Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 24, 1995                   TAG: 9503240070
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

W&L CHEF ENJOYS CALLING AS MINISTER AND GOSPEL SINGER

Pearce, though, may be one of very few who lead a three-way lifestyle.

In addition to being executive chef at Washington and Lee University and pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Arnolds Valley, Pearce is director and manager of Higher Call, a Southern Gospel quartet and band.

It makes for a hectic lifestyle, but Pearce, 33, says, "it's amazing the way the Lord works things out."

The gospel group features a vocal quartet and a four-piece band.

It was formed last year to perform religious selections as part of the monthly Virginia Opry Country Music Shows at the Stonewall Theater in Clifton Forge.

The theater provides a showcase for dramatic and musical talent funded by a regional arts organization called Appalfolks of America.

The response to the group was so great, Pearce said, the members decided to perform independently of the Virginia Opry productions and to schedule an exclusively gospel event at the theater.

Saturday, Higher Call will be the headliner in a Southern Gospel Review at the Stonewall Theater, 510 Main Street, Clifton Forge.

The show also will feature The Southern Sounds from Roanoke and Missy Ryder of Covington. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Advance tickets, available at several Clifton Forge and Covington businesses and the theater, are $5 for adults and $2 for children. At the door, tickets will be $6 for adults.

The group includes musicians Lynn Agee, Charlie Goodwin, Steve Herald and Steven Peery, and singers Karen Bradberry, Johnathon Peery, Pete Reid, and Pearce.

All hold down other jobs to "pay the bills."

At Washington and Lee, Pearce supervises a staff of 60 to 70 people who run a snack bar, dining hall, private restaurant and catering service. The son of an executive chef, Pearce says he got his training for that job in the "school of hard knocks."

But since he was 19, Pearce also has known that he was called to preach. Born into a Roman Catholic family, Pearce had a personal salvation experience when he was 13 and joined a Wesleyan congregation. Eventually, he even went to a Wesleyan college, but felt the need to attend a theologically more conservative school.

He wound up at Lexington (Ky.) Baptist College and later earned a master's in pastoral counseling from Lexington (Ky.) Theological Seminary.

He's been at Faith Baptist since July and is "concentrating on making an impact" in the small rural Rockbridge County community that is home to the church. About a month ago, the church set record attendance of 100 people one Sunday morning.

"It's been a real blessing," Pearce said.

This Saturday, however, Pearce will be concentrating on his musical ministry.

"I think people will be amazed how well this group sings; how powerful and tight it is, especially since we've only been together for six to eight months."