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BIO:

The Heritage of Praise Youth Fellowship Choir is a community-based group made up of participants from various churches in Durham, NC and surrounding areas. In addition to singing, high focus is placed on educational and personal development, delivered via informational sessions, tutoring/mentoring programs, and fun events. With so many negative influences impacting our youth today, it is up to the community, and especially our churches, to provide positive outlets for them. We truly believe that investment in our youth today will produce a return TODAY that is beyond measure!


CHOIR BACKGROUND

The Heritage Of Praise Youth Fellowship began with a simple vision. Emmanuel A.M.E. Church and Henderson Grove M.B. Church had sung together on several occasions. We thought it would be awesome to have a musical concert featuring youth from two to three churches. However, God being who He is, took this effort to totally higher proportions. The Pastors gave it their full support and they had a further vision of this becoming an ongoing effort to provide a positive outlet for our youth. Then the participating churches' list expanded to a total of eight churches, with more wanting to participate in future efforts! Among the original participating churches are Emmanuel A.M.E. Church, Henderson Grove M.B. Church, First Calvary Baptist Church, St. Joseph's A.M.E. Church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, The Great Commission Full Gospel Church, Community Baptist Church, and West Durham Baptist Church.

When God is in control, everything just falls into place. After the choir expanded beyond our boundaries, the West Durham Baptist Church family offered to host the concert. Musicians and directors were excited and willing to work with the youth and spend time outside of rehearsals to make this concert a success. Parents formed special committees and began donating food, money, and their time without complaint. The Pastors, despite busy schedules, made themselves available when needed. Businesses donated food/desserts and offered great discounts on t-shirts. And even when the devil started messing, God just kept right on blessing.

The Heritage of Praise Youth Fellowship Choir (HOP) made its debut on April 8, 2006, featuring 103 voices from several churches of various denominations. Since it's inception, HOP has shared God's message through song all across Durham and surrounding areas, including benefit concerts, community awareness events, special programs, and most notably, they were invited to sing for a Durham City Council Meeting at City Hall. The goal was to show that our youth are doing positive things and should be recognized by the leaders, community, and media as such. We have also had the opportunity to open for Luther Barnes in concert. In December 2009, HOP was recognized as "Choir of the Year" at the 6th Annual Christmas and Awards Gala hosted by the Raleigh-Durham Triangle Chapter of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc. The group was founded by Dr. Thomas Andrew Dorsey, author of "Precious Lord" and their mission is to better the Christian singer, instrumentalist, educator or leader; to enable the prepared gospel ambassador; and to spiritually motivate everyone to live the message of the gospel song. Their goal is to foster an appreciation of gospel music and to develop the spiritual growth of their membership. To be chosen for this presigious award was a great honor and showed that HOP is making a notable presence within our community.

In addition to singing, HOP has participated in youth lock-in sessions focused on abstinence, self-esteem, hygiene, and gang violence. Volunteerism and community service is heavily promoted. Some of the events/projects we've participated in includes: the Durham Coalition on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention PIE Event for Let's Talk Month, World's AIDS Day, Habitat for Humanity, Junior League of the Negro Council for Women, Tots for Toy Annual Drive and Angel Tree. Other endeavors include career fairs, college prep seminars, musical instruction workshops, and tutoring sessions. Choir member ages range from 4 - 24 years old, with the young adults serving as junior advisors/section leaders.

The "Heritage of Praise Youth Fellowship Choir" name was not chosen light-heartedly or without purpose. After much prayer and consideration, our name was christened. It is based on Psalm 127:3 which reads, 'Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward.' Our children are indeed gifts from God and it is our responsibility to undergird our children with prayer, enveloping them with love and overshadowing them with consistent spiritual nurturing. It requires training through lifestyle and faithful instruction. As we've all heard the saying , 'It takes a village to raise a child.'
















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