reminiscing on 2024

As 2024 is coming to a close, I thought to ask every member of the group their favorite memory. It has been an amazing year with so much to be grateful for. Here are some of the highlights!

Ethan

“One of my favorite moments of the past year was singing "Come As You Are" at the Harmony Sweepstakes in Washington. In the midst of an exciting and high energy show, there was a point in the song where we all lowered our microphones and the sound grew quiet. We sang softly and intimately the last verse of the song and the audience leaned in to hear and feel the message we had to share. The spirit filled the room as it usually does whenever we sing that song. We went on to win the competition, but I will never forget that simple, quiet, and powerful moment.”

Jimmy

“My favorite moment from this year was the feeling of love and purpose and joy after the first big April 13th concert. It was such a miracle that the show actually came together and went well because We had only 3 months to put the entire show together. I remember finishing and feeling like the Lord was so happy with what I was doing, and that I was in the right place.”

Kim

“I'd say one of my favs is probably when Neal and I planned a J209 Album Release Awards ceremony! We had been told to celebrate EVERY accomplishment/success to keep motivation up. Neal and I laughed a BUNCH as we discussed fun awards we could give everyone- there were a PLETHORA of inside jokes to work off of. When the day arrived, I whipped out the prizes and welcomed everyone to the official "J209 Album Release Awards"!!!! The shocked and delighted faces were worth the painstaking secret; I loved having the opportunity to express how proud we were of each other and how much I love everyone in the group. I can't believe how amazing this year has been- it's been SO TOUGH, but honestly, I wouldn't have changed any of it. We've all grown so much, and I couldn't be more proud of how far we've come.”

Jarom

“I loved performing in the Harmony Sweepstakes in Washington! Meeting so many people and being able to really get to know everyone in J209 was so good! The surprise of winning really staggered me and created some magical moments with the group. I loved the sense of community and excitement that we all had. Also Jimmy looking haggard was hilarious!”

Hailey

My favorite memory from this year was filming the music video for Fire! We did some crazy muddy off-roading in the band van to Skull Valley while listening to Ethan’s tea about his love story. For fun we quickly scaled Lone Rock and then returned a few days later, waking up at 4 a.m. to attempt building a bonfire as the sun rose. It was freezing cold, and a little hectic, but we pulled it off and Josh got awesome drone shots! We did a music video watch party a few weeks later and knew it was completely worth it!!

Neal

My favorite memory was a performance for the Ogden service missionaries. One of Abi’s friends is deaf and uses sign language, so when she was choreographing our song “Stars”, she had the idea to have us perform the first verse in sign language as we sang. Little did we know there would be a deaf missionary sitting on the front row of that performance in Ogden. A translator signed our song lyrics to him, but as the first verse of “Stars” began, they both stopped and watched us sign. We felt God’s presence so strongly in the room and it was a reminder to me of how He plans and orchestrates miracles in our lives. When it comes to loving and serving others, it is about the individual and that’s what makes God’s ability to love and heal so powerful. 

It has been such a great year of growth, love, laughs, and miracles. Thank you for your support and believing in our mission to ignite the fire of faith in Christ in the rising generation. God is so good!