Battle of the Bands

[Chad Dvoracek]

We are gearing up to host our third Battle of the Bands for the local high school/college talent pool.  There will be 6 bands that will each be playing a 20 minute set.  We partnered with another youth pastor and ministry leader about a year ago in helping put on a monthly coffee house and a couple of all out rockin battle of the bands.  As things changed our church became the event host.  We will have the sanctuary packed out with a whole bunch of teens that would otherwise not be interested in stepping one foot in a church. 

As we promote the event we let people know that this is NOT a Christian event...this is a musical venue hosted by Christians.  There is a BIG difference.  We create an environment that allows the local musicians in the area to play and perform their music.  They have to clean up some of the lyrics but for the most part it's their music.

Music is a gift from God and a very deep expression.  These kids express the music and feelings that are within them.  Sometimes its full of anger and pain other times is a thing of beauty.  But it who they are.  We let them be them, and hopefully through our actions and dedication to them they will begin to understand that this way of Jesus gives hope and a better answer to life.