Howie Campbell
Howie Debbie and Wayne in Hoosic Falls, NY 2005 photo by Chris Fitchett
October 13, 2006, 12:22 am
Music With A Message
Debbie says I preach with my guitar on. Other folks have said similar
things, and it's true. That's because the Lord has given me a message
that just comes out in what I do. Folk music is all about singing from
the heart, about life situations, personal experience, and whatever is
of interest to the artist. So it stands to reason that I would sing about
Jesus Christ. He is the single most astounding facet of my life and I
want others to know this awesome friend.
After about nine years as a professional musician, my life purpose became to honor the Lord in all I do. Since 1985 my music has been used in worship, and to engage people outside the church in an effort to present the truth about Jesus Christ.
In 2004, both Debbie and I felt it was time to take a slightly new direction. We were impressed to step outside the walls of "the church" taking our songs to the public as a way of presenting the Gospel, and exposing the truth of Jesus Christ. For more than four years, we have focused on coffee house settings, open air concerts, inner-city empty lots, block parties, and anywhere else we can set up and play "music with a message". Part of our method is to intersperse decidedly Christian lyrics with other life and family oriented material so that we have something to offer anyone that happens upon us. It's really quite effective.
As a result of this approach, and the influence of God's Spirit, motivating us in His direction, we have seen wonderful results. We have been to the northeast 6 times in the past four years, building relationships, encouraging the saints, and actually singing about Jesus in the same places where public displays of Christianity are being legislated against. For example, recently we did a series of worship events in the same public squares where the Nativity scene has been outlawed. A trip through some of the southern states, as far west as Arkansas, was productive in encouraging and challenging the saints we found along the way. Media, such as radio and TV, have been vehicles for exposing Jesus to a large audience, and we sense this has been only the beginning.
What we are trying to do is show that regular folks, similar to everyone else, can be dedicated to Jesus without being radical terrorist types, nor social retards. We who love and serve Jesus Christ have a say in politics, media, business, etc, because America is a nation "of the people, by the people, and for the people" and, after all, we are people, too.
If you are intersted in finding out more about our music ministry to the nooks and crannies of our land, or if you would like to help in any way, including financially supporting this work, please contact us by clicking on the contact page, or the products page.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and your interest in this
street level ministry. May God our Father guide you as you seek to know
Him better and serve Him more in these, the closing moments of this age.
