Several years ago, Steve Sheppard, a minister of music director for the Grayson United Methodist Church in Grayson, Georgia, took a group of teenagers from his church to another church to see a choir group of teenagers who were on tour.

After they heard the group, one of his teenagers said, “We ought to do this.”

Steve evidently had entertained the same idea, and thus began his own music ministry group. This group did not happen overnight without lots of work and patience. However, I have to tell you, the end result is wonderful!

Steve read the Bible to come up with the name he wanted to represent his group. He found it in Ephesians 4:23.

He wanted his kids to take on an entirely new way of life, a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and work itself into their conduct as God accurately reproduced His character in them. Thus Attitude 423 began.

Their first tour began with 12 members. This past week, Winchester First United Methodist Church and the First Fire campus were blessed to hear Attitude 423. This group has now grown to 49 members.

They seemed to posses every word of the character Steve wanted them to take on. I have never seen a better behaved group of teenagers in my life. Six chaperones accompanied the group along with Steve.

Actually, I was amazed at how this one man could lead a group of teenagers this large and have them be so mature and happy with the manners they possessed. I know their parents and church played a part also.

Our church was nearing the end of the tour and I am sure they were tired, since they had already traveled from Alabama to Kentucky singing at four other churches. Their enthusiasm with the songs ever belied any tiredness.

They would end their tour at their own church in Grayson, Ga. Monday evening after traveling all day from Winchester.

I hope their own church realizes how special they truly are, and I think they must.

I can not finish this article without giving kudos to First United in Winchester also for hosting this group. It also took work from its members to provide food and lodging for the teens.

My husband, Eric and I, were blessed to have two of the girls spend the evening in our home: Rebecca Scoggins and Janneke Van Beurden.

They told me the thing they enjoyed the most on the tour was meeting really good people and the public. They enjoyed seeing new states and places and hanging out for a week with their friends. They told me they considered their whole group as one big family.

They said besides that, Steve makes everything enjoyable!

I have to end with this word to Winchester First United Methodist Church. When Eric took the girls to leave on the bus, he was told our church was the best hosts they had. Winchester once more stepped up to the plate.

I just pray the teens who visited our church keep singing praises to the Lord all their lives and our young people at our church took notice!

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.