DATE: Thursday, September 11, 1997          TAG: 9709100148

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   69 lines

JAMMIN' 4 JESUS CREATES LOUD, BUT JOYFUL NOISE FOR THE LORD

Jammin' 4 Jesus.

That may have sounded sacrilegious a couple decades ago, but these days you can pretty well guess it has something to do with young people involved with Christian music.

Two are from Suffolk, two are from Portsmouth.

Altogether - ``we're the real McCoy,'' said Seth Brock. ``We play some weekends at parties and at Rocky's.''

The Christian night club in Franklin is a gathering place for like-minded young people.

``We like playing as a band,'' said Woody Wharam. ``What better way to praise God?''

Jammin' 4 Jesus is deeply involved in making a joyful noise unto the Lord. They are not involved with bands who make noise for any other reason.

``We didn't like a lot of messages the secular rock bands were sending,'' said Jonathan Collins. ``We wanted to do something positive.''

They practice their positivism twice a week in Jeremy Bond's Ainslie Court garage, often within earshot of tolerant neighbors.

Unless you're an atheist, telling young people to cease their tribute to God is not de rigueur.

The Jammin' 4 Jesus tributes come via high decibel instruments.

Most of the singing chores are handled by Bond who, the band enjoys noting, was taken in ``because we needed a singer - and he's hyper.''

None of the guys are exactly laid back.

``I listened to hard core stuff before I became hard core seeking God,'' Wharam said. ``Christian music got me into it. If it can save someone like me - I want to do the same for someone else.''

The importance of their songs is not the music, but the words.

``We're more interested in the message than the music,'' Wharam said.

``We want to let people know we care more about what they get out of the music.''

They describe Jammin' For Jesus as a Christian Alternative group which means, according to Bond, ``we're a varietal band.''

They are an original band with Collins writing most of the music, the others putting the words to that music.

Future plans call for putting their words and music on a CD. Some will be given to friends, some sent to record companies in a quest for fame and fortune.

That is not their main goal, though. Their main goal, no matter where they are, is to do some Jammin' 4 Jesus.

Here is a look at the members of the group, and some of their thoughts:

Jeremy Bond, 18, Suffolk, is studying computers and religion at Louisburg College. ``Some people think certain things are not possible. With God, everything's possible.''

Seth Brock, 16, Portsmouth, senior at Portsmouth Christian School. ``God can't be compromised, so either he's Lord of all, or not Lord at all.''

Woody Wharam, 17, Portsmouth, senior at Portsmouth Christian School. ``Don't mess around with God, because He does what He wants to do with you.''

Jonathan Collins, 18, Suffolk, majoring in engineering at Virginia Tech. ``God loves you and wants you to have a relationship with Him. If you don't know Him, get to know Him.'' MEMO: For booking and other information about Jammin' 4 Jesus, call Ryan

Percifield at 483-1165. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS

Jammin' 4 Jesus includes, from left, bass guitarist Seth Brock, 16,

of Portsmouth; singer Jeremy Bond, 18, of Suffolk; drummer Woody

Wharam, 17, of Portsmouth, and lead guitarist Jonathan Collins, 18,

of Suffolk.

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