The 1994 NQC was by far the largest NQC to date with evening concert attendance more than doubling and the exposition nearly quadrupling. From 1994, through 2000, the NQC entered a period of unprecedented growth where every year was bigger than the last and every year set new all-time records.

   It’s important to remember that this was the same time period when the Gaither Homecoming video products and television specials were in the height of their popularity, and Gaither’s involvement and participation in the NQC was very important to the success of the event.  During this time period, Gaither only participated in two events that he did not produce and promote, the Billy Graham crusades and the NQC.  It was also during this period that the Cathedral Quartet reached the pinnacle of their brilliant careers, and being that people could see and visit with them for the entire week was also important to the event’s success.
   During the years between 1994 and 2001, some very historic moments occurred during the NQC, the first of which was the retirement of the Speer Family.  An unscheduled outpouring of love and support for the Speers occurred when they announced their retirement that night which caused the program to go nearly an hour past schedule, but it was worth it.  Another important event was the retirement of the Cathedral Quartet in 1999.  Unfortunately, Glen Payne was not able to attend the NQC that year to participate in their retirement celebration due to his battle with cancer which took his life the following month, but his call from his hospital bed during their final performance is an event that maybe stands out from all the others as the most memorable event in NQC history.
   From a geo-political perspective, arguably the most important event since our landing on the moon occurred while the NQC was taking place.  On Tuesday morning, September 11th, 2001, attendees and participants of the NQC learned that we had just suffered the worst attack on our homeland since Pearl Harbor.  Tension was immediately felt by the NQC board as they learned that many governors and mayors throughout the country were closing municipal and state venues out of fear that more attacks may occur.  Being that the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center is a state owned facility, the board was concerned that Kentucky’s governor might decide to close KFEC and shut down the Convention.    Fortunately, that did not occur, and the program went on that night as scheduled.

   The evening concert that night was one of the few large public gatherings that proceeded as scheduled on the night of September 11th.  The performances that evening were especially charged and moving, maybe most notably of which was Gerald Wolfe’s performance of Redemption Draweth Nigh. As Gerald sang the second verse,:  “Wars and strife on every hand, and violence fills our land.  Still, some people doubt He’ll come again.  But the Word of God is true, He’ll redeem His chosen few.  So don’t lose hope.  Soon Christ Jesus will descend,”  tears were shed, hands were raised and affirmation of this doctrinal truth arose from the crowd.  It’s another moment people still talk about.

   Though the event did suffer some contraction in the following years, it has still remained strong from an attendance perspective with 2008 setting another record and 2010 setting an all-time record in the number of exhibitors that participated.  It still maintains the title, “Gospel Music’s Largest Annual Event,” and serves as the pinnacle event of the year for the Southern Gospel Music industry.  Fifty-five years after its founding, it still remains quite true to the original vision J.D. Sumner had for the event when it started, to be the one event of the year where Gospel Music lovers from around the world can assemble to see all of their favorite artists at one time, in one place.