A music festival spearheaded by a 17-year-old Maryland high school student to raise money for missions was a resounding success, meeting the goal of bringing in $3,000 for Dennis and Renda Curran, CMF missionaries who are serving in Turkana, Kenya.

Holly Hutchinson with musicians Chris and Jenna Badeker.

More than 175 people attended the late August event called “Elevation Festival” at Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Md., organized by Holly Hutchinson to fulfill a commitment she made at a Christ in Youth conference in the summer of 2013.

“The last day of the conference, every student had to option to receive a Kingdom Worker card,” said Holly. “The trick is, if you open the card, you’re committing to fulfill the challenge on it.

“I’d love to say that I felt that God was guiding me to open it,” she added, “but honestly, I’m just horrifically curious! My challenge was to raise $3,000 to support a missionary.”

When Holly heard a few months later that the Currans, members of Mountain Christian whom she knew well, were leaving to serve in Turkana, “something sparked in me,” she said. “I knew my challenge would be to support the Currans.”

A few months later, she attended a concert and the band “3 Shades of Blue” opened. She and her friends laughed about the idea of holding a music festival and asking “3 Shades of Blue” to headline it.

“So I contacted the band, and told them my idea,” said Holly. “Shockingly enough, they said they would play!”

3 Shades of Blue performs at the Elevation Festival.

Two other bands, “Chris and Jenna” and “Anchor and Armor” joined the line-up, and a Tikiz Shaved Ice food truck and a variety of games were added to the outdoor event.

The event tickets were $10, and all of that money went to the Currans, Holly said. She also sent out sponsorship letters to friends and church members and raised $1,000 toward her expenses.

Holly’s mother Denise was solidly behind her daughter’s project, and appreciative of the help Holly received from the staff and people of Mountain Christian to pull it off.

“I was so excited to witness God working through this major undertaking,” she said. “I was also deeply touched by this Mountain body of servants who were encouraging her, standing in the gap and stepping up to assist this one fatherless high-school student in fulfilling her commitment. I’m so honored to be her mom!”

Anchor and Armor perform at the Elevation Festival at Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Md.

The Currans were also quick to express their appreciation for Holly’s efforts.

“We are honored and humbled that Holly thought of our ministry to the people of Turkana when she decided to step off the sidelines and truly make a difference for the kingdom,” said Dennis.

Holly takes little credit for the success of her efforts, and says her faith and relationship with Christ have been strengthened by the experience.

“God worked in every aspect of this; He was the one controlling it,” she said. “On the Friday of the event, people kept asking me how I felt – planning this and then seeing it come to life – but to be totally honest, I don’t feel like I’m the one who put it together. I’m just incredibly blessed to say that He could work through me.”