DATE: Thursday, August 7, 1997              TAG: 9708060219

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   73 lines

CHOIR BRINGS CHILDREN TOGETHER FROM SEVERAL CHURCHES, CITIES

Karen Jenkins has a love for God, an ear for music and a heart for young people.

This past year, Jenkins combined those three to form Let the Children Sing, a 150-voice children's choir that's making an impact on hundreds of lives.

``I just love working with kids and I love music,'' said Jenkins, music director of the Healing Chapel Baptist Church in Suffolk. ``In lots of larger cities, they have children's mass choirs. So I felt like we could have one too.''

Jenkins' dream began to take shape last May, when she scheduled a two-day music workshop for children, ages 5-21. Nearly 150 young people responded from five local churches and a number of cities across Hampton Roads.

Jenkins got local musicians to lead the workshop and train the youths. The workshop ended with an evening concert at the Oak Grove Baptist Church.

``The musicians have been great, and very responsive to this idea,'' Jenkins said. ``My total vision has been to bring our local young people together, to train them musically and help them to do something positive for their community.''

Another part of Jenkins' vision was to bring people from different churches together.

``We need to come together and work together here on Earth, because that's how it will be in heaven,'' she said.

Jenkins said her prayers were answered when Let the Children Sing performed in May.

``I prayed about it and asked the Lord to lead me the right way,'' she said. ``A big choir is great, but I was looking for a few dedicated kids. The results surpassed my hopes, as I watched so many kids singing and shouting and praising the Lord. It was really exciting.''

Recently, Let the Children Sing had its second music workshop featuring musicians Tony Owens of Grove Baptist Church in Portsmouth and Curry Smith of Rohobeth Baptist Church in Norfolk. Accompanied by drummer Herb Overton, the choir performed spirited selections such as ``You've Been So Faithful,'' ``He Reigns Forever'' and ``Glory to Glory.''

``I love to sing,'' 6-year-old choir member Simone Hargrave said.

``I love music, and my aunt thinks I should major in music,'' said choir member Keyonne Plain, 14.

At 31, Jenkins has big hopes and dreams. The mother of three said she cares about the needs of local young people.

By day, she works in the collection department of Lakeview Medical Center. But at night and on weekends, she uses her musical talents to make a difference in the lives of local children.

Jenkins is part-time organist at Healing Chapel and performs in other churches as well. She's also a singer with the Amos Davis' Angelic Choraleers, who have made two albums and traveled extensively with their gospel music ministry.

Jenkins has big dreams for her choir as well.

With enough community support and financial assistance, she said, the choir will be able to get uniforms and adequate transportation. Also, the choir director is working on plans for a three-day youth retreat at a nearby resort next year.

``It's just such a blessing to see how things have worked out,'' Jenkins said. ``It amazes me how, if you really believe and ask the Lord for something, the Lord brings it to you.''

Let the Children Sing, Jenkins said, is a musical testimony to her faith. MEMO: Let the Children Sing has three concerts scheduled this month:

Aug. 15, 7 p.m., New Cornerstone Holiness Church in Pughsville; Aug. 17,

7 p.m., Oak Grove Baptist Church, Suffolk; Aug. 22, 7 p.m., Healing

Chapel Baptist Church, Suffolk. ILLUSTRATION: Let the Children Sing, a 150-voice children's choir,

has three concerts scheduled this month.

Karen Jenkins is music director of Healing Chapel Baptist Church.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu