1ST THURSDAYS
Sioux City parishioners to start Christian rock concert ministry

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
December 8, 2005

From the time that Les and Angie Lutter attended their first Christian rock concert, they were hooked. Now the parishioners at Immaculate Conception in Sioux City have started their own music ministry of sorts.

No, they haven't formed their own Christian rock band but have decided to follow a call to promote Christian rock concerts for youth of the Siouxland area. In the last nine months the Lutters have hosted two such concerts at Nativity Parish in Sioux City. Remedy Drive of Lincoln headlined the April '05 concert that was held in the Nativity Center Mater Dei School gym and just a few months ago, in September, they brought Tenth Hour Calling of Kearney and Remedy Drive to town.

This January, the Lutters will introduce a monthly Christian music concert series they have dubbed 1st Thursdays. Christian rock concerts will be held every month at the American Legion Hall in South Sioux City, Neb.

"My husband was the creator of that name - 1st Thursdays - because we were trying to think of a way that people could remember when it was. We decided to hold it the same day of each month, so we thought that with 1st Thursdays, once kids get used to that's the same day of the month, it would be easier for them to remember rather than a certain date," noted Angie.

The Lutters have committed to this project for four months, but hope that it continues indefinitely.

"We are going to bring in regional bands for headliners and then we will have some local Christian bands that will be the opening acts," she explained.

A group from Starbuck, Minn., called Children 18:3 will be the headliner for 1st Thursday's debut event. This Christian band, which has more of a punk rock flavor, will showcase their talents on Jan. 5. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the opening act will start at 7 p.m. with a 20- to 30-minute set followed by Children 18:3.

First Thursdays will feature an Omaha band called The Perfect Paradox on Feb. 2. Another band out of Omaha, Names Without Numbers, will take the stage on March 2. The local band for the March show will be For Today of Sioux City. For the April show, the Lutters hope to bring back Remedy Drive.

Other local bands that will be featured as opening acts are Surrendered and Forty.

Angie pointed out that their love of Christian rock music was born in the fall of 2004 when they attended the big Christian music festival - Life Light - in Sioux Falls with their children. She mentioned that they witnessed how the teenagers not only were listening to the music, but they were spiritually moved by it.

"The lyrics in Christian music speak very strongly especially to young people," she said. "The music is very powerful."

Aside from the annual Freedom Fest held every summer in Sioux City and music in local churches, the Lutters couldn't find many options for live music with a Christian message at the local level.

"We wanted to give them something on a more regular basis," she explained. "We decided to hold 1st Thursdays outside of a church venue - not that we are opposed to that setting - but we discovered that some kids think of Christian music stereotypically as church hymns or they think its boring. They won't even give it a chance if they hear it is at a church."

The Lutters approached the American Legion Hall in South Sioux City to see if they would partner with them. The American Legion agreed to provide the host site as they viewed it as a good project.

While the Lutters are Catholic, this is an interdenominational ministry.

"We are trying to bring a lot of Siouxland youth together - to realize that we are all Christians regardless of where you go to church or what your rituals are for your faith," said Angie. "We want to bring them together in fellowship with music that is inspiring to them also."

Cost will be $5 at the door. With the cover charge, the Lutters hope to pay expenses and put the money back in to continue this ministry.