Tales of The Invisible Kingdom (Joyce Meyer @ Times-Union Center, 5/17/19)

Evangelist Joyce Meyer returned to the Times-Union Center tonight to begin a two-day conference. The general topic, which will encompass all three teaching sessions in the space of a 24 hour period, is "The Invisible Kingdom".

With no admission charge, you'd think the T-U Center would open the upper bowl, considering the lower bowl and the floor were almost full. Didn't happen. Their loss.

Meyer's ministry has been active for more than four decades, and tonight's program was being recorded for her syndicated television show, Enjoying Everyday Life, for future broadcast. She read passages from the Gospels of Matthew & John, and from 1 Corinthians (pronounced First Corinthians). She mixed scriptures with humorous ancedotes about her life and family. She also shared her own personal issues with sexual abuse at the hands of her father in her youth. Those issues have led to the formation of Project GRL (Guide-Restore-Love), which was represented with a video early in the evening.

Singer-songwriter Kari Jobe opened and closed the program, leading off with one of her earlier hits, "Forever". It just so happens that there's a concert clip from an earlier tour......



A reading of "How Great Thou Art" bled into Cody Carnes (no relation to 80's star Kim Carnes--I think) and one of his hits, "Nothing Else". If anything, the man sounds like he was influenced by Michael W. Smith. Their voices are similar.

The atmosphere in the T-U Center was electric. Pre-program, they played a parody of movie trailers to promote some of Meyer's merchandise. The narrative was so over the top, you couldn't help but laugh.

"The Invisible Kingdom" continues with part 2 Saturday at 9:30 am. The conclusion comes four hours later. The reason it's just two days? The WNBA will be in town on Sunday.