The Very Merry Christmas Tour Concert on Dec. 10, which featured Holly Hallowell, Big Daddy Weave and Newsong, produced a night of great music and worship for those in attendance and also for one elementary student and several local drummers.
Columbia Elementary student Harper Whittington was selected to sing with Newsong for the beautiful, bittersweet song, "Christmas Shoes."
Harper's mother, Danielle Whittington, said she was surprised that he agreed because he isn't comfortable performing. However, Danielle said Harper always stands up when it comes to talking about Jesus. Harper was calm and excited when it came time to perform, Danielle said.
While Harper sang, Danielle sat in the second row with tears rolling down her face. Jordan, her husband and Harper's father, could not stop smiling.
Newsong band member Russ Lee said when the band originally recorded “Christmas Shoes,” there were children in the studio with them, and the band thought it would be great to get one of them to sing with them.
Lee spoke of how that song came to be. They were in St. Louis doing a radio interview and the DJ handed the group something he received. It was an anonymous story similar to "Christmas Shoes." The DJ told the group they would be the perfect ones to write a song for that.
Fellow band member Eddie Carswell stuck the note in his Bible at the time. A couple of years later, when the band was working on a Christmas album, he pulled that note out and the song came to be.
Lee said eventually they learned who the author of the note was. She wanted to remain anonymous but gave them her blessing for turning it into a song.
Harper wasn't the only local star of the night. During the song, "Little Drummer Boy,” local drummers from the area schools participated in a spectacular performance. The drummers lined up in front of the stage and kept the beat going.
Justin McKenzie with SHO Events said while ticket sales were low, it was worth it.
“We’ve had some great feedback from youth groups who had teens make the decision to accept Christ as their savior and about 15-20 hands were raised during the altar call. That makes it worth all the effort,” McKenzie said.
He added that he, along with fellow organizers Robert Zehentner, Leah Zehentner and Amy McKenzie, always look forward to events such as this.
During his opening remarks, Lee complimented Columbia and how the city goes out for Christmas after going through town earlier in the day and seeing how downtown was decorated and set up for Christmas. He also said he loved that there was a live nativity production that is presented.
While Christmas music is seasonal, Lee said they love to sing and perform the holiday tunes.
"It gives us the opportunity to tour and focus on the birth of Christ, the real meaning of the season," he said.
Even after the years of touring and making music, he said their individual faith each remains important. No one in the band has gotten over what Christ has done in their lives.
"The message of the Gospel and the hope that it holds has always been our central focus," Lee said.
