Due to the Dutch Mill Amish Buffet’s dedication to southern gospel music, a collection of performers are coming together to help along the restaurant’s long process of reconstruction after the building burned in March.

Owners Toni and Dennis Decker approached First Baptist Church in Greensburg about the possibility of the church hosting the event, as their business partner John Smith has been attending there for some time.

Although it is a bit out of the ordinary for the church, Pastor David Thompson noted, the church is pleased to be able to help the gospel groups fulfill the spiritual wish of giving back to their supporters.

Dave Miller, organizer of the event, explained the intent is to help the owners during a difficult time. Although insurance will pay for the beams and floors, there are decorations and personal touches to the restaurant that were lost forever and not included in the estimates of insurance.

The groups that will perform in Greensburg on Saturday, Sept. 6 include Forgiven, Open Heart, Standing By, Right Spirit, Brothers Quartet, Rena Coomer, Declare the Glory and Sonshiners Quartet. Andrew Phipps, host of the television program “The Phipps Gospel Sing,” will be serving as the master of ceremonies.

The program is free to the public, but an offering will be taken to help the business, and its owners, rebuild. To further assist, there will also be a silent auction including a weekend, lodging and concerts at the Legacy5 Memorial Day Celebration at Opryland in 2009, a three-day stay with lodging with Silver Dollar City tickets in Branson and tickets to Homecoming at Conseco in Indianapolis from the Gaithers for their December concert. The Gospel Barn at Bluffton has also given concert tickets for The Chuck Wagon gang in October. The Farmstead Inn in Shipshewana has given a weekend stay, while the Indy 500 also gave items. The auction will also include a variety of CDs and DVDs from Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, The Dixie Echoes, Greater Vision, The Booth Brothers, Gold City Quartet, Gaither Homecoming Concerts and the Gaither Vocal Band.

Two of the gifts to be auctioned are three-night stays at Louisville Best Western East, including tickets to three days at The National Quartet Convention. This, Miller noted, could take some extra planning on the part of the bidders.

The performers and organizers hope the community will come together to enjoy some southern gospel music from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 at First Baptist Church in Greensburg.