Arviat (Feb 15/06) - Arviat youth were treated to a visit by internationally renowned evangelist, songwriter, musician and performer Jerry Goebel of Walla Walla, Washington, this past month.

Goebel spent some time during the day joining up with Qitiqliq High music teacher Jeff van den Scott to work with students.

He then spent his evenings performing at the Mikilaaq Centre Drop-In during his week-long visit.

The visit was made possible through the co-operation of Scott, the Mikilaaq Centre Drop-in, the hamlet of Arviat and Goebel, who flew to Arviat after leading a number of workshops in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Nadine Lamoureux, from the Mikilaaq Centre Drop-in, said Goebel's visit came about after he and centre director Lynne Roland got to know each other.

"I don't know all the details, but Lynne had phoned Jerry for permission to use one of his songs on a slide-show being put together," said Lamoureux.

"He told Lynne he'd love to come to Arviat if we could get him there and it all fell into place from there."

Lamoureux said local youth responded well to Goebel, especially the younger crowd.

"He has a lot of songs that include dancing and different movements, so they were all very much into that.

"They really had a great time."

Lamoureux said Scott asked Goebel to speak to the older students about creating their own songs when he visited the school.

She said Goebel obliged, and talked about why and how he wrote a number of his own songs.

"They were really interested and paying attention.

"You could tell they were enjoying his talk."

The gatherings were small and intimate for Goebel's first few performances at the centre drop-in.

The numbers grew at his final centre performance, however, when a number of kids who saw him at the school wanted to see him again.

That momentum carried over to his final community show. "When Jerry did his final concert at the school, there were a lot of families who went to see him together and that was nice to see.

"There were also a number of kids there who practised the actions to his songs all week.

"They were able to go up during his last concert and show the actions, which was pretty cute."