A few seats are added just before 10 am. Because they had not expected that the enthusiasm for the special Elvis church service would be so great at the Protestant Church either. “There are between 20 and 30 people for a normal service. Now there are more than 80,” it sounds.
Fifteen minutes later, a full church sings along with the song ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’. Singer Fred Omvlee sees the scene with satisfaction. “Sung nicely,” he says. The Monnickendammer Pastor has been performing for more than 20 years with his mass, which is entirely dominated by Elvis Presley, who died in 1977.
‘I became sad and happy
“When my father died, I was hit by Elvis’s gospel numbers. It made me sad and happy. Then I thought, I have to bring it to church, because maybe I can make more people happy with it.”
He sings (gospel) songs from the American artist, tells the highs and lows of his life and is extensively reflected in the band that Elvis had with the faith. “I didn’t know that Elvis was so religious,” says one of the churchgoers.
And Omvlee passes on life lessons on the basis of the letters of Elvis. This is how the E stands for energy. “Do everything you do with genuine energy. And the V stands for addiction, for example, but also for connection.”
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