From radio-friendly tunes made famous by such rock bands as MercyMe and Lifehouse, to more contemporary lyrics from artists Skillet or tobyMac, the message of Christian music reaches across all lines. Area churches and Integrity Worldwide, a Christian mission organization, have partnered together to bring that message of hope through Jesus to Selma.

The group will sponsor “A Mighty Raucous Evening” featuring Christian artist John Mark McMillan and Friends Saturday, April 14 at 7 p.m. inside J.A. Pickard Auditorium. The concert is free and is open to the public.

Bob Frazer, youth minister for Elkdale Baptist Church, said the event is a collaborative effort to bring people together for one common purpose.

“We’re just working together to try to do something great for the public,” Frazer said. “(Averee) Hicks [Integrity Worldwide] is friends with John Mark McMillan. They (the band) had a (free) date and we were able to grab it. There were six churches that have contributed financially. It shows we can do this together where we can’t do it apart.”

Frazer describes the band’s style as “modern rock.”

“It’s an alternative sound with some worship … listeners will be engaged and get a lot from the lyrics,” Frazer said. “We don’t have a lot of modern Christian music around here to hear on the radio. They’ll (the public) be able to hear a lot of music that John McMillan has written. It will be fun and exciting.”

Fans and newcomers, Frazer said, can expect to get a real live “concert experience.” Frazer hopes to pack out the auditorium.

“There will be full lights, full sound — it will look and feel like a concert,” Frazer said. “Everybody’s always saying there’s not stuff to do here — this gives us an opportunity to have people come together to enjoy God and see that God ‘is’ fun.”

Frazer hopes the event is a time to “enjoy the greatness of God with others.”

“We are all about making a big deal about Jesus,” Frazer said. “We want to let them (the public) see him in our lives and hopefully they’ll make a big deal about him in their lives.”

Other artists are also set to perform during the concert. For free giveaways and more information about Saturday’s event, log onto worshiprelease.com/concerts/.

Selma’s concert is free of charge, while other stops on John Mark McMillian’s tour are not. Saturday’s showing comes right in the middle of a schedule that has the band playing in cities like Louisville, Birmingham, Atlanta and Nashville.