Lesa Scholl
15 March 2025
From ukeleles to jazz funk, Caroline Springs parish’s Testify program wants to build opportunities and wellbeing for young performers in their local community.
The Red Door Church hopes to create a platform for supporting young artists and a space for real conversations.
Associate Pastor Joshua Hennessy was inspired to start the program from his own experiences as a young musician in Melbourne trying to find performance opportunities.
Mr Hennessy said he wanted young artists to have a platform where they could showcase their skill and get paid appropriately so they understood they were valuable.
“We’re showing people that they’re worth something,” he said.
He said when he got opportunities he was expected to be grateful for the experience and exposure.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of incentive to continue on with your craft…if there was no way to support yourself in doing it,” he said.
Testify has entered a unique partnership with youth mental health organisation Headspace.
At the event the musical performances will be intermingled with people sharing their stories of mental health.
Read more: The rock musician who never wanted to live in Russia
Saxophonist and vocalist Leon Varela-Mauna said he found out about Testify on Facebook when he was looking for playing opportunities for his band Quincoction.
He said he got involved because of how important mental health is right now.
“Words cannot describe the importance of having something like Testify to say ‘It’s ok to speak’,” he said.
Mr Varela-Mauna said he appreciated the program’s focus on supporting artists from his local multicultural community.
“We all come together, we share stories, we share traditions,” he said. “The community has what they [young people] need.”
Mr Hennessy said it would not have been possible to run Testify without the support of Melbourne Anglican Foundation’s inaugural Youth Grants.
The Youth Grants were awarded to parishes launching innovative youth programs.
Read more: Sixteen parishes awarded youth grants
Development Manager Nathan Oliver said they wanted to get behind Testify because of the positive difference a church could make by giving a platform for young people to discuss mental health issues in their local area.
He said it was also an opportunity for Red Door to show young people the welcoming nature of the gospel.
The first Testify event will be held on 11 April.
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