Christian rocker follows sign, connects with local church

By Cindy Butler Focke
Correspondent

VIRGINIA BEACH

Some things are meant to be.

When John James, co-founder and former lead singer for the popular Christian rock band, Newsboys, was in town earlier this year, he stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Town Center. While glancing out the window, a sign caught his eye. It read Vineyard Community Church.

John Chappell, the contemporary church's youth pastor, said they were surprised when James, who lives in Australia, knocked on their door.

"He wanted to find out what we were all about," said the 27-year-old Kempsville Lakes resident who grew up in Pungo. The church, formerly a racquetball facility, is located near Mount Trashmore.

Chappell said James, who owns a company called Cre8ive Reach, felt an instant connection with the church. James agreed to return to participate in Vineyard's Invite Nights, a four-year tradition geared to teens that will be held at the church this Thursday and Friday. James will talk to the kids about life lessons he's learned along the way.

In 1997, James left the Newsboys. His business partner, Andrew Schaper, said James' life was a mess.

"Somewhere in all that fame and success, he lost himself," Schaper said. James' marriage dissolved and eventually he turned to drugs and alcohol.

James' and Schaper's "roadshow," which is described on their company's Web site, www.cre8ivereach.com as an experience with a "powerful and effective presentation," will shed some light on how James' faith helped him get back on track. The pair travels around the world to speak at churches, conferences, youth rallies and schools.

Chappell said the focus of the annual event is to reach out and build relationships with youth. "The idea is to create an opportunity for kids to feel comfortable to invite their friends to church," he said.

As part of the event, two bands, described by Chappell as "rock-pop," will perform in the church's 450-seat auditorium. Thursday night, local group Days Difference, who had a guest spot in a recent Hannah Montana movie, will play for the high school crowd, middle school students will be entertained by Maryland-based Victory by Revenge on Friday night.

There will be free food and drinks, plus prizes - an Xbox 360, a Wii, a bike, iPods, and gift cards will be given away. Chappell expects attendance to surpass last year's of about 750 over the two-day period.

This week, James will also take his motivational message to several Beach schools, including Brandon Middle's eighth-graders on Tuesday. Student activities coordinator Patrick Mackey said the school felt it would be inspirational for their approximately 500 eighth-graders to hear how James worked to turn his life around.

Cindy Butler Focke, butler496@aol.com