Sunday, March 17, 2024, was an historic day in the life of our congregation! If you happened to miss it, check out the YouTube video from our livestream: Click here for video. This amazing day included the inaugural performance of our “CAST” Children’s Community Chorus. Plus, our Children and Youth led us in worship with Becca Sasser delivering the sermon from Luke 15:17-24. Read on for some of the back story . . . 

“CAST” stands for Children Acting Singing Together. It is a ministry of Huguenot Road Baptist Church that emerged through a vision that God gave to Rev. Phillip Brown to reach the children and families in our church and surrounding community. What began as a simple vision grew into a chorus 40 children strong. I am told that we had well over 500 people attend Sunday’s worship and musical. To God be the glory!

In this inaugural CAST performance, our CAST children presented the musical “Not Your Average Joe” created by Deborah Craig-Claar, Rob Howard, and David Guthrie. This fun musical depicts the story of Joseph from the Old Testament. Joseph, as you may know, experienced unexpected twists and turns in his life including being sold into slavery by his own brothers and being falsely imprisoned by the Egyptian Pharoah. Joseph’s story of forgiveness and of God’s grace and redemption is chronicled in the Book of Genesis, chapters 37-50:21. The twist? It’s got a 50s beach theme, complete with poodle skirts, surfboards, and lots of fun!  

We give thanks to God for every child in CAST and for their families who made the commitment these past three months. We give thanks to Phillip, the CAST team, the HRBC media/tech team, many volunteers and church staff who helped make this possible. We are thankful for our children and youth who led the elements of our worship on such an important day with many people in the congregation. They led with poise and excellence! Thanks to Kyara-Kelley Jones and Kate Wakeland for their planning and leadership. 

While CAST stands for Children Acting and Singing Together, there’s another use of CAST found in the Bible that speaks to the theme from Sunday: “Cast your anxieties (cares, fears, worries) on the Lord and he shall sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22) We also find this passage in 1 Peter 5:7. Our children reminded us of this promise in the song I Know My God Is Near (words and music by Rob Howard): 

I know my God is near, he won’t forget me when the storm is raging, 

I know my God is near, he won’t leave me when the earth is shaking, 

rain or shine he’ll follow through, ‘cause all his promises are true, 

oh, there’s nothing to fear. I know my God is near. 

I pray that this message will give you hope as we face whatever twists and turns that life throws our way. Just “cast” your cares on the Lord, because he will uphold you and will always be near. 

In Christ’s care,