After I heard about "The Harlem Gospel Singers" (they had some shows on German stages) a friend had the great idea to go to a Harlem Church in New York. Since we don't live too far from New York, that means no problem getting there.
Before we went there, we didn't know how to go there. Should we go by car or by subway ?
On the one hand, people told us not to walk around in Harlem when you are a "white" person and on the other hand people told when you leave the church your car is going to be stolen. What should we do ? In the end, we took the subway.
We heard from travel agencies that taking tours in Harlem in a group. That is safer than going independently. That we didn't want to do.
We found the directions to the Gospel Church online.
As we got off the subway, we felt a little bit uncomfortable. That's because we had heard too much negative feedback about Harlem. We were full of prejudice. As we travelled there the most people looked at us, but that was okay.
After we asked people for the way directions we found the church. And we did asked Afro - American peolpe. Very nice people...
Name of the church; Bethel Gospel Church.
Our first impression is that it was big and nice. We wanted to take pictures of ourselves in front of the Church. A man asked if he could help us. He shot the pictures. Very nice man ...
As we went in, most of the people said hello. Our fear was gone. We took seats in the middle of the Church. We had to wait about 45 minutes for it to start. The nice man who shot the pictures came to us and asked for our names. He asked from where we are coming from. As we said Germany, he got very excited. That's because it isn't a long time ago that he was in Germany. He is one of the "Harlem Gospel Singers". He was playing the bass. It was a nice talk...
11:30 was the beginning. The church was crowed. Everything what was standing on the stage was playing. (There was drums, bass, Piano, etc.) In the middle a big choir. Thirty minutes amazing, wonderful Gospel. The Church trempled, everybody was singing. The text lines were to find on a big screen and in books in front us. The church was like a concert.
After that, everybody was sitting. Everybody who was new in this church or the first time there was asked to stand up. We did. We had no idea what is going to happen in this moment. With us, five other people stood up. Then they sang a song for us and then some people came to us shaked hands and said welcome. That was great.
Then there was a solo singer with the choir. Everybody was sitting and just listened to a wonderful song.
Then followed a long sermon. A sunday sermon. But it was interesting to listen to that.
Sure that was going around the basket for giving some money.
About 2 hours later we left the Church.
As we were "unhurt" out of Harlem and enjoyed the sun in Central Park we decided to go there again. We want to feel that again.
I'm sure Harlem can be very dangerous, but not necessarily. And we weren't in the Central of Harlem. However, we got rid of some our prejudices.
Definitly is a visit in a Gospel church in Harlem recommended.
seeya mandy
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