The Banner

This past weekend, many California Baptist University students made a thirty-minute drive from Campus to attend "Java and Jazz", one of the two big mission fund raisers held each year by First Baptist Church of Norco. This is the second year in a row "Java and Jazz" transpired.

The event occurred each weekend night- Sunday was designated "Student Night".

Anna Patten, a CBU student who does not regularly attend FBC Norco, went because she likes Jazz music and swing dancing. Also, "just to support the missions that go on at Norco and the ISP teams that are at Cal Baptist," Patten said.

"Im looking forward to Dr. Mooney tickling the ivories a little bit and some amazing coffee,"
Michael White, a CBU student who has been going to FBC Norco for two years, said.

The evening started with a silent auction and java sampling in the Fellowship hall. Matt Cobb, the Director of Discipleship and Integration, explained the concept and purpose of a silent auction.

"In our silent auction, we spotlight donations given to us whether it be services, goods, or items that pertain to things that are wrong in the world that need our attention. Hopefully trying to raise money towards our missions program here at FBC Norco. Also, a big group of our people here are students at CBU, so the money raised goes towards them being part of ISP," Cobb said.

The coffee provided was part of the Equal Exchange Interfaith Program, which is fair trade organization operating on the principle that farmers in developing countries should receive adequate pay for their labor.

After the java, it was time for the jazz.The jazz piano concert, put on by the "new" Jeff Mooney Trio (Mooney had a trio in college), was considered the highlight of the evening.

Dr. Jeff Mooney, head pastor of FBC Norco and Assistant Professor of Old Testament at CBU, was the lead pianist and vocalist. He said "[Java and Jazz] is an incredibly nerve wrecking event, but always really enjoyable."

Mooney received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies (Music Theory) from Auburn University. In the midst of his jazz studies, he became a Christian.

"There for a while, I had to get away from it because everything about it had defined me. I mean, it was my identity, being a jazz musician in particular," Mooney said. "Now that I had an identity that actually transcended that, I actually had to pull myself away from it for a while and then I moved back into it. I was never under the impression that there was anything sinful about it, I still think its the most beautiful music in the world, but I felt like that at some point I would be able to engage in it again."

The other two members of the trio are Kelsey Frye, bassist and CBU student, and Adrian Martinez, the music director at FBC Norco.

"I'm a little nervous because I'm not a Jazz musician and Pastor Mooney is, so it's hard," Martinez said. "He has a lot of faith in me that I can learn it. It takes a lot of practice, but it ends up being okay."

The Trio has not played anywhere besides "Java and Jazz", but they are planning to play at FBC Norco for Christmas and at CBU next year.

Overall, the event was a great success. On Friday, Mooney said, "I'm satisfied with everything but my own singing and playing. Everything else was fine. I'm actually quite a bit frustrated with how I started the evening. But I figured I would, its been a long time since I've performed routinely so I sometimes succumb to nerves."

All proceeds will go toward the missions teams going to Thailand, India and the Philippines from FBC Norco and towards the CBU church members going on ISP.

Darren Meisel, director of global outreach at FBC Norco, said, "This really is for supporting our local teams. Cause the church really heavily supports the trips that we send out."