REBECCA ST. JAMES Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James has played in some of the biggest cities in the world. She's won a Grammy and has two gold records. Thursday night, she'll be playing at the Gaffney High School gym.

"Over the years I have performed at a few schools," St. James said. "There was a high school where we did a show earlier in this tour in Wisconsin. Sometimes, it's really a matter of the venues that an area has available."

A native of Australia, St. James has been a musician for 12 years but she still makes time for her friends and family in the outback.

"I was able to go back to visit for Christmas," she said. "I'll go back this April to do some shows there. Thankfully, we go back quite often."

Even after all this time, St. James enjoys the concerts the same.

"I like looking at an audience and seeing scores of people worshipping God," she said. "We are just one, and that is a fulfilling moment for me."

And she's quick to point out that the size of the venue doesn't diminish the message.

"It's pretty much the same show," she said. "I want it to be consistent so that everyone gets the whole shebang. It's entertaining. (Opening act) BarlowGirl totally rocks and Jadin (Lavik) is just great. It encourages people to meet with God and walk away refreshed from the meeting. There's a worship part and an invitation time. In between, the girls really share from their heart and speak on some important concepts."

In January 2005, Rebecca St. James was again named "Favorite Female Artist" in Contemporary Christian Music by the more than 27,000 votes cast by readers of CCM Magazine, considered the flagship publication of the Christian genre. She repeated with "Best Female Artist of 2005" awards less than a month later with the more than 100,000 readers of Campus Life Magazine, and the hip Christian music Web site destination:

JesusFreakHide-Out.com.

But what does she see as her greatest achievement?

"If you look at it from the human standpoint, obviously winning the Grammy," she said. "But what I thought of with that question was simply making it this far. It's hard to be on the road as much as we are. There's a lot of pressure and expectations, especially being in the ministry like we are. I've seen a lot of people come and go and I attribute my strength to God."

The tour is promoting her newest album "If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something," her first true studio album in years.

"This album is full of joy and hope," she said. "I wrote it after a sabbatical in Switzerland and that joy and energy are in it," St. James said. "The show is also a lot brighter and more full of hope than ever before."

Ticket prices are $15 for Gold Circle and $10 general admission.

For more information contact Kirby Memorial Church at 489-4884 or visit the Web sites:

www.tickets.com www.rsjames.com