Grounded in faith
Jessie Daniels and Brittany Hargest embraced their recording
careers at early ages. Thanks to their hard work, sacrifice and dependence on
God and their families, each of them has made a name in the Christian music
world. Kianna and Kirk Noonan met up with the two singers — who are
frequently played on Radio Disney — backstage at a concert a month before
Hargest’s band, Jump5, disbanded.
tpe: With the trappings of success your career can bring,
how do you stay grounded in your faith?
Brittany: It has to do a lot with the way I was raised in a
strong Christian household. Our family went to church on Sundays and
Wednesdays. I was really involved in my church’s youth group and I was taught
that fame isn’t important; putting God first is.
tpe: How do you share your faith with others?
Jessie: I hope my smile and life reflect my faith and love
for Christ and other people. As Christians we need to show people love, and I
hope I do that every day.
tpe: Name some of your musical influences.
Brittany: Mute Math and Steven Curtis Chapman.
Jessie: Rachael Lampa.
tpe: What’s one thing you wished you had done but didn’t
growing up?
Jessie: I am a no-regrets type of person. Life happens, and
you learn from experiences. But I still sometimes wish I went to high school.
Brittany: I have no regrets. This career has granted me
everything I’ve wanted to do: travel, sing and meet new people.
tpe: What’s your favorite Bible verse?
Brittany: That’d be 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look
down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (NIV).
Jump5 is a testament to that. When we first started touring,
adults didn’t take us seriously because they didn’t think we knew what we were singing
about. But we always tried to be role models and wanted people to know that we
are strong Christians.
Jessie: Psalm 19:14 is mine. It says, “Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight” (NKJV).
tpe: What’s one of the coolest things you’ve learned about
yourself since becoming a recording artist?
Jessie: I need and want to be where God wants me. Even when
I don’t know where my life is headed I still need to trust and seek Him.
tpe: How did being involved in a youth group shape your
life?
Brittany: It gave me a sense of reality. When I’m on the
road I’m pulled in so many directions. But when I was home I went to my youth
group. It was a great time to get together with other kids and focus on God.
tpe: Where do you think your career will take you in the
future?
Jessie: I haven’t reached all my dreams. I’ve always wanted
to do music, and I feel blessed I have been able to do it.
The future? Who knows? All I know is that God knows what He
has in store for me. His strength is sufficient for me.
tpe: What encouragement would you give teens about reading
the Bible and praying?
Brittany: Do it.
tpe: How important is it to adapt to one’s circumstances?
Jessie: Regardless of the situation we’re in, God is going
to teach us something from it. So we need to be selfless and dig into other
people’s lives and find out what makes them happy and sad. We need to seek God
and take advantage of our situations so we can grab hold of people’s hearts for
Him.
KIANNA NOONAN is the daughter of Managing Editor Kirk
Noonan. Her dream is to become a journalist.
TPExtra: Download the MP3 "Human Being" by Jessie Daniels.
E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.
