By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- That it only takes a spark to get a fire going shouldn't be a surprise to most people.
But it's also the more serious message of this year's Real Week, a Disciples of Christ-sponsored event taking place Tuesday through Thursday in the Niles High School Cafeteria.
Niles High seniors and Disciple members Lisa Hannewyk and Phil Strauss, said Real Week is in its fourth year, this week's event being the second one this school year.
It's basically three nights of worship, fellowship and a chance to listen to guest speakers, they said.
But they both said that shouldn't keep anyone from coming.
Hannewyk and Strauss said Real Week is non-denominational and all people are welcome, even atheists.
And if good, Christian up-beat music and fun is what people want, Real Week is the place to go.
Real Week has its own worship band mainly consisting of students from the high school, they said.
A married couple from the Michiana Christian Embassy, however, will also play music during Real Week.
To keep the younger generation interested, the focus will be contemporary music.
They both hope the event will attract a lot of people, but agree attracting a large crowd is not all Real Week is about.
And although the event is organized by young people, they still respect the knowledge and wisdom the older generation brings with them.
Hannewyk said Kathy Moore, a Michiana Christian Embassy pastor who will speak during Wednesday's Real Week meeting, brings with her a solid knowledge of the Bible and wisdom that comes from just having lived longer.
But Hannewyk said the older generation is also apparently learning from the younger generation.
In the end, Hannewyk and Strauss said Real Week is all about people coming together and seeing what comes out of it.
Real Week kicks off Tuesday at the Niles High School Cafeteria and ends Thursday May 1.
Each day's event starts at 7 and goes to 9 p.m.