Schenectady church uses music to broaden appeal

PHOTOGRAPHER: Patrick Dodson

Bobby Westfall of Nashville, left, leads a group prayer for Jason Williamson, 18, of Schenectady, center, outside Bridge Christian Church during an event on Sunday, June 29, 2014.

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This story has been updated to include the correct spelling of Mont Pleasant.

Rock and roll bands, rap artists, and young people with colorful tattoos often don’t make their way into church Sunday mornings.

But in an attempt to lure a younger demographic to join the church’s congregation, the Bridge Christian Church on Crane Street hosted musical artists and skateboarders from all over the country Sunday.

The Extreme Tour, a faith-based group of bands, solo artists and skateboarders that spends the summer touring the United States, provided Schenectady with a dose of faith-driven music and entertainment.

Pastor James Bookhout, who leads the congregation of nearly a hundred in a former appliance store and helped to organize the event, said it is a great way for people in Schenectady to learn about the church and have fun at the same time.

“We really wanted to reach out to the community and especially young people,” he said. He notes that many of the young people in the Mont Pleasant neighborhood, where the church is located, have witnessed murders and drug deals, as well as numerous and various other crimes.

“This is one of the roughest areas in the city,” Bookhout said. “We feel that we can provide a place for young people to go instead of being on the streets.”

Seven bands and artists played in the church’s parking lot in front of a crowd of about 50 people Sunday morning, young and old, black and white. The skateboarders were reserved for the evening.

Jordan Copas, a rapper from Brooklyn, says he finds inspiration for his lyrics from life experiences and hopes his audience can relate to them. He said he found God nearly four years ago when he was sitting on a street corner under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

“I felt his warmth wrap around me and from then on I have been a believer,” he said.

In one of the songs Copas performed he raps, “Light ‘em up light ‘em up, Jesus is going in, he is breaking down these walls and he’s rebuilding Schenectady.”

The 28-year-old rapper says his music isn’t always based on his religious beliefs but it is always positive and never degrading to any group of people.

He said the message he wants to deliver through his music is, “If you can persevere through something you will come out on the other end way stronger.”

Katie Ainge, a singer from Utah, said she loves to visit places that “are normally overlooked by major music tours” because they are undeserved and sometimes provide the liveliest crowds.

“We can reach out to people and provide entertainment all while having a good time,” she said. “This event is drawing great attention to this wonderful church.”

Brian Plue, a member of the church’s congregation and a Schenectady resident, said he believes the concert is a great way to reach out to young people. He believes that using modern and popular music to connect with teenagers will give the congregation more diversity.

“There is no question this will work,” he said. “We are taking good people out of a bad place.”

Vicki Loika, a volunteer at the church, said she used to be addicted to drugs and even sold her body to put food on the table for her family. She was introduced to the parish by a friend and the church turned her life around. Her goal now is to help the people that “are wearing the same shoes I used to wear.”

“Even though I am wearing a nice dress and high heels I used to be just like many of the people in this neighborhood,” she said. “I do not look down on anyone.”