THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407260135
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARSHALL LEATHERS, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Silence in the congregation.
The director's hands point to the heavens. All of a sudden the thunder of the tenors roars, the sweet sound of the sopranos soar, and the powerful, yet harmonic, sounds of the altos fill the church. The people clap and rise to their feet at the beautiful harmony of 80 strong voices.
This is how it feels to be a part of First Calvary Baptist Church when the Junior and Youth Choir sing for the glory of God.
Who would have expected it? Just a few months ago every ounce of hope seemed lost for the choir. On a good day, only 20 singers would participate.
Until January, Verita Thompson had been the only adult working with the young singers. She found herself acting as a mother and nursemaid as well as a pianist and choir director for the kids, who range in age from 3 to 15.
``I feel as if these children are my own,'' said Thompson ``But I had trouble reminding them that I cared because I was preoccupied with all of the responsibilities of being in charge of a choir.''
She needed help. Last July she placed an announcement in the church bulletin asking for assistance. That same month she found an answer to her problem.
Brenda Diggs, a 40-year church member, agreed to help Thompson.
I thought about it for a while, I prayed about it, and then I decided to help,'' said Diggs. ``I feel that the children are the church's future, and if we don't get them involved in the church, then the drug dealers will get them involved in other things.''
She then took on the responsibility of being an additional choir director. Diggs promised the young singers that she would find music that they could relate to, and she promised to take them places and do things for them on a regular basis. In exchange for this she wanted complete commitment and participation from the choir members. With Diggs and Thompson working in unison, the 20-member choir miraculously became 80 members strong.
As the choir grew, it became too much for Diggs and Thompson to handle alone. Two church members, Beverly Wescott and Kim Greene, decided to help out.
As Wescott helped advise and plan, Greene became the choir director of the Junior Choir and assistant director of the Youth Choir.
Even the pastor, the Rev. Johnnie L. White Sr., got involved and helped the choir get robes.
The young singers have different opinions about how the choir flourished. Jermel Tyler, 15, a member and drummer for the choir, says it feels special to be a part of such a great choir.
``God is putting the choir together so that we will be able to build up the church and worship as one,'' said Chevon Brooks, 15, also a choir member.
Whatever the reason, all the members agree that the glory should be given to God for the choir's success.
There is definitely an overflow of love in the First Calvary Baptist Church Junior and Youth Choir. In the future, Thompson hopes the choir will record.
She says she has received many gifts in her life, but she is most thankful for the choir, her greatest gift of all. MEMO: Marshall J. Leathers wrote this story as part of the newspapers' 8th
annual Minority Journalism Workshop.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Within a few months, the junior and youth choir at First Calvary
Baptist Church has grown to 80 members.
Charles Springs, 4, and Brandon Mayfield, 7, sing in the First
Calvary Baptist Church's Junior and Youth Choir.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marshall J. Leathers is a rising junior at Indian river High
School.
by CNB