Benefit concert to take place Dec. 30
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A collaborative effort of area churches has a two-fold message - one to help someone in need, and two, to bring a great music concert to the area.

According to organizers of the event, the benefit concert will take place December 30, at 7:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center at the Versailles Baptist Church. It will be performed by Xtremity, a Christian alternative rock band.

While there will be no charge for the concert, a free will offering will be accepted and then passed on to the family of Daniel Jachimiak, 17, of Versailles. Daniel has been battling a rare form of Leukemia for two years and the expenses are mounting.

Recently, local churches, businesses and individuals helped the family to get the money to install city water at their home because doctors said he could not survive on well water, which was what the family had. His parents, Pete and Angie, have quietly gone about their daily lives, trying to make ends meet, but the struggle is great. Daniel still has to go to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis two days a week.

The benefit will prove to be an exciting evening with Xtremity bringing a concert that presents rock music as well as praise hymns. The fairly new band, comprised of seven members, brings a high-energy concert highlighting lead singer, 24-year-old Chris Payne. They will be performing on drums, keyboard, electric guitars, and will bring their own sound system and lighting. They will intertwine their personal testimonies into the concert, along with great music.

Churches who have come together to make this presentation possible include the Holton Christian Church, Versailles Baptist Church, and Daniel's home church, Cavehill Church of God.

There will be raffle drawings going on throughout the concert with donations of prizes given from local businesses. If your group or organization would like to be involved in the giving process, simply call one of the organizers: Bob McCreary at 689-3341, minister at Holton Christian Church; Marian Edwards at 689-4057, member of the Cavehill Church of God; or Crystal Welch at 689-0739, member of the Versailles Baptist Church.

Donated items can be dropped off at Welch Cabinets located on US 421 next to Ernie's Pizza in Versailles.

The evening will be complete with the youth group from the Cavehill Church of God presenting a drama during a band break. There will be concessions and the band will have T-shirts and CD's to offer. The profits from the evening will be given to the Jachimiak family.

At this time of remembering the greatest gift to mankind, these churches invite the community to reach out to this family in need.