Going Out for Finding a Cure
Rockers and skaters have the Nerve to stop AIDS


GUILDERLAND — What does fighting AIDS in Africa have to do with teen rock bands like Moonshine, Assorted Garbage, and Hollywood Funeral"

The link is Christianity as conveyed by Nerve Ministries.
"We’re going to encourage teens to participate in their community," said Nerve Ministry Director Jonathan Hentrich.
According to their mission statement, "The definition of nerve is: a fortitude or strength, or an audacious gall. Our mission is to be a contagious, epidemic network of students, rooted in Christ and committed to serving like Him."

The ministry, for the fourth year in a row, is putting on an event called Nervosity at Guilderland’s Tawasentha Park.
The June 20 event is free, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to World Visions, a charity with an ambitious program called "One Life Revolution," to stop the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Besides Nerve Ministries, the Community Caregivers, The Shelter Skate Park, the Guilderland YMCA, and other community organizations are backing the event.
Last year, over 300 kids and 16 different organizations came together at Nervosity for a battle of the bands, a skateboarding skate-off, and "best of" competitions with categories like skateboarding, dancing, eating, feats of strength, and a drum roll-off.
"There will also be a whole ton of food," promises Hentrich.
"Last year, we had between 250 and 300 kids at Nervosity. Each year, it’s gotten a little bit bigger," he said. "This year will be our biggest and best festival."

Nerve Ministries is a part of Christ’s Church of the Capital District.
"We want to raise a bunch of money to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa," said Hentrich. "We want to see as many teens as possible get involved."

The event will serve a dual purpose, he said, to provide a creative outlet with a festival catered to teenagers and to teach community involvement with a world view. Simply put, he said, young people will be able to contribute to a solution of a serious issue while having a good time.

Middle-school and high-school students will learn they can have a global impact. They can do this while displaying their talents at skateboarding competitions, playing in a band, showing off their dance moves, or, if they choose, simply enjoying themselves, concluded Hentrich.

What’s happenin’

There will be a drawing, for a dollar a ticket, with prizes such as iPods and a home entertainment center. This money will also go to One World’s AIDS eradication fund.

Nervosity is meant for students between seventh and 12th grade, said Hentrich, but is open to everybody.
"There’s going to be a battle of the bands," Hentrich told The Enterprise with noticeable enthusiasm.

The battle of the bands will have music from all genres, including rock, punk, acoustic, alternative, heavy metal, and even polka. Fourteen bands will take the stage and the crowd will vote for the winners. The first-place winner will be awarded a trophy, a two-song demo recording package, and a chance to play at the Altamont Fair, as well as other prizes from area sponsors.

The second- and third-place winners will also receive prizes provided by Nervosity sponsors like The Shelter Skate Park Skate Shop in Albany. The bands will perform on the Tawasentha Park amphitheater.

Nerve Ministries has already been tallying votes for people’s favorite bands, and the peoples’ choices will determine the lineup, with the band receiving the most votes playing last. The bands will be judged on the criteria of musicianship, stage presence, interaction with the crowd, originality, and overall performance.

The bands include: A bitter ending; Vs.; Moving to Orange; Moonshine; Through the Ashes; Assorted Garbage; and Anything But Ivory.

Also: Wait Till This Hits Home; Gray Star; Leaving the Will; Swanson and Winston; The Novel Tree; Man Over Board; and Hollywood Funeral.
A large skateboarding exposition is also a part of the festival, as well as a "skate-off."

This is the first year that Nervosity is raising money for one particular cause such as AIDS prevention.
"In our ministry, it’s a pretty big issue. It seems super important," said Hentrich. "We’ve always tried to link people with the community, but this gives it a world view instead of just the local communities."

Nerve Ministry is a student-run ministry that is part of Christ’s Church located at 4 Charles Blvd. in Guilderland. It has programs for teens called Impulse and Synapse, held every Sunday at 11 a.m. at the church.
"This service is called Impulse. An impulse in the brain is when a signal starts. For any communication to be sent in the brain, it starts first by the nerve impulse. We believe worship should be the start of all that we do," the ministry’s website explains. "Before we can go out and serve, work, or be with our friends, we need to worship God."
The website also explains Synapse, saying, "We meet weekly to ask questions about what we are learning. These groups are called Synapse groups."

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Nervosity comes to Tawasentha Park on Route 146 in Guilderland on Friday, June 20, from 6 to 10 p.m. The festival is free, but donations are accepted.