I attended Worship Him in Spirit (WHISP) in 2023 and Feast of Praise in 2024, and both were already remarkable gatherings. But what unfolded at the Newcastle Civic Centre in 2025 was unprecedented, the first-ever merger of the two events from the same church, resulting in a larger, more diverse and more dynamic gathering than either before.
WHISP with Feast of Praise
WHISP with Feast of Praise is an annual youth-focused worship event hosted by RCCG Restoration Chapel, Newcastle. The church is part of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a global Pentecostal movement founded in Nigeria, with congregations across the UK and Europe. Its mission is to bring young people together from across the UK for a deep encounter with God through worship, scripture, and creative expression, while connecting them to ongoing discipleship within their local communities.
This year’s theme, “The Word,” set the tone for an event that felt both spiritually intentional and socially organised. From the outset, what struck me was not spectacle, but structure. Worship was clearly at the centre, but it was supported by careful planning, volunteer coordination, and a shared sense of purpose often missing from large-scale faith events. Much of this organisation was driven by first- and second-generation migrants, who have built strong networks while embedding themselves within the civic life of the North East.
Held at the Civic Centre on Saturday 18 October, WHISP with Feast of Praise welcomed around 1,000 in-person attendees. The scale was notable because of the merger of two choirs and their respective events. Restoration Sound Choir, the main adult church choir, had previously hosted Feast of Praise, while the youth-led WHISP Choir organised WHISP. In 2025, the two choirs came together, combining their musical strengths and audiences into one larger, more impactful event. This merger amplified the event’s reach, diversity, and energy, making it a milestone for the church and the wider community.
“Participation without pressure”
The gathering drew young people and young adults from across the North East and beyond, many attending for the first time. Over 30 individuals made first-time commitments or recommitments to faith, supported by a trained prayer and counselling team. Yet the atmosphere never felt coercive. Instead, it was a carefully held space that encouraged participation without pressure. Attendees reflected a broad mix of ethnicities, nationalities, and local backgrounds, mirroring the diversity of Newcastle itself.
Musically, WHISP with Feast of Praise carried real weight. Gospel ministers such as David Bell, Marizu, and Judikay elevated the event while leaving room for local voices. Marizu’s Afro-inspired contemporary worship resonated strongly with younger attendees, while Judikay’s ministry centred themes of identity, assurance, and spiritual grounding. David Bell’s leadership leaned into stillness and responsiveness, allowing the room to breathe. The combined choirs from Restoration Sound representing the main congregation and WHISP Choir drawing young voices from multiple churches, created a powerful musical presence that reflected both intergenerational collaboration and the church’s migrant community.
The choirs delivered original compositions shaped around the theme “The Word.” One standout moment was a “Christian Drill” medley, blending UK urban sound with scriptural declaration. These hybrid forms mirrored the lived realities of young people negotiating multiple cultural identities.
Creative ministries extended beyond music. Spoken word poet Rasheeda performed “The Word Made Flesh,” reflecting on faith, anxiety, and purpose in contemporary youth life. The Parables dance ministry interpreted themes of freedom and restoration through movement, reminding the audience that worship is not confined to one form.
“Christ lives in these voices”
Throughout the evening, I kept returning to one thought: Christ lives in these voices. Not as abstraction, but as lived expression in accents, rhythms, testimonies, and shared silences. These were voices shaped by migration, settlement, and belonging. Worship here was not performance-driven; it was communal, participatory, and grounded in relationship.
WHISP’s organisers were clear that this was never intended to be a one-off spectacle. RCCG Restoration Chapel plays a central role in ensuring continuity, connecting attendees to youth fellowships, student groups, and local churches across Newcastle and the wider North East. For many migrants, the church functions not only as a spiritual space but as a social anchor supporting integration, wellbeing, and civic participation. The event functions as a catalyst rather than a conclusion.
Support for WHISP with Feast of Praise 2025 came from a mix of internal church funding, individual sponsors, Christian organisations such as Christian Concern UK and Fusion Movement UK, and local professionals who contributed skills and resources. Its media reach exceeding 100,000 across social platforms speaks to a generation both digitally connected and spiritually searching. It also highlights the often underreported organisational capacity of migrant-led institutions.
In a time when public narratives often frame young people as disengaged or disillusioned, WHISP with Feast of Praise tells a different story. It shows what can happen when faith communities invest seriously in structure, creativity, and care. This was not simply a night of worship; it was an example of community formation in action.
Newcastle’s Civic Centre has hosted political debates, civic ceremonies, and public consultations. On this night, it also held something quieter but no less significant: a generation gathering around scripture, song, and shared hope, organised, intentional, and unmistakably present.
