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Musicians from all walks of Christian music and beyond are responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which has killed thousands and left entire communities homeless in the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

The Gospel Music Association (GMA), through its disaster-relief initiative Project Restore, is sponsoring a nationally televised benefit concert, to be held September 22 at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park. It will air live on Gospel Music Channel 7-10 p.m. ET and on i (formerly PAX TV) 8-10 p.m. ET.

"The scope of the tragedy in the Gulf Coast is unimaginable and grows more desperate every day," said GMA President John W. Styll. "We must view this as an opportunity to rally the GMA community to offer our prayers and resources as a reflection of the grace and goodness of the gospel. As citizens of this country and as followers of Christ, we must help to bring restoration to the people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina."

Check the official Project Restore site for more details as they arise.

In other news about Christian musicians rallying to the cause:

• Third Day started offering their song "Cry Out to Jesus," off of the upcoming album Wherever You Are, as free download on their official website. The band also recorded a public service announcement to be serviced alongside the song to radio stations nationwide.
  
  

• Casting Crowns announced that all the proceeds from their October 20 Baton Rouge, La., concert will go to disaster relief. Additionally, radio station WAY-FM and a number of stations across the nation have been airing an edited version of Casting Crowns' "Praise You in the Storm" that includes a montage of Katrina-related audio bits.
  
  

• Mark Harris of 4HIM is giving a free concert on September 7, for the 250 evacuees currently living in the First Baptist Church of Robertsdale, Alabama.
  
  

• Comedian Mark Lowry and a host of Southern gospel artists—including The Talley Trio, Triumphant Quartet, Kirk Talley, Blackwood Quartet, and Alison Speer—will take part in a benefit show September 27 in Chilhowee Hills Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  
  

• Last week, a varied lineup including the Crabb Family, Smokie Norful, Vicki Yohe, and Kurt Carr taped a live special in Atlanta for TBN in support of Katrina relief efforts. The program, which included live performances and pleas for donations, also saw the artists encouraging Atlanta residents to open up their homes to those left homeless by the hurricane.
  
  

• The Inspiration Network also joined the relief efforts by broadcasting The Concert of Hope, a three-hour fundraiser for disaster victims. INSP also encouraged donations to The Convoy of Hope, which is taking needed food and supplies to the affected areas.
  
  

• Indie rock group the Juliana Theory has pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from of merchandise sales from its official website to the Red Cross.
  
  

Meanwhile, some Christian musicians and record companies were among those hit by Katrina:

• New Orleans resident and worship leader Jason Morant (Vertical) lost his home and band equipment to the catastrophe, and has temporarily relocated to Nashville, where he'll also be recording his next album. Morant, Rocketown Records' president Don Donahue, and a group of people from the music industry loaded up a truck of supplies to be sent to Slidell, La., where Morant's sister resides. He's detailing his efforts to help in his own blog.
  
  

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