LETTERS: CHRISTIAN YOUTH EVENTS HAVE IMPACT

To the editor:

On Feb. 28, two outstanding youth events happened in Cape Girardeau: an afternoon rally featuring motivational speaker Penny Lea at the Holiday Inn Convention Center and a Christian concert that night given by Rebecca St. James at the Arena Building. As a mother of teens, I had the great privilege of attending both of them with my son and some friends. I hope and pray that the impact of the message delivered in both places will be great.

About 1,800 packed the concert where 20-year-old Australia-born Rebecca St. James sang of her love for and faith in God. Besides singing with the band, she stopped to share thought from her heart and to read several verses from a modern Bible paraphrase, "The Message." She challenged the audience to begin a love relationship with Jesus Christ or to grow in that relationship through reading the Bible. She also urged showing and expressing love to family members. She introduced her large family as her friends and her team. Her mum and dad, five brothers and one sister all travel with her and help out with the concerts. She stood up for sexual purity and waiting until marriage for sex. She shared about reaching out to needy children around the world through a ministry called Compassion. She had just visited one of the centers in Calcutta, India, where she has adopted a child to support.

I found it awe-inspiring to see and hear two women, one older (my generation), the other younger, using speaking and singing abilities to call the younger generation to the God of the Bible. They spoke of rugged, daring faith in Jesus Christ that can turn around the moral mess we face in our lives and in America today. God can change each of us if we'll let him. They presented it with all their hearts as the most exciting thing in the world, which it is. II Chronicles 7:14 summarizes the message: "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Thanks to all who made it happen especially to Teresa LeGrand, a woman who had a God-given vision. Lastly, I urge others impacted by the rally and concert to take some time to write a letter to the editor or call Speak Out.

CINDY FLETCHER

Cape Girardeau