★ City: San Antonio, an industrial city on the San Antonio River. In 1781, a Spanish fortress was built, and in 1731, the Spanish moved in first. In 1821, it became a Mexican state by the Mexican Revolution, but in 1845, it became an American state by the Texas independence movement. Currently, this city has the most Mexican citizens in the nation due to geographical reasons. ★ Venue: Lila Cockrell Theatre - 2,400 seat performance hall A full house is no longer an unfamiliar landscape during the Gracias Choir US Christmas Cantata Tour. The performance started at 7 o'clock, but 30 people were already in a line and waiting from 4:40pm. By 7 o'clock, about 200 people had to go back because all the floors from 1st to 3rd were full. "I'm so sad because I cannot see the Cantata. I wish they would have two or three performances next year. Last year, I saw the Cantata and it was so beautiful that I wanted to show it to my friends. Gracias, I know you have worked hard and prepared to prepare for the stage. As unfortunate as it is, I am so thankful."(Alexandra) "I just moved from Florida to San Antonio with nothing. I have lived so hard in the meantime, but today I saw the Cantata and I think I know why God sent me here. The Cantata today was really awesome. The Cantata story felt like my testimony. I heard the message and kneeled, and I knew that the repentance and faith I had been doing was wrong. I have found the Bible passages that Pastor gave me and I came to believe. Jesus forgave my sin and I am free." (Martha) "My favorite scene was Anna. Seeing her realize her past mistakes and repent was like seeing us being forgiven for our sins by God's grace. Gracias, you keep on singing good songs, and please preach the gospel of God to the world that let them know God is good. You who are preaching the word of God are doing a wonderful job. God will bless you. Thank you." (Jenny) The Christmas Cantata took place under the theme, "We Bring the Joy to You." As this saying, great joy was delivered to San Antonio through this Cantata.

★ City: El Paso is the largest city in the southwest end of Texas and the Mexican border. It was established by the Spanish in 1827, and in 1848, it left Mexican rule and became US territory. Currently, it is the point of foreign trade and traffic.

This is the third Cantata in El Paso.

The enthusiasm of the performance continued across the border to Mexico.

It was promoted through Mexican TV broadcast, 'Channel 44' as well as other broadcasts such as ABC and Canal.

"After last year, somebody came to my house again this year and left a ticket. People waited earnestly for the Messiah, and although Jesus was the real Messiah, people refused Him. In the end, however, they all realize Jesus is the Messiah and rejoice. That scene was very touching. This show allows people who do not know Jesus to open their hearts to Jesus and to come closer." (Don and Minette couple)

"It was a terrific performance that I can't express how impressed I was. Especially, the 'God Bless America' song was a wonderful ending. I hope that the citizens unite as a result of the Las Vegas shooting. I am a nurse who cares for children 0-5 years old. I didn't imagine the Little Santas would do such a wonderful performance. Also, the pastor's message is not saying that you should do something or not do something to receive salvation. I was able to believe because of the clear Words saying, 'If you accept the Word, your sins will be cleansed and you will be saved.'" (Kurt Haller)

"The music and acting of the first act were all great, and the composition of the story was amazing and fresh.

It is a performance that everyone would like. I've seen some of the world's most famous performances, such as Broadway, but I have never seen such a performance. Pastor Park's message of the gospel was also very clear that I wanted other people to hear it with me. The emcee said that the members of Gracias read the Bible and prepared for the performance, but I can feel that they are singing by the power given by God. It's great that Koreans are performing around the country like this." (Eliseo Rios family)

El Paso is bordered by Mexico and has many illegal residents and immigrants. Juarez, which is under El Paso is notorious for crime and drugs.

Regardless of the situation in the city, the hearts of the citizens who watched the Cantata were filled with gratitude, happiness and joy.

★ City: It is currently the largest city in New Mexico. It began as a small town by Spanish settlers in 1706, and the name of the city, Albuquerque originates from Albuquerque, named after the Spanish governor. The University of New Mexico (UNM), and the Sandia National Laboratories are located here.

★ Venue: Tingley Coliseum - a multi-purpose arena originally built as a rodeo stadium, accommodating over 10,000 spectators.

The interest and love of the citizens of Albuquerque towards the Cantata was more distinctive than in other cities.

Christmas Cantata with Albuquerque City. The polite manners and fervent response of 3,000 citizens gathered at the Tingley Coliseum were sincere.

New Mexico proclaimed October 10th as Cantata Day, and in the city of Albuquerque, the excellence and influence of the Cantata was acknowledged and granted $5,000 and the freedom to use the city logo while publicizing.

"This is my second visit to the Cantata after last year. This year, I brought my daughter, a future son-in-law, and grandchildren. The process by which Jesus was born was portrayed as painstaking. I hope that everyone who sees Anna in the second stage realized that they are like her. As I listened to 'God Bless America,' I was reminded of the thanks towards God for letting us live in this vast country of the United States. (Rev. Tim)

★ City: Las Vegas is the largest city in Nevada and a city of sightseeing and gambling. The shooting rampage that happened on October 1st was recorded as the worst shooting incident in the United States with more than 500 casualties.

★ Venue: Orleans Arena - A 9,500 seat indoor arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the past, ECHL was used as the home stadium of the Las Vegas Wranglers.

In the aftermath of the worst shooting rampage in the United States on October 1st, peoplehid themselves from the streets of Las Vegas, a city of pleasure and entertainment. On October 9th, the Christmas Cantata arrived in Las Vegas, where the city was groaning with sores and pain.

On this morning, the Christmas Cantata was introduced on Fox News (FOX) TV channel news time, one of the six major TV stations in the US, and the moderator praised it as "perfect timing."

The 5,000 seat venue, built on a 9,000 seat indoor arena, was filled with 4,500 spectators. Songs by Gracias Choir, including 'God Bless America,' comforted the hearts of Las Vegas citizens who were in the darkness and despair.

"After the last gunfire we needed God's message. This poor city, the poor country, has been confused since the incident. There is no other perfect timing for the message of Christmas to arrive. Now everyone here needs the message of Christmas." (Monica Jackson / Fox TV news host)

★ City: LA is a satellite city in Los Angeles County, California, the second busiest container port in the United States, and one of the largest shipping ports in the world.

★ Venue: Long Beach Performing Arts Center

With New York, Los Angeles is a large city representing the United States, with a population of 3.97 million, which is the most after New York. When combining the population living in satellite cities, there are 13 million people we needed to promote this cantata to. Maybe not everyone got the news, but it was publicized in methods untried before via SNS, VIP invitations, large billboards on the street, newspapers and TV commercials.

The Cantata was performed twice, at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and 2,600 audiences filled the 3,000 seat theater at both performances. California is close to Central and South America and where there are many immigrants from Latin America so subtitles were provided both in English and Spanish. The total number of citizens who attended the two performances was 5,200. The minds of each citizen may have been different, but only one thing is spoken in mouths of those who have left the Cantata -- the main character of the Christmas Cantata, Jesus Christ.

"As a pastor, I preach to people every Sunday and preach the gospel, and many people say that there is no place for God in their lives. It is such a heartbreaking thing. I teared at the scene in which Joseph sings. God, who came in the form of man, it was special to see how they try hard to find a room for the Messiah." (Eddie Vargas, Rev. Restoration Life Church)

★ City: After World War II, the population grew considerably with the development of automobile and aircraft related industries. From the latter half of the 20th century, as computer-related industries began to emerge, it became a center of the region called Silicon Valley.

★ Venue: San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

In San Jose, California, where the Cantata was held on October 7th, there is the Silicon Valley, the center of global IT industry. Apple and Google, the world's most expensive companies are here. Opposite the venue is the headquarter building of Adobe Systems, famous for programs such as 'Photoshop' and 'Illustrator.'

To the citizens living in a city where the media and industry of the world are focused upon, the Gracias Choir has once again provoked a sellout craze. More than 3,000 people gathered at the 2,600 seat performing arts venue. The procession of citizens who gathered 40 minutes before the performance began to reach its peak at 7 o'clock.

"I came by invitation of a friend and watched. I think remembering the birth of Jesus everyday is true Christmas. Anna's story in act 2 seems like a reinterpretation of Luke 15. As the prodigal son returned and begged forgiveness to his father, Anna comes back and apologizes to her family and reconciles, doens't she? I often forget that I have to get strength from God and fall into disappointment. The Cantata seems to be a good way to rejoice in the birth of Christ."

"I have been looking forward to this year because I had watched the Cantata last year, but there are more people than I expected. I wanted to at least let the children see the show. It's a free show, but I hope you'll have a little more space next year. "

The joy of the birth of Jesus of 2,000 years ago was conveyed to the high-tech industry center of San Jose.

★ City: Anchorage is a port city in the middle of southern Alaska, the center of state commerce and finance, culture, and tourism. It is Alaska's largest city with more than 40 percent of the entire state's population.

★ Venue: Sullivan Arena

Anchorage, Alaska, is one of the cities of the US Cantata Tour. First of all, it is located in the far northwest among the 25 venues. With Canada in between the US and Alaska, it was impossible to move by bus. Therefore, they had to fly by plane with only a selected 115 of the 200 members of Gracias and staff.

Alaska is also travelled to from within the United States. Alaska's winter is harsh cold, the daylights are short and hard to adapt to. It is almost unprecedented that a large scale performance with more than 100 performers come to Alaska.

"Today, many people are competing. Christians also compete with each other through the media. But the music of Gracias Cantatas is more than that. They sing praises to God through song. It was like I was in heaven while listening to their music today. I will tell everyone I know next year and come together."

However, it is the spirit of Gracias to say, 'if someone 's willing to listen to our music and gain happiness in their hearts, we will go anywhere to sing.' Through interviews, we were able to feel that spirit of Gracias passed on to the audience as well.

"Gracias' music gives hope to my heart. Especially 'Hallelujah' was a big touch. In fact I have seen Gracias Cantata in Houston three years ago. Then I came to Anchorage and saw the poster saying that there was a Cantata here and I was so surprised and happy. Music is truly amazing. Thank you very much for coming all the way here with such music."

★ City: Kent is a city in King County, Washington -- the third largest county and the sixth largest state. It is a suburb of Seattle and has a population of 92,411 according to statistics in 2010. Due to mergers, as of July 1, 2011, the population is 120,916. There are companies like REI and and Oberto Sausage in this city.

★ Venue: ShoWare Center

A few days ago,on the way to Kent and after the terrifying shooting rampage, the Cantata performance team could not help but to pray their hearts hoping that the citizens would be healed through this performance. People flocked to the ShoWare Center before the performance despite the Las Vegas shooting rampage, and audiences entered the concert hall in a calm manner.

The Cantata in Kent was filled with more than 3,800 citizens and tranquility and happiness was conveyed to the citizens. Among the citizens who filled the venue was Suzette Cooke, the Mayor of Kent.

"I'm excited that the Cantata opened in our city again this year. Last year, I watched this show with my mother and she praised it as 'the best performance of my life.' I hope that the Choir will convey the true meaning of the beautiful story of Christ in whichever city they go to." (Mayor Suzette Cooke)

The Las Vegas terrorism is considered the worst shooting rampage in American history. But the terror could not break Christ 's love to work through the Christmas Cantata.

★ City: Being the third largest city in Canada with a population of over half a million, it is a city in southern British Columbia, southwest of Canada. Also, it is the largest commercial and industrial city in Western Canada, and is also a major trade port to the Pacific.

★ Venue: Queen Elizabeth Theater

The center of performing arts of Vancouver. It is a traditional art theater in which Queen Elizabeth of England attended the opening ceremony in 1959. Therefore, it is a historic venue representing Vancouver.

The theater capacity is 2,800.

However, in front of the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver on October 3rd, more than 3,000 people gathered and waited for 40 minutes.

"The energy from the songs of Gracias Choir captivated us. When I received my invitation letter, I did not expect it to be so good. It is so amazing. Next year I will be inviting a lot of people."

With the increasing numbers of people waiting, in the end, more than 600 citizens had to be turned away.

Then, the first Christmas Cantata in the historic city of Vancouver began.

With the end of the incredible performance and the hope for more people to attend, the Christmas Cantata performance for next year is already awaited.

★ City: Colorado's largest city. As of 2014, Cola County is the most populous city in the state.

★ Venue: Ellie Caulkins Opera House

The 'Ellie Caulkins Opera House', where the Cantata in Denver took place, is one of several venues in the city's performing arts complex.

This area is the center of Colorado's art and culture, with five theaters nearby and the "Colorado Convention Center".

"I was very happy while working with Gracias. Everything was beautiful, including the music, and the staff was very good at work."

Not only the audience, but also the production manager and other personnel at the Denver show praised the performance.

For the Cantata, all the members and staffs work together under the goal, 'To make the audience happy with the best performance.'

"It's easy to stay on the same level if you keep on playing the same show, but Gracias is committed to reaching the level they aim for and never stay complacent."

Because the performance is prepared with such a pure heart, the result can only be beautiful.