Among the bad news and divisive political arguments on Facebook Live, local business owner and gospel recording artist Delbra Kendrick and her guests dance to gospel rock. Sending their thanks to God through song, the group starts every broadcast with an energetic five minutes of glee.
Gospel goes live
Kendrick’s “War Room Show” was first created in March of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attendees from St. John AME and Genesis churches missed hearing Kendrick’s voice in person, so they called and asked her to sing over the phone. Kendrick said she was glad to help lift others up during a challenging time.
“I’m just a servant of God,” she said. “That's why I don't look at myself as being ‘big’ in anything. I just have a big heart; now that I do have. Me with giving, if you cry, you shed one tear, you got everything I have. That's just the way I am.”
Kendrick and her daughter, Deondra Favors, started livestreaming their performances on Facebook Live, and what began as a few songs, quickly became more than 300 viewers who tune in at 7 p.m. every Tuesday.
Home is where the ‘War Room’ is
The name “War Room Show” comes from a gospel song Kendrick played at the beginning of every livestream. In American Christian culture, a war room is a dedicated space in the home where one can pray in solitude and reflect on how to fight battles of faith.
A studio set up in one of her bedrooms was timed perfectly with stay-at-home-orders; Kendrick and Favors equipped themselves with a dedicated phone for streaming, a stand, microphones, chairs for guests and a monitor displaying the script and cues.
The show sometimes takes place in various churches throughout Oglethorpe County.
Despite the occasional technical difficulty due to Facebook’s music copyright restrictions, the show has had no other problems, Kendrick said.
The only challenge is having enough time to acknowledge every viewer on the livestream asking for a prayer or birthday announcement.
“The reason why we try to keep it in 30 minutes is because I try not to bore them,” Kendrick said. “Ain't nobody gonna sit and watch a phone for a long period of time.”
A place for everyone
Kendrick selects her guests for the show after careful thought and prayer. She has to have a connection with her guests, but she also wants to provide a platform for other community members to reach an audience.
“Pastors minister every Sunday to their congregation, but the people that sit under them don’t get that much work,” Kendrick said. “So I try to reach those people that are not seen or known, and to give them the opportunity to give an encouraging word to the community.”
One guest who made an significant impact on Kendrick was Kamryn King, Miss Oglethorpe County High School 2022.
King suffers from a condition that caused her to temporarily lose the ability to swallow and speak last December. After hearing her story, Kendrick invited King to speak on the “War Room Show.”
“It was touching to be able to share my story,” King said.
Tracey King, Kamryn’s mother, is proud of her daughter’s efforts to spread awareness about her situation, as well as her perseverance as she improves her speech.
“It means a lot to Kamryn,” Tracey said. “From the very beginning, she wanted to share her story with as many people because she wants people to know that God is good and He will heal. And she's proof of that.”
Guests of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs are featured on the show. While it may seem daunting for camera-shy newbies, stage fright seems to magically melt away in Kendrick’s presence, Favors said.
”A lot of people come on the show and they're like, ‘Oh, I don't know what to talk about. I don't know what to say,’” Favors said. “But because my mama's just such a natural because she's been doing it so long, it’s easier and it just flows through better.”
For Kendrick, the best part of creating the “War Room Show” has been all the people she’s met.
With the livestream’s unexpected success, as well as her community involvement, Kendrick has made enough of an impact in Oglethorpe County that she’s regarded as somewhat of a local celebrity. She also authors a community news column for The Oglethorpe Echo.
“Even when I go out, if I say my name they'll know me, and I don't know them,” Kendrick said. “Our spirits connect. So I met a lot of friends through the ‘War Room Show.’ … If I could be remembered, that's how I wanna be remembered, as just loving people and having a giving heart and spirit.”