AREA DEATHS AND FUNERALS, B8
Religion
THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1989
North Forsyth Gospel Ensemble
sings strictly to please the Lord
oy nwoiiM oArlfsbUALc
Community News Editor
A group of North Forsyth students is saying "no"
to teen-age vices and "yes" to a lifestyle of Christian
values.
The members of the North Forsyth Gospel Ensem
ble sing at churches and other events around the city.
But, they insist, they are more than just a group of kids
who sing Christian songs.
"This gives us a chance to minister to people
everywhere and tell them how we feel about God," said
Toni Hines. HWe love the Lord and we want to tell
everybody about that. We especially want other young
people to see how we feel and how happy it makes us."
"We're setting our lives toward God and Godly
things instead of sitting around on the corner," said
Cynthia Coleman. "Most young people have not
accepted Christ in their lives. I think we're setting a
"We're not weird or anything. We just
enjoy singing gospel music . We9 re full of
energy . Mostly, everybody is in the church .
We get out and do things. It's just that now
most of our time is dedicated to the Lord. 99
? Dwight Linville
good example."
The ensemble was formed in December when
Tomorris Home decided to pursue his dream of bring
ing young people together to sing about God. Mr.
Home said that he knew that there were other young
people who shared both his passion for singing and for
using their talents to serve God.
"This was a dream for me," said Mr. Home, the
ensemble's pianist "Some people had asked me to do
this, and I just hadn't gotten to it before. I knew that
there were some talented people in this school, so I
decided to start a group."
Since December, the ensemble has been invited to
appear throughout the city and in some out-of-town
areas. They quickly are gaining a word-of-mouth repu
tation and demand for their appearances is increasing.
But group members said that they are slightly disap
pointed that they have not had more of an opportunity
to share their songs with their peer group. The group
has appeared on the program at two of the school's
assemblies. They wish they had more opportunities.
"Some of the kids who have heard us before have
asked if we could be on the program at some assem
blies, but so far we have only been on two," said Ms.
Hines. MI don't know what it is, but hopefully they'll let
us be at more assemblies."
Dwight Linville, president of the ensemble and one
of the group's tenors, said that the group practices three
times each week. Anyone is invited to audition for
_ membership, with the major prerequisite being the abil
ity to sing. He said that group members put in a lot of
hours practicing and perfecting the songs that they sing,
but despite the opinions of some of their peers, they are
not "squares" or social misfits who are out of touch
with the things that teen-agers enjoy.
"Don't get me wrong. We like to go to movies and
do things like other kids," he said. "We're not weird or
anything. We just enjoy singing gospel music. We're
full of energy. Mostly, everybody is in the church. We
get out and do things. It's just that now most of our time
is dedicated to the Lord."
"We joke around a lot, but when it's time to prac
tice, we practice," said Ms. Coleman. We're serious
about what we do, but we do have fun, too. Sometimes
we argue but we're ^grt of like a family. We argue and
we have fun, just like in any other family."
Because they are /talented group of musicians, the
students could have chosen to become involved with
any number of musical pursuits. But they stress that
singing gospel music is a conscious decision for them
"This is a good way to inspire people in this school
to get into church," said Terry Johnson, the drummer
tor the ensemble. "It s better to be in church than in the
world. We sing gospel music because we can get more
into it than rap music. Rap is everywhere but gospel is
inspirational. It makes you feel like going on to better
things in life. We're all drug-free and we're singing
about how we feel about the L6rd."
Many members of the group are "PKs," or preach
ers' kids, but the members said that does not exempt
them from some of the usual teen-age rebellion about
church. The group said, too, that being in the ensemble
has changed some of their attitudes about church and
God and had major effects on their lives.
"Before I went out on Saturdays, my mother
always would tell me that no matter how late I came in,
I still had to get up and go to church on Sunday morn
ing," said Ms. Lockhart. "When I got into this group, it
helped me understand why I was going to church. At
- photo by Sam Greenwood
The North Forsyth Gospel Ensemble was formed last December and members say that they
enjoy spending time just sharing their love of Christ with their peers and the community.
first, I wasn't really getting anything out of it. Now I alto with the ensemble. "If we only touch one person
am." with our songs, then that person can touch somebody
Another group member agreed. else. But even if no one else responds to us, we can feel
"A lot of us are 'PKs.' I'm a PK.' I've always gone good because we know that we're doing good. This also
ur church. Irused to be because someonesaidl had to telis the publichowdifferentdenominationscan work ,
or because it was what was expected of me," said Jacin- together and be successful. We're from all different
ta Turner, an alto. "Since. I've been in this group 1 feel denominations and we all work together."
that I understand better why I'm going to church and The students are serious about what they do and
what things mean. Now I get up on my own and I get are quick to point out the distinction between perform
ready to go. I'm anxious. This has inspired a whole ing and singing in concert
. new spiritual outlook for me." "We don't perform," said Ms. Hauser. "We sing.
Loretta Salter said that being in the group "gave We don't consider what we do performing. We don't try
me a better outlook on life and encouraged me to stay to fake anything in public. If we want to shout, we
on the right track." shout. If we want to cry, vye cry. But it's the same in
The ensemble is a sorted lot. Some of the members rehearsal. It's something that we feel, and it's not like
are children of ministers, others are not. Some of them the feelings are just something we do to make the audi
are "saved" and some are not. There have been around ence react. Even if they don't respond at all, we know
the church their entire lives and are just discovering life how we feel about what we are doing."
within the church. Some of them socialize frequently Other group members are Camille Sprinkle, Janet
and others are more introverted. But they are bound by Clybum, Tracey Commodore, Amanda Harris,
their mutual interest in making Christ first in their lives DeShaunda Hampton, Yvette McCloud, Donsuella
and by their desire to illustrate that in their music. Dykes, Von Clark, Nelson Little, Maurice LeGrant,.
"We sing to the glory of God," said Tina Hauser, an David LeGrant and Tonya Turner.
?NFL football player, former Happy Hill Gardens
resident pushes drug abuse prevention
By ROBIN BARKSDALE
Community News Editor
Like many young boys in
Happy Hill Gardens, Chris Barber
had to sidestep obstacles during his
childhood to avoid getting into seri
ous trouble. He found a way out
through athletics and now is a
member of the NFL's Cincinnati
Bengals. But he says he hasn't been
gone so long that he can't remember
how tough it is for kids to avoid
drugs and handle peer pressure.
Mr. Barber returned to his old
neighborhood last Friday to talk
with youngsters about staying free
of drugs and developing their minds
as well as their bodies. He appeared
as a guest of the STEP ONE Out
reach's Happy Hill Gardens com
munity program, coordinated by
Geraldine Winfield. Admitting that
a lecture was the last thing kids
wanted to hear, Mr. Barber said he
hoped simply to talk with them
about common sense.
"This is not a time for me to
come up here and preach. We all
know what we need to do," said the
Parkland High School graduate.
^'Professional football was some
thing that I wanted to do, but I did
n't know if I'd be able to or not I
had to ask myself some important
questions, like was I willing to
work harder and was I satisfied with
myself."
Mr. Barber said he realized that
the answer to both questions was
"no" and that he needed to work
harder both on school and his ath
letics in order to achieve. His deter
mination, he said, was boosted by
the fact that he saw many of his
friends' lives destroyed by drugs.
"I saw a lot of my friends get
involved with drugs. It wasn't as big
a problem as it is now, but it was
problem enough to steer guys who
were great athletes the wrong way."
Mr. Barber's brother, Sterling,
was a standout high school athlete,
and those who knew him predicted
a virtually guaranteed professional
athletic career. But a 1985 accident
rendered Sterling a quadraplegic;
his athletic career was ended. Intro
ducing his brother, Sterling asked'
his young audience to consider
what they would do if they sudden
CHURCH
CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
? White Rock Baptist Church wilt hold a yard, plate and sandwich sale
at 9 aon. The Rev. J S. Mickens is pastor.
? Rejpstration for 10 weeks Shilohian-St Peter's Summer Enrichment
Camp will be held June 3 and June 10 from 8:30 am. to 12:30 pjn. at
Shilohian-St. Peter's Day Care Center in the old Brown Elementary
School Building* 112$ NJE Highland Ave. Camp will begin June 12.
The program is for ages 5 and a half to 12. Special activities and field
trips have been oiganized, The program offers foreign language, sign
language and music/band as a special attraction. Registration will be on
a first come* first served basis* For more information call 724-5013 or
724-5035. . . ?
? ion Church's frustee* Board will hold a barbecue
plate dinner sale from noon to 7 p.m. Deep-fried fish dinners also will
Pto**e see page B6
i itM 1 * , ... BP." I
photos by Sam Greenwood
Chris Barber discusses the dangers of drug abuse with Happy Hill Gardens youngsters and
lends a helping hand to his brother, Sterling.
ly were unable to compete in sports, could play in the pros, but I'm the he saw how Sterling adjusted and
"When I was a kid, I had a reality of what can happen to was able to set goals and use his
dream to play professional football, plans." mind to accomplish those goals,
but that ended up not being possi- Mr, Barber said that his broth- ? "My brother really influenced
ble," said Sterling. "I thought I er's accident motivated him because me. He was gifted as an athlete," he
said. "His accident set him back -
as far as football, it may have
stopped him as far as his future m
football, but that's all. If you want
to be doctors, lawyers or teachers,
you can do it But you have to pre
pare yourselves now and you can't
do that if you're involved with
drugs."
Mr. Barber said also that young
residents of Happy Hill Gardens, or
any other housing project, should
not be discouraged by the stigmas
other people place on them because
of where they live. "We all grew up
in Happy Hill Gardens, and we did
n't let that stop us," said Mr. Barber,
who attended A&T State Universi
ty. "A lot of people from this com
munity are making something of
themselves and you all can do the
same thing."
Mr. Barber said that sometimes
he finds himself getting all caught
up in the glitz and glamour that can
come with professional athletics.
His visit last week, he said, was one
of the those occasions which he sets
aside to give back to the community
that raised him.
International Gospel Fellowship to gather at Ambassadors Cathedral
The summer workshop session for the workshop will include, Elder A mass choir rehearsal session
of the Interdenominational Gospel Robert Taylor of Philadelphia, will be held Monday through
Fellowship will convene June 5 to Monday, June 5; Evangelist Shirley Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and on Fri
ll at Ambassadors Cathedral, 1500 Caesar-Williams, Tuesday, June 6; day at 7:30 p.m. Evening services
Harriet Tubman Drive. Pastor Barbara Amos of Chesa- will be held Thursday through
peake, Va.; Wednesday, June 7; the Thursday at 8. A "midnight special"
The minister of music for the Rev. Richard "Mr. Clean" White of program is scheduled for 11 p.m.
week will be A. Jeffrey La Valley of Atlanta, Thursday, June 8, Friday, Friday and a "Saturday Night Live"
Flint, Mich. June 9, and Saturday, June 10. event is planned for Saturday at 8
Guest activities and speakers ' p.m.
Other guests will include the
Rev. Charles Lyles, Peggy Britt,
Leo "Bubba" Taylor, the Rev. Fred
die Washington, Rudy Brown,
James McKay, Ezekiel Williams,
Andrew Jones, John Kee and Daryl
Coley.
Registration is $10 for adults
and $5 for children under 12.
Senior Services organization plans special session,
Ourselves,' to assist area adults learning to care for
"Our Elders ? Ourselves,"
a one-day workshop for adults
learning about caring for
aging parents, will be held
Thursday, June 15, from 8:30
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Senior
Services Inc.
A panel of eight geriatric
specialists will address such
topics as medical aspects of
aging, Alzheimer's disease,
feelings and family issues and
communication.
The group also will dis
cuss community resources,
alternate living options and
psychological, physical and
social changes in aging.
The registration fee, which
includes a box lunch, is S20.
The workshop will be held
'Our Elders ~
family members
at the Senior Services main
office conference center,
located on the third floor of
the Tobacco Square building,
838 Oak St.
For more information, call
Val Forcier at 724-2155.