It promises to be a rock concert like any other, complete with throbbing music, a light show, smoke and strobe lights. But this one will have a difference.

Damascus, a Christian rock band, will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom.

Karen Coy, the band’s manager and the wife of one of its members, said, “They play rock, but with a difference.” The difference lies in Damascus’ message.

Coy described the band’s music as “progressive rock,” similar to the groups Kansas, Genesis and Yes, but insists the band’s sound is their own. “The style of their music is not a common one,” he said.

The group formed in 1981, after its three members became Christians. “They were all in different rock bands before and played bars and some weddings. Then they became Christians and formed Damascus,” Coy said.

Damascus’ members include Tom McKeown, who sings and plays the synthesizer, guitar and keyboards; David Coy who sings and plays percussion and keyboards; and Cliff Zweibruck who plays bass guitar and sings.

The name Damascus comes from the biblical account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion while en route to the city of Damascus to persecute Christians.

The band is an outreach ministry of their home church, Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Prospect and performs on campuses, in churches and coffee houses. Sunday’s concert will be their fourth at NIU.

Despite the rock image of their stage show, Coy said no one in the band wears leather or spandex. “They dress nice—casual,” she said.

Band members write all of Damascus’ music. The band has released four albums and will sell T-shirts and their last two albums, “Timeless” and “Soon… The Doors Will Open,” at Sunday’s concert.

Although the band’s members are Christians and Damascus is an outreach ministry, don’t expect a heavy-handed sermon, Coy said. “They don’t beat anyone over the head with the Bible,” she said.