An Artist's Heart

    For years, I've been told what can and cannot happen in church music.  Not by my Pastor, Walter Hallam, but by those refusing to embrace the "now" move of God. My whole life I've been troubled to hear how this ethereal menace called The World was stealing the church's best and brightest.  This is untrue.  God has given us a generation full of holy, talented, integrous,gifted, and anointed young people.  Will we make excuses or help them hone their crafts?  I believe we are called, destined, and compelled to teach, train, encourage, mentor, discipline, and love a generation in an unending renaissance of the arts in the Kingdom of God.
    I recently released my first solo CD I'll Serve You.  Though I am very pleased with how it turned out musically, my greater joy is unrelated to units sold.  Several young people's eyes were opened to the deception of a musical generation gap.  It is not, nor has it ever been, our music verses there music.  There is just music.
    Young rappers and worship leaders seeking a higher level of musical understanding.  Singers crying out to learn to breathe properly.  Budding producers demanding historical context to the great albums of generations past.  I feel like Simeon after spending time when these amazingly zealous musicians.  They carry Jesus.
    I've seen the move of God in their eyes and they see it in mine.  Hymns to Hip-Hip.  Rock to R&B.  Classical to Controlled Chaos.  God is bringing all His children into the camp.  We must receive our diverse brothers and sisters with open arms.  Chances are their expression is key to us having a fuller understanding of what God is seeking from our worship.
    With the guidance of my Pastor, and the assistance of our incredible team, we will play our part in equipping and empowering a generation to touch God through the arts.  To have this spread I need friends, allies, and partners to explore the topic of arts in the church.  For example, does it bother anyone else that the blues section on iTunes is integrated but Christian music is still segregated?
    The master's degree program in music at Eastern Washington University forced me to examine the ins and outs of music theory, history, performance and cultural impact.  Let's remove the blinders of complacency and pursue excellence in arts.  This will require honest, but respectful discourse concerning how we minister as dancers, painters, writers, sculptors, singers, instrumentalists, sound personnel, lighting designers, graphic artist and makers of peanut brittle and popcorn balls.
    Theory and practical application of our crafts is a need I hear from Christian artist from coast to coast and churches of 15 people to 30,000.  We can sharpen each other and develop a community of diverse artist with a single goal.  Exalting our Savior with excellence.
    If this is a worthy venture, leave comments, sign for the RSS feed and pursue this journey with me.