Rev. Markel Hutchins' "In-Studio: "Praise and Worship Jam Session and Birthday Celebration"

Rev. Markel Hutchins' "Praise and Worship Jam Session and Birthday Celebration"

Atlanta, Georgia- April 6, 2013

Artists' from everywhere came together for an in-studio praise party and jam session where, they all informally played, sang, worshiped and fellowshiped,  similar to the way they did with the "We are the World" recording and the way Bill and Gloria Gaither used to do with their "Gaither Gospel Hour" series but this time, it was for the young righted Reverend Markel Hutchins' Birthday. 

Everyone knew that when the Spirit moved them to grab the solo mic or jump on one of the instruments, they were free to do so as long as they "got skills", and they did.

Bringing in national artiste' like Claudette King, the daughter of one of the greatest blues legends of all time, Mr. B.B. King and well-known Atlanta music ministers such as: Wanda Nero Butler, Brandon Frazier, Reginal Jefferson, Kenny Lowe, Kelvin Manson, Bishop J.D. Means, Clariece Paulk, Sarah Ridley Rucker, Kevin Styles, Luther Washington, B. Chase Williams and others.

A constant flow of well wishing visitors streamed in all evening and many joined in for an awesome evening of praise and fellowship at studio 800 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Here's some footage and photos.

Checkout the powerful slide show of photos.

ABOUT:  Rev. Markel Hutchins

36 year old Hutchins, is an American civil rights leader, businessman and renowned Baptist preacher based in Atlanta, Georgia. He is Chairman and CEO of Markel Hutchins Ministries and Managing Principal of MRH, LLC. In 1997 he established the Atlanta-based National Youth Connection, which has been characterized as a contemporary Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. 

The Rev. Markel Hutchins listens

 as a County High School student talks

Rev. Hutchins came under fire for his high-profile criticism of the Atlanta Police Department for the 2006 shooting death of 92 year old Kathryn Johnston in a "no-knock" police raid and numerous other police brutality and racial profiling cases around the nation, most notably of late, the Trayvon Martin case. Hutchins gained national attention when he filed a lawsuit in response to the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old killed in by a Florida neighborhood watch captain who has said he shot the unarmed black teen in self-defense. The lawsuit claims Georgia’s law leads to the “unnecessary use of lethal force” that could endanger residents. Hutchins called the law “bad public policy. Martin’s death has ignited racial tensions and stoked debate about so-called stand your ground laws in Florida, Georgia and 19 other states. The laws give people wide latitude to use deadly force rather than retreat during a fight. Hutchins held a non-violent rally at the Georgia state capitol in 2012 with supporters to protest in protest in the Martin case. Students, law makers and business owners and celebrities attended the rally which drew more then twenty thousand people.

Hutchins announced his bid to unseat 11-term congressman and civil rights luminary, John Lewis. In 2008, Hutchins has cited the "winds of change" that are blowing across the country.  Hutchins maintains that his primary reason for challenging Lewis is the 22-year incumbent's propensity for lending his name and iconic status to special interests and their causes around the country rather than focusing on the acute needs of his own congressional district. Hutchins finished second in the three way race for the Democratic  nomination for Georgia's fifth district Congressional seat to John Lewis.  

"Rev. Markel," as he refers to himself, was born in Decatur, Georgia, and is the youngest of three children. Hutchins is a product of DeKalb County, Georgia schools. While in high school, Markel was the co-captain of the basketball team and led the school choir. He was the first African American to serve as president of the student government/council in the ninety-year history of the school. Upon graduation, Hutchins enrolled in Morehouse College where he was active in local civil rights causes and volunteered with several political campaigns.