Christian music’s message Christian Music

Christian music’s message

November 14, 2005 – 11:56 am

Christian music’s message draws youth Students flock to Power of One for praise, worship

The music was loud and the message was louder at the 15th annual Power of One Festival on Saturday at the Resch Center and the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena in Ashwaubenon.

An array of Christian rock bands — hard rock, pop, contemporary — satisfied the tastes of the middle and senior high school students who came to the one-day event, even providing mosh pit possibilities.

But it was all about “music with a positive message,” said Dave Romanesko, director of marketing and development for Life! Promotions, the Appleton-based non-profit group that sponsors the Power of One.

“It’s an opportunity for youth from all denominations to come together for a day of praise and worship,” he said. “The music allows us to present Christianity as something really cool, more relevant to what the kids are listening to.”

He expected 5,000 to 7,000 young people and some parents to attend. Many of them had been there before, like La Thao, 18, of Appleton. The University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman brought her sister, Der, 20, and brother Peter, 25, with her. She and Der came last year.

“A lot more people are getting into it and the bands are getting more popular,” La said. “I like the message in their music.”

Hawk Nelson was her favorite group, and it was a hit with Zach Langlois, 8, who came from his home in Plover with his sister Samantha, 14, and parents, Mike and Kathleen Langlois.

“The message here is fantastic, and as adults, we have to encourage our kids to come here,” Mike said.

Maria Armbrust, 16, and Tony Dionne, 18, both from Marinette High School, enjoyed the festival, too.

“It’s one of the few times you can go and hear lots of Christian music,” Armbrust said. “This is cool.”

Dionne wasn’t a fan of Christian music before he came, but he agreed the event was worth attending.

“I’m rubbing off on him,” Armbrust said.

Like most of the young people there, Kristi Schive, 12, and Sam Bekkala, 12, both from Iron River, Mich., came with a church group. They’ve been to the festival before. Bekkala said the big draw for her was “the mosh pit … and I learn about God … The Power of One is the power of God.”

Schive said the reason her church makes the two-hour trip is to let youth “meet new friends and get close to God.”

Christian CDs were big sellers at the event, and booths for Christian colleges drew students. Life Missions, an arm of Life! Promotions, and Compassion International spread word of their efforts to help those in Third World countries through donations, education and sponsorship.
By Sean Schultz
sschultz@greenbaypressgazette.com