Marcus Brown sings at Gospel Warehouse, 228 South Englewood Avenue. in Tyler. People meet each Thursday at 7 p.m. to sing together. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

It’s a Thursday night and more than 30 people are gathered inside a vacant commercial storefront near downtown Tyler singing hymns and Southern gospel.

The sounds of “Blessed Jesus hold my hand,” “I’m in the gloryland way,” and “The God on the mountain is still God in the valley” fill the room. Hand clapping and toe tapping are welcome and perfect pitch is not a requirement.

“We’ll sing some slow ones,” song leader Marcus Brown says. “We’ll sing some ripsnorters. So let’s just jump in there.”

Brown, 65, launched the Gospel Warehouse on Oct. 6 at 228 S. Englewood Ave. He has owned the building there for 17 years.

While recovering recently from a surgery, Brown felt compelled to start something like Gospel Warehouse.

“I just felt like we should do something positive in the spiritual realm,” he said.

With a lot of churches, no matter the denomination, moving to a contemporary style of music, Brown felt people would enjoy the opportunity to sing hymns and Southern gospel songs, and he was right.

The first Thursday he held the Gospel Warehouse, about 75 people showed up. Since then, most Thursdays bring about 40 to 45 people, he said.

Brown intentionally scheduled the gathering on Thursday nights so as not to conflict with Wednesday night church and Friday night football.

There’s no preaching at the gathering, just singing and having fun with Christian people as Brown says.

In addition to the group singing, there are sometimes solos and duets. Depending on the night, music is provided by people playing pianos, an electronic organ, mandolins, violins and guitars.

Cherry and Vince Hicks, of Quitman, are making the sing-alongs a tradition. They are friends of Brown and his wife, Deborah.

Mrs. Hicks, 70, said she is a big fan of Gospel music, and started singing in church when she was 12 years old.

This whole endeavor has been very much a community affair. Brown shared news of the night on Facebook and through word of mouth. Through those avenues, people and churches have pitched in to help by donating the pianos, chairs, organ and hymnbooks.

“We’re thrilled,” Brown said. “I mean just absolutely thrilled with all the donations and support.”

Mrs. Brown said they don’t know where this is headed, but they believe God has good things in store.

For his part, Brown is enjoying the present because he loves what he is reminded of when he sings hymns and Southern Gospel songs.

“I’m a child of the king,” Brown said. “It brings me back to reality and tells me who I am.”

Twitter: @TMTEmily

Special Guest

The Gospel Warehouse had a special guest recently. Arlington resident Doris Waite-Mixson attended Oct. 27 to provide accompaniment on the piano and sing. Ms. Waite-Mixson, 89, is Gospel Warehouse founder Marcus Brown’s aunt and she came with her son and daughter-in-law so she could play the 120-year-old Kimball piano, which happens to be her piano, for the Gospel singing night. Ms. Waite-Mixson’s first husband, who is deceased, gave her the piano as a gift for their 10th wedding anniversary.

She had passed the piano on to her relatives when she moved and one of them donated it for use at the Gospel Warehouse. Ms. Waite-Mixson said she never thought she would play it again.

– Emily Guevara

If you go

What: Gospel Warehouse

When: 7 p.m. Thursdays

Where: 228 S. Englewood Ave.

Why: To sing hymns and Southern Gospel

Info: 903-316-9120