New Generation Singers prepare for 55th tour with trip to Canadian Rockies

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A local Christian youth organization will embark on its 55th singing tour this weekend.

St. Joseph based The New Generation Singers or New G features more than 60 high school and college-age students from northwest Missouri, and will tour through the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.

The New Generation Singers prepare all year with performances at churches around St. Joseph, and take a two-week mission trip to share their Sermon in Song.

The mission of New G is to share God's love through music while helping students grow in their faith and as individuals.

"We do that mostly through performing, singing and speaking, Director of New G Byron Myers said. "When kids are in the group, especially if they’re in the group for a handful of years, they’ll have the opportunity to grow not only in their faith but also in other skills like being a better musician, a public speaker or learning to using equipment."

This year's theme, "Lift Your Eyes," encourages participants to reflect on where they are in life and in their faith journey, and to consider whether they want to change their perspective.

"That’s kinda what the message is about. It’s kinda an assessment of your own life and your own journey. Where are you and where you wanna be or is there some place else you want to look ahead toward or maybe set new goals for yourself," Myers said.

The New G president Ethan High and vice president Sophia Mendenhall are carrying on a family legacy, with relatives who were also members of the organization.

High references Psalm 121 as he explains the meaning behind this year’s theme, "Lift Your Eyes".

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? When we change our perspective, we think about the question again, but who created the mountains," he said. "It must have been God. Lifting your eyes is all about changing your perspective. Where are you at in your faith right now where could you be."

Mendenhall said the theme has served as a personal reminder to slow down, explaining that when life gets busy, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and lose focus.

"The phrase "Lift your Eyes" reminds me to lift my eyes to God because he is really in control and I can trust him," she said.

Myers emphasized the dedication students show throughout the year as they prepare for the two-week tour.

"They memorize all the music; they come up with the ideas with theme for the Sermon and they write the dialogue in between for the songs to make it work," he said. "They put in a ton of effort to pull this off in addition to raisuing money and committing the time top be gone for two weeks."

Myers said churches where the group performs often tell them that seeing the students on stage gives a sense of hope.

"I kinda take pride not in what the adults do per se but what these kids are really willing to do. I think that after you watch our performance, you’ll be uplifted," he said. "I think you’ll be provoked to think where you're really at and make some changes in your life too. Nothing else, I think you’ll be inspired by the youth."

Mendenhall hopes the audience embraces this year’s theme, "Lift Your Eyes,"

I really hope they take a second to pause and to take a break from the busy, and refocus on God again.

High said he believes everyone who attends a New G performance can take something meaningful away from the experience.

"I don’t know what the message may be. Maybe there’s something they need to change in their life, maybe they found something they need in their life," he said.

Mendenhall thinks it’s so special that New G is able to deliver God’s love through song.

"If anybody out there has that opportunity or feels a calling to do that, I highly encourage that you  do because it’s just so powerful," she said.

The New G will return to St. Joseph on Aug. 1 to perform at their Homecoming concert at the Missouri Theater at 7 p.m.