Make a joyful noise

A Christian music festival in Crimora will provide people an opportunity to love their neighbors. The Just Because We Care Outreach free outdoor concert takes place Sept. 12 at Crimora’s Community Center on Crimora Road, with refreshments, facepainting and music from noon until dusk.

“It’s designed to pull people out of their homes and let them know there are people that care in the community,” said Tom Osinkosky, who helped organize the event.

When Osinkosky first moved to the area, he hated the feeling nobody really knew anyone else. Last November Osinkosky met with Jeffery and Tanya Rexrode, who own TNT Café Cups in Crimora, and they began opening the restaurant on Sunday mornings. There was no church service, just a chance to develop relationships locally — the type they felt Jesus would have encouraged.

Then Osinkosky’s son, a musician, suggested hosting concerts at TNT. Monthly concerts began in March, and later plans for an outdoor concert began.
Six bands will perform at the concert.

The first to volunteer was Scott Rudin and If Anyone Has Ears, a Crimora group that has played at TNT before. Rudin describes their music as Christian Rock ... with a blues twist.

“We’re just a couple of old bikers that found the Lord,” said Rudin of fellow band members Woody Baldwin and songwriter Todd Ditton.

“Gospel Sounds,” is a Southern Gospel group started by Richard Peters, pastor at Mountain Top Church in Love, and his wife, Becky, 13 years ago. Most of the current members are retired and from the Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft area.

“We just have a good ol’ time,” said member Betty Haines.

The traditional Southern Gospel group In His Image, is made up entirely of family members. Donald Morris plays the drums; his wife, Kathy, the keyboard; their daughters, Teri Fulwider and LeTrecia Gordon, sing; and son-in-law, Brandon Fulwider, plays bass. The Waynesboro band has played all over Virginia.
Seeds in Good Soil, is the youngest group to perform. The two adult leaders and eight high school students from the North Roanoke Baptist Church usually play as a worship band for their youth group on Sunday nights. The kids chose the name from “The Parable of the Sower” in the Gospel of Mark, hoping the band will grow in God.

Element Uplift from Charlottesville found Osinkosky’s posting “Christian Rock group needed” on Craigslist. Anthony Johnson doesn’t consider the Christian music band “rock,” but responded because he believes in music ministry outside the walls of the church. “Jesus was a people person,” said Johnson.

John Graybeal also found Osinkosky’s ad on Craigslist. His band Adonia is a blend of hard and soft Christian rock. Adonia is from Warrenton, but during the school year are more local: three of the boys go to Bridgewater College and one attends James Madison University.

“As musicians it’s our job to entertain, as Christian musicians it’s our job to uplift,” said Graybeal.

Uplifting the community is the chief idea behind the concert.

“It’s not intended to jam God down people’s throats,” said Osinkosky. “Just to pull people out and have a good wholesome time.”