news-record.com

BURLINGTON (MCT) — St. Luke's United Methodist Church recently decided to sponsor a gospel sing to raise money for two Alamance County ministries.

Church members planned to sell tickets to the Alamance County Gospel Sing for Missions as well as advertising space for the 1,000 programs they plan to distribute at the event April 24 at the Mebane Arts & Community Center.

What the group didn't know is that recent stories about a gospel music promoter accused of trying to scam Alamance County business owners out of their money has left people feeling uneasy.

"The businesses out here, they want to know if we are legitimate," said Frank Bell, a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church and one of the organizers of the gospel sing. "They say that they just saw something in the newspaper the other day and ask, 'This isn't a scam, is it?' "

Bell wants people to know that the gospel sing that's being planned by St. Luke's United Methodist Church will take place April 24 — and that it's legitimate.

The event will raise money for Loaves & Fishes, an ecumenical food ministry in Burlington, and Transport for Christ, a church ministry for truckers at the Travel Centers of America truck stop near Gibsonville.

The Mark Trammel Trio, Jerry Trammell, Daniel Privette of Mebane United Methodist Church and Witness Quartet of Glencoe Baptist Church are scheduled to perform.

On March 4, Burlington police charged music promoter Wade Weaver, 43, of Heaven Bound Talent Agency with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses for allegedly targeting local businesses with a gospel show scam.

However, District Attorney Rob Johnson determined there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute Weaver. The charges were dropped the next day.

Weaver's charges resulted after several business owners contacted Burlington police because they paid $100 to advertise in a flier promoting the event that initially was supposed to take place at the Ramada Inn. By the time Weaver was arrested, the venue had changed multiple times and was tentatively scheduled for March 14 at the Sunset Theater in Asheboro.

When police called Sunset Theater to determine whether an event had been scheduled there, authorities were told there was no contract and no paid deposit. The event was not held there March 14.