Pilgrim Bound Baptist Church will host their ninth annual junior choir gospel music community concert on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. in the church sanctuary, located at 921 Baylous St. in Picayune.

Minister LaShunda Hopkins serves as director for the event, which will feature a variety of music that has been taught to the choir by local musicians.

There will be five musicians from various area churches instructing the junior choir. Hopkins stressed that the event is not a competition, instead it is more about coming together for the love of God.

An interesting part of the performance is the fact that all of the songs to be performed at the musical were taught to the choir on the previous night. The group has one session to learn five separate songs for their performance, and they only get one brief opportunity on Saturday to rehearse.

When asked how the choir learns the songs so quickly, Hopkins smiled and said they just have to come in ready to get to work.

On Saturday morning, boys and girls will separate and sit in on classes where various instructors will teach godly lessons to the different age groups. After that, the church will serve lunch and host a brief sermon to tie the morning’s lessons together. The choir will have a brief rehearsal, and then the concert will begin at 6 p.m.

The event serves as a fundraiser for the junior choir, so there is a four-dollar registration fee for participants.

“The money goes back into supporting the church and the children on their trips,” said Hopkins, “It all helps to enhance the ministry of our choir.”

There will be door prizes at the event, as well as a performance by the Puppets of Praise from Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.

Hopkins said there is usually a large turnout for this event, adding that there were more than 100 choir members participating last year. It’s an occasion that Hopkins says many church members eagerly anticipate at the start of every new year.

“One of our sisters said ‘It inspires me at the first of the year, to help me grow throughout the year,’” said Hopkins, “And that’s what really motivates me to keep on keeping on.”