15th Annual Gospel Jam

Attendance at the 15th Annual Milk River Gospel Jamboree might have been a touch lower than last year, but that didn't make the Gospel being spread any less special in Malta over the three-day event.

"We are having a good time, we have a fine bunch of musicians here and an enthusiastic audience," said MRGJ President John Koss on Sunday afternoon.

Malta's Daeson Salveson, Jaydon Fercho and Nathan Salveson all helped set up microphones (and whatever else was asked of them) over the three-day event and each of the three took something different from the Jamboree.

"I've gotten to listen to some music too and I am having a good time," Daeson, 13, said. "This is the first time I have been here for all three days and it is good. It's nice to see everyone getting together and having a good time."

Daeson said his favorite group at the event was Keepers of the Faith.

"This is about the third Gospel Jamboree I have been to," said Jaydon, 10. "Dinner on Friday was good and I liked the breadsticks best."

Jaydon's favorite group was the Peterson Family.

Nathan said there wasn't one singular event he could point to as a favorite during the Jamboree, but instead said he enjoyed "everything."

"Everything was uplifting," said the 10-year-old.

The venue was once again held at the Malta High School Auditorium, a location special to the MRGJ Team.

"When the school burned down, they said that this facility would be for the use of the community and they have been true to their word," Koss said. "They have helped and done everything they can, from the janitors, to the principal and superintendent, they have just been so helpful and we are so appreciative of everyone."

Aside from the people who helped from the MHS staff, Koss said the auditorium at the school is top-notch and he always hears wonderful comments about the facility every year.

"It gets high marks from every group that sings in there," he said. "The acoustics in this place are really good, I just heard that compliment again five minutes ago. It's a real blessing."

A total of eight groups (five from Canada and three from the U.S.) performed dozens of times both at the high school as well as eight different churches in Phillips County on Sunday morning. Gospel groups: Generations, the Peterson Family, Crystal Clear, the Daae Family, Joyful Melody, the Sundrops, Keepers of the Faith and Next Journey each performed once a day at the high school auditorium as well as their performances at local churches on Sunday. Koss has been to each of the 15 Milk River Gospel Jamborees and on Sunday he was hard-pressed to pick a favorite group.

"I have things about each of the groups that I have picked out and I like," he said. "One of the other benefits is the one-on-one interaction. You meet a different person from a different area and they look at things a little bit different and the discussions you can have with the different members of the groups are really interesting."

Koss said another compliment he hears each year at the jamborees is the crowds pleasure with the variety of music at the events. From solo acts playing Country Gospel to Contemporary to large family groups playing dozens of instruments, Koss said there is always something different for each to enjoy.

"The Sundrops, outside the mom and dad who aren't in the group, are all under 13 and the talent that God gave those kids is amazing," said Koss. "But it is all built around the Gospel. It's not just about the musicians or the music, it's about the Gospel. You can come here and be blessed by the harmony, you can be blessed by the guitars players, you can be blessed by the ladies singing. But it is all about the Gospel."