For anyone who loves good, Christian singing, the names of Bill Gaither and the Gaither Homecoming series of gospel music, are familiar ones.

Now Brewton will get the chance to see and hear two of the artists featured in that series. First Baptist Church of Brewton will host ‘A Concert Celebration’ on Friday, May 6, 2011, at 7 p.m. featuring Ivan Parker and Janet Paschal. The concert is sponsored by Comfort Care Hospice of Brewton, D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, Westgate Village, BankTrust and Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.

“I saw Janet Paschal in a concert that she gave in Andalusia,” said Charlotte Green, office manager for the Brewton office of Comfort Care. “The concert was for community caregivers and we, being caregivers, thought she shared our philosophy about giving back to the community.”

Paschal understands the value of those who care and learned it by personal experience when she was faced with a battle against cancer several years ago.

“Ivan joined her a few years ago and since that time they have performed in several places where we have offices,” said Green. “We have 11 offices within the state with both home care and hospice. Both Janet and Ivan love people and have a ministry to those they sing to.”

Janet Paschal grew up in North Carolina and joined the gospel group, The LeFevres, in the late 1970s and began her solo career in 1986. She later moved to Nashville, Tenn. and in 1997, her album ‘The Good Road’ landed her numerous appearances on Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Concerts as well as records. She has released several albums since then and received numerous awards including Dove and Grammy nominations. She has been named Christian Music’s top female vocalist for several years in a row and her single, ‘Hide Me Sweet Rock of Ages,’ landed at the number one position in August 2008.

According to Paschal, her brush with cancer in 2005, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, changed her life. Her cancer is now in remission and she often speaks of how her life has been changed as a result of her experience.

Ivan Parker also grew up in North Carolina where his father was a pastor in a Pentecostal church. In 1982, he joined the Singing Americans and in 1983 he became lead vocalist of the Dove Award-winning group, Gold City Quartet. He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and in 1994 he began recording as a solo artist. In 1995 he joined Bill and Gloria Gaither on the Homecoming series. The Singing News named him Favorite Soloist and in 2007 and 2008 he was voted Male Vocalist of the Year in the Singing News Fan Awards.