More than 200 people sang religious praises Sunday at the Duke Ellington Ballroom as the Northern Black Choir hosted its annual spring gospel concert.

“We do this to bring college students from across the state to praise God,” said David Seymur, choir president.

NIU students sang with choir members from Southern Illinois University and Illinois State University, as well as guests from the New Joy Community Choir and Monroe Baptist Church. It was the last concert in a three-day worship workshop as the groups collaborated to make a concert appealing to the spirit of college students. NIU has hosted the event for 25 years.

“This weekend strengthened my soul and reconnected my relationship with God,” said choir member Danielle Hill, a freshman psychology major.

Hope Lewis, the choir’s head director, agreed.

“God uses me as a vessel,” said Lewis, a senior biology major.

Students were able to proclaim with others with whom they ordinarily would not pray, said Shalonda Jones, a member of the ISU choir.

“Performances like this prove that there is hope for our generation,” Jones said. “With our foundation in God, we make a difference.”

Seymur added that society often gives college students a bad reputation.

“We aren’t about that & we are about God’s message,” he said. “The music is a supplement which is used to attract people to God’s message.”

Choir members view themselves as servants who bring God’s word to a mass of people through gospel songs.

“As long as you remain a servant, God is going to use you,” said workshop leader Brian Jones.

Singers made a strong impact on their audience Sunday.

“I see how positive communicating through music can be,” said Tony Young, a junior at Crane High School in Chicago who attended the ballroom show. “You don’t have to be real religious to understand or enjoy it, either. This is another way of spreading God’s word.”

Titus James, a tenor member of NIU’s choir, said the group makes him feel like a part of God’s message.

“We administer to so many people and I can feel, from within, that we help,” said James, a freshman vocal music major.

Helping others also improves the internal spirit, said choir robe master Cory McGinnis, a freshman corporate communication major.

“As a black man, a program like this is a form of fellowship which is vital to my spiritual well-being,” McGinnis said.