With his feet tapping and hands moving from side to side, Adrian Simmons directs a group of singers, and confidently sings along himself.

“Out of all the things I could have, I would gladly pass it up for Jesus,” they sang. “I would rather have Jesus than anything.”

Simmons is the director of Amazing Tones of Joy, a gospel choir and ministry on campus. He has served in that position five of the six years he’s been at Western. Singing has been a part of his life since he was 4 years old, and is a way for him to stay close to God, he said.

“I sing what I believe in, so I sing with passion,” Simmons said. “I sing with all my soul, with everything I’ve got.”

Amazing Tones of Joy is a group of students who perform gospel and christian music to minister to people in Bowling Green and other places they travel. The group started on Western’s campus in 1971, and is celebrating its 36th anniversary with a concert at 4:30 p.m. on April 15 at State Street Baptist Church. Admission is free.

ATJ gives students a way to express their faith in a different way from other organizations. It has also been a significant part of black student life on campus.

Members gather to rehearse every Thursday night at the Baptist Campus Ministry. Students congregate in small groups while music is playing on the stereo. Laughter and jokes fill the room, almost as loud as the recorded gospel singers’ powerful voices.

“We’re just like a big old family, pretty much,” said Houston junior Juquita Casey, who has been a member of ATJ for three years. “I can honestly say that ATJ has gotten me through a lot of tough times.”

The friendly atmosphere and variety of music styles ATJ incorporates, such as R & B and rock along with traditional gospel, draw people in who might not have listened to a Christian message otherwise, Casey said, especially younger people.

“That’s what our world is centered around right now, is music,” she said. “When the preacher comes up, some people don’t listen anymore. Everybody enjoys music.”

ATJ first began making that music when 10 students at Western wanted to form a choir to promote black unity on campus, Simmons said. In 1971, it was a time when Western was still going through aspects of desegregation. Now, ATJ is one of the largest black student organizations on campus.

“It gives a different perspective of how students can be involved on campus,” he said.

Ashley Bourn, a junior from Danville, Ill., said music was a big part of her family and religion at home, and she joined ATJ so she wouldn’t lose that.

“It’s kind of my roots,” she said. “If I don’t sing now, it’s like I’m losing a part of what I grew up in.”

Although she enjoys singing secular music as well, and even participated in a “Bowling Green Idol” competition for a local radio station, Christian and gospel music will always be her favorite pieces to perform because of their meaning, she said.

During an impromptu performance one Thursday night, Bourn sings with the rest of the choir without music. Her eyes close and fingers snap as Simmons gives the group encouragement.

“When I’m singing, I hope that God will take over my body,” she said. “I hope it leads people to him.”

The group rehearses for concerts that take place across the state, Casey said. Recently, ATJ participated in the College Choir Explosion Competition in Louisville, which includes gospel choirs from colleges around the region. Although they didn’t place this year in the annual event, last year they took first.

Although the traveling, concerts and friendships are a large part of ATJ, it’s foremost mission is being a ministry and praising God with music, Bourn said.

“I feel like its a talent that God gave me,” she said. “And if I don’t use it for his glory, he could take it away from me.”

Reach Samantha Hupman at features@wkuherald.com.