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You know that saying about trying everything
at least once? Well, this assignment was going to be a double
first.
It was my first time at a worship night and
I was really anxious because this was going to be recorded
for BBC television. Me on TV! So not my idea of a good time
- I'm very camera shy.
On Friday 13 August, the Mount Zion Family
Centre hosted a Hillsong worship night with special guests
the band, United.
A friend and a very nervous me were dropped
off in the bustling Mount Zion Centre car park, regulated
by proper car park attendants. This seemed like a good sign,
I realised that this was going to be a well-organised affair.
As we approached the front doors to the building
we were confronted with the sound of Christian music blaring
out of speakers and crowds of teenagers in jeans and trainers,
no different to you or me.
Packed auditorium
More positive signs - lots of young people
so we didn't feel out of place or as if we were invading.
The foyer was packed with people and dotted
amongst the mass of teenagers were mums, dads, young kids
and the occasional grandma with grandchildren tugging on her
fingers.
The doors opened and hundreds of people scrambled
into the auditorium to find their spot in the huge hall.
We set up camp to one side of the stage.
A good position for snapping photos
and keeping out of the way of the swarms of serious looking
fans, all eager to see United.
The stage was flooded with pink and orange
lighting and at the front, an array of deck chairs, surf boards
and typically Australian bits.
Two guys in snorkels, surf shorts and carrying
water-guns were the warm-up for the night - Tim and Ed, otherwise
known as Revelation.
They told some jokes, squirted us with water,
and made us do silly exercises. We all laughed, but were itching
to see the band.
Cool, confident rockers
After a quick welcome and intro from Jon
Norman - the organiser of the event - the Hillsong's band
United took to the stage.
The six-piece seemed like cool, confident
rockers, ripped jeans and all.
The bass player Joel Houston was made at
home by being presented with a Norwich City football shirt
that he happily wore throughout the set.
They weren't really what I had expected -
I'd imagined a younger, nervous looking group of boys, but
these guys were cool, calm and collected.
I was very impressed. They were Blink 182
with a religious twist.
Marty, the gorgeous front man, had strong
vocals and sung with passion - often with his eyes shut, completely
lost in the moment.
When interviewing him after their set he
said: "I just want to make music and faith relevant for the
kids of today and to keep it real."
Every member of the band drummed or strummed
with feeling. The audience really got involved, most were
singing along, many with their arms up in praise.
Surreal experience
It was a surreal experience for me and something
I haven't encountered before. These people were completely
absorbed by the music and their faith.
When I asked an audience member what he thought
of the night he said: "The gig was full of life and powerful."
What amazed me was the feeling of dedication
to God that seemed to fill every person in that room.
This event had definitely done the job, it
united music and faith and the outcome was incredible.
The type of music gripped the younger generations
and the lyrics seemed to capture everyone.
Bass player Joel wearing his Norwich City
football shirt. |
The band were impressive musicians, but I
felt the lyrics were not incredibly original and that it would
be nice to have had more complex, metaphoric lyrics that made
you really stop and think. That was the one down fall for
me.
After an hour's set, the band finished on
their favourite song, All Day.
This was followed by another 60 minutes of
preaching by youth pastor Phil Dooley from Hillsong Church
in Australia.
The God squad?
Being non-religious I found the preaching
a bit too much, a little too forceful.
At times it resembled those over-the-top,
slightly spooky, American God squad TV programs. I
did survive, but came out slightly fazed by it all.
Overall I was impressed. The event was well
organised, there was a really good turn out, a lot of young
people and great music.
It felt professional, up-to-date and perhaps
exactly what young Christians in Norwich want?
I asked a friend who came along with me what
she thought, she too felt that the music was great but the
preaching was just a bit overbearing.
After the gig, event organiser Jon Norman
said: "I'm overwhelmed by the turn out. Faith related
to music means we live for a cause greater than ourselves."
Whether you agree with this or not, the
gig worked, it got kids off the streets and enjoying music
with a moral.
For more details of event at the Wildlife
night at the Mount Zion Family Centre call 01603 462200 or
e-mail events@wildlife-youth.com.
If you want to see the band in action, click
on to the video link.
Watch
Rosie's report on the Hillsong Worship Night
(1'48", 56k)
(Use the BBC
Webwise guide to downloading realplayer)
Jon
Norman's journey of discovery
Wildlife at Mount Zion
My
life as a young Christian
Faith in Norfolk
Music index
www.wildlife-youth.com
www.hillsongunited.com
The BBC is not responsible
for the content of external websites
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ROSIE
HIGHAM-STAINTON 
