The gospel truth about this music is that people really go for it.

The music is jazzy, with a pulsating beat. But the lyrics are about God, the strength of spirit and the gift of faith.

“If you’ve got the faith,” the Inner Spirit singers intone, “God has the power. Fight the fight . . . the good fight of faith.”

Another group, World Won for Christ Hush Company, doesn’t sing at all. To a background of taped music, five people interpret biblically inspired messages through pantomime, sign language and dance.

And then there’s Clint (St. Ice) Johnson. He’s a rapper, but his inspiration comes from Scripture, not the streets. “Instead of filling the youth with gang violence and lewd action, why not show them spiritually edifying things in rap form?” Johnson says.

Welcome to the high-energy world of gospel music, which will unfold tonight in a free showcase sponsored by the city of Inglewood. The evening gets under way at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Centinela Park.

Aside from a number of guest performers already lined up, any gospel group or soloist is welcome to appear in the showcase. Sandra Williams, who coordinates the event for the city’s Community Services Department Cultural Section, says that even if the evening gets long, gospel enthusiasts don’t mind.

“People love gospel, and they’ll stay for three or four hours,” she said. “The talent is so exciting, it’s just so dynamic; and the time goes by so fast.” A singer herself, Williams will appear tonight as a soloist.

Williams said gospel music is powerful because it’s “felt from the heart” and inspires people when they feel that hope is gone.

“It makes your heart lighter, like a burden is being lifted, like everything is going to be all right,” she said. “You know that God is going to help you, and you want to share this with everybody.”

At a gospel showcase, there’s almost as much activity in the audience as there is on stage. “A lot of people praise God and even stand up and slap their hands,” Williams said. “You can’t go to a gospel showcase and just sit down.”

“People leave in a really good, happy mood, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Celeste Jefferson, co-leader of Inner Spirit, which has appeared at every Gospel Showcase in Inglewood since the group started eight years ago.

Williams said she introduced the program when she went to work for the city. “There was so much destruction out there, so much gangbanging, so much stealing, so much corruption. I thought this was a positive thing to do,” she said.

Even though the showcase is for people of all ages, some performers aim directly at young people and problems associated with gangs and drugs.

In one of his raps, Johnson says it’s better to get high on Christ than on rock cocaine. “Kids tend to get into the rap movement, and I give them the message in the modern form,” he said.

“Our music has a beat to it, and kids really groove into it,” Jefferson said. “When they hear the music, they’ll automatically listen to it because it’s catchy. Then they listen to our words.”

Gospel performers see themselves as ministers carrying God’s word through music. But they acknowledge that there is a theatrical element to gospel that makes them entertainers as well.

“The movement we have, mixing pantomime, sign language and dance, in itself is entertaining,” said Hush Company leader Stacy Meadows. But, he quickly added, “delivering the message” is always No. 1.

And some say that by being entertaining, they get people to listen. “We try to use all the things we can to get their attention so when it’s time for the message, they’ll be there,” said Deborah Moore, a gospel soloist who will be at the showcase.

To find performers for the showcase, Williams sends flyers to churches and businesses in Inglewood, Los Angeles and other Southern California communities. She also finds groups by going to churches, concerts and community programs.

“If I see people that are dynamic, I get their numbers and talk to them,” she said, adding that it’s easy to get performers for the showcase, even though no one is paid.

“Most gospel people I know do it for God,” Williams said. “They always ask me when the next show will be.”

What: Gospel Showcase.

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 330 Centinela Ave., Inglewood.

Admission: Free.

Information: 412-5508.