Praise youth group going strong

Most of the media coverage of our country’s youth is overwhelmingly negative. So it is really gratifying to find a group of young people who not only are doing something positive with their lives, but are also willing to talk about it.
That’s what GIFT is all about.
The purpose of GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) is to provide a monthly event for the purpose of encouraging and challenging believers in Jesus Christ of all ages through music, teaching, sharing, prayer, and fellowship.
Although GIFT officially was born in the fall of 2004, the seed actually was planted in the spring of 2002. The local Christian school was having its annual “30 Hour Famine” and a small group of friends decided to get together in order to provide the praise and worship music for the event.
They enjoyed it so much that they continued to practise throughout the year, mostly at their home churches.
In 2003, their original drummer left the group but was replaced by a new member. The focus of the group also shifted and they began planning monthly events which they called “Saturday Night Alive.”
They shared with each other a desire to make a difference in the district, but struggled with the reality that the members of their group soon would be leaving the district for further education.
The idea of a monthly praise and worship event was not revived again until the fall of 2004, when another group of friends got together to form the band “Unquenchable.”
A member of this group suggested the name GIFT (Growing In Faith Together) and it stuck.
They planned to hold a worship event on the second Saturday of the month and since January, 2005, with God’s help, they have not missed a month.
In September, 2005, with members leaving for school, the group was forced to reinvent itself. The new group consisted of members from a variety of churches and schools.
Debbie Friesen became the co-ordinator of GIFT and the music team leader.
Since then, GIFT not only has become a monthly event for Christians from across the district, but also a form of discipleship in music and leadership for the members of the music team.
Many local students are—and have been—a part of the music team over the years, becoming trained to be leaders among their peers musically and spiritually.
GIFT continues to encourage and challenge Christian believers. This has been the goal of the group from its early beginnings and, with God’s grace, will continue to be its focus for years to come.
GIFT invites you to its next worship event, which will be held this Friday (April 18) at 7:30 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Emo.