years now sets forth to break out nationally. This artist wears many hats from producing, song writing, and musician to being a great vocalist.

Brian Cook has performed on many stages and has opened for many gospel celebrities such as Vicki Winans, Timothy Wright, William Becton, Luther Barnes, Hezekiah Walker and many more. He sang background for artists like Little Mo and has just been selected for the lead role at Evangel Cathedral as Joseph in their Hit Christmas Celebration Production. He has performed in Atlanta at the hip hop music awards beside Alicia Keys, Flavor Flav and many others. Brian Cook has produced groups like “Sheldon Brown and Fresh Wind” and over 20 full cd projects and his future looks really bright.

He is currently the minister of music at a major church in Baltimore City where he ushers the congregation into the presence of the Lord.  He is a family man as he has released a single “Tell God about It” with his beautiful wife Sunshine on the Global Gospel Music Record Label. He loves his wife and his children and he most definitely loves God. 

Vendya Garner

In 2004, Ms. Gardner became the wife of an organ donor, when she lost her husband, Milton “Leon” Gardner.  Recipients of their gift could never express their gratitude enough for the generosity of this family that gave others a second chance at life and kept Milton’s memory alive. Their generosity will never be forgotten.  Ms. Gardner has performed for various events including singing at the closing ceremonies of the US Transplant Games. 

Tony Winston and the Star Christ Music Ministry

Tony Winston, arranger, producer and organizer of the Star Christ Music Ministry believes that Jesus Christ is the real Star.

Tony Winston is a renowned musician who has had the honor and privilege of performing with such great artists as the late James Cleveland, Andrea Crouch, Edwin Hawkins and many more.  Tony’s love for the music ministry has allowed him to produce his own musical selection of One Silent Night.  He is also one of the winners of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Gospel Music competition in Washington, DC.  His group was one of the select performers at the Martin Luther King celebration at St. John College in Annapolis, Maryland.  He was chosen to be the lead director of gospel music for Alternate Rootsfest 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland.

He has studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins, Baltimore City Community College, and Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.

Tony is also the recipient of the Metropolitan Award acknowledging him as one of Baltimore’s Best Musicians.  He also received the Citizens Citation Award, and now he is serving as the Minister of Music for the Historic Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore. 

Rainbow Israel

Tried, tested, and true. Rainbow Israel, is a believer with a past as colorful as his name suggests.  A former drug addict and ex-con; Rainbow conquered his battles through the unyielding help of the Lord.  His powerful testimony showcases the power of God's Love to overcome anything that man can get himself into. 

His mission, to draw attention the most crucial decision one will ever make in this life; which is to choose life or choose death. Out of this was birthed Life Or Death ministries which is the umbrella for Life Or Death Records. As the first artist on the label, Rainbow uses his rap talents to minister to a dying world. His message has no boundaries and touches both young and old.

Since June of 2003, Rainbow Israel continues to minister at the Maryland Correctional Institute – Jessup where he once was an inmate over 26 years ago, he’s also an associate minister at Faith United Baptist Church and furthers his spiritual education at the Bible Institute offered at the church.

Rainbow Israel's name was changed legally to represent the change in his own life.  Rainbow; was taken from the covenant that God made with Noah about never destroying the earth by flood again. God put a rainbow in the sky to remind Noah of the promise.(Genesis 9:13) Israel; is taken from Jacob when God told him he would no longer call him Jacob but Israel because you now hath power with God and man and hast prevailed. (Genesis 32:28)

With a track record of 21 years drug free, truly Minister Rainbow Israel is a walking testimony of the mercy, power and the redeeming hand of God.