It’s no surprise that twins Shamairah and Tamairah Darrell have a lot in common.

Their greatest passion? Singing and dancing for the Lord.

The 16-year-olds grew up performing at the Pembroke Seventh-day Adventist Church with their mother, Aneesah Darrell.

They return to the stage next weekend for a gospel concert, This is How we Praise Him.

Eugenia Robinson, of faith-based home school RHM School House, organised the event which will feature performances by past and present students, Anointed Steps Dance Ministry School and The United Band.

“Shamairah and Tamairah just started here at RHM this past year and have been a motivation for me to do this gospel concert,” Ms Robinson said.

“I’ve had it on my calendar of events for a number of years, but after seeing the gifts and talents they came with I decided to act.

“The planning of it actually hasn’t been as hard as I expected. They are very talented and I feel it’s time for them to get to shine. Their mother has put a lot of work into them and I think she would be pleased to see what they’ve done on their own.”

Shamairah has dreamed of being a famous singer since she was a little girl.

Then around age ten, she got up the nerve to sing in church for the first time.

“It has probably been my plan A in life to grow up and be able to sing for people because I consider my voice to be a ministry,” she said.

“I want people to hear God through me and hope that if and when I sing I can bless someone.

“Once I sang Tamela Mann’s Take Me To The King at a church service and afterwards a lady came up to me and told me how the song really spoke to her and her situation. She said it made her think about what she needed to do in order to continue on in life.”

For Tamairah, those early experiences singing with her mom and sister have helped to build her confidence.

“The first time I sang I didn’t think I sounded so great, but afterwards everyone was like ‘Tamairah you can sing!’.

“Ever since then I’ve been getting better and better with it. I do a lot of performances, mostly dance, for people at outside church events like plays and skits for Pride Bermuda.

“For me performing that was another reminder that I should press forward with singing.”

Tamairah recently found a new church home at Cities of Refuge Ministry, which meets at the Berkeley Institute on Sundays.

The move has really helped to deepen her faith.

“When I first went there the pastor was talking about how people can go to church and do the right things, but not really have a heart for God,” she said.

“It really spoke to me in a way. They had an altar call for people who wanted to have a change in their life. I stood up and went to the front. I felt like for once in my life I needed to take responsibility in my life and make a change so the younger people could look up to me and say, ‘That’s the character of the King’.

“To me that means being someone who is respectful and always trying to teach someone about Jesus and glorifying Him.”

Shamairah stayed at her family church, where she says she’s thriving.

“My faith has always been real to me,” the teenager said. “I grew up with the word and knowing that everything I need is there in my heart and something I keep with me always.

“I get to tap into my faith quite often, especially because I go to a faith-based school.

“Even when I leave school I’m still able to go out and show other people what virtue looks like. I try to be someone they can come to and talk to when they need it.”

Shamairah said she’s nervous about next weekend’s performance; her sister is quite excited about it.

“I’m feeling great because I know God has my back,” Tamairah said. “I also feel it will be a great turnout.”

The girls hope people will be uplifted by their two songs and liturgical dance performance.

This is How we Praise Him will take place at First Church of God on Angle Street, Hamilton next Saturday from 7pm until 8.30pm.

Tickets, $20 or $50 for patrons, are available at People’s Pharmacy or at the door on the night.