Melissa, Neely, Cammie and Ashleigh spread the word of God in an accessible way, with nary a diva in sight.
By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published August 30, 2003
CLEARWATER - Sitting near the stage in the music room at Palm Harbor United Methodist Church, a boom box at their feet, the girls and their parents lounged on chairs and remembered how the quartet came to be.
It was so easy, the way they came together. The girls call it God's work in action, part of his perfect plan to spread his word through song.
Two years ago, a woman at their church needed a girls group to round out a concert at a Youth Sunday event, which celebrates the children's return to school every fall.
She and almost everyone at the church knew that Melissa Mage, Neely Burton, Cammie Linder and Ashleigh Pike all sang in the Rainbow Choir from the age of 6 and loved to harmonize together.
They agreed to perform, and had time for just a single practice session before the service.
"It was . . . wow," said Mage, 15, an East Lake High School student.
"Within the first five minutes, I knew this could go somewhere," added Pike, 16, who attends Palm Harbor University High.
Indeed it did.
After the performance, the girls, just 13 at the time, formed a Christian quartet called Heaven's Harmony. The group sings at local churches and coffeehouses, and is already booked for New Year's Eve.
"They have beautiful harmonies," said the Rev. Lisa Degrenia, senior pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where the girls performed last week to a crowd of nearly 100.
"They sound a bit like Point of Grace (a popular Christian group that has won several Dove Awards). They have an authentic call to the music ministry of God's church even at this young age."
All four girls are good friends and live within a few miles of each other. Burton and Linder, both 15, are members of the Syndicated Sound singing group at Tarpon Springs High School. Mage and Pike are also involved in music programs at their schools.
"They never fight," said Jackie Linder, Cammie's mother. "There are no divas in the group."
All four girls agree that singing in the group has strengthened their commitment to Jesus Christ.
"My faith has grown a lot," said Mage, swinging her tanned foot, her toenails painted light blue. "I became a Christian in the sixth grade, but it never clicked or was on an upward slant until now."
Burton said, "It's awesome to sing with three friends, praise God and look out in the audience and see people praise God with you."
Although they hope to write and perform their own songs someday, the group's repertoire includes mostly covers right now. Their favorite songs are Jesus Is Just Alright by the Doobie Brothers and Day by Day by Point of Grace.
Backing them up are Marian Mage, Melissa's mother, on keyboards; her husband, Steve Mage, on bass; and Chuck Page, a church member, on drums.
"The group is unique in that all the parents are involved," said Mrs. Mage, who has played keyboards with different groups for 30 years. "They come to all the jobs and help out in any way they can."
Their church is also supportive. Members of The Rock and the Rabbi musical, which originated at Palm Harbor Methodist, recently gave the girls $2,400, part of the proceeds from a show at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The girls plan to buy wireless microphones with the money.
Their pastor, the Rev. Steve King, who has watched the foursome grow up, said it amazes him that "four young high school girls have such a wonderful sound and a wonderful spirit about them."
"They are committed to Christ," he said. "This group has taken a step beyond youth ministry. They are involved in reaching (a wide range of people). They're getting out and singing around."
Mrs. Linder said they even have imitators.
"Eight-year-olds all want their autographs," she said. "These are girls they can look up to in a good way."
