Compassion

Well, it's that time of the year again. Every year we go through GMA Week, and every year I come home with a new appreciation for the people involved in CCM. Now I didn't say their music, I said the people involved in the music. We have sat through many Song Writer Showcases, which are always great, because this is where the song writers tell the story behind the ten Song of the Year nominations and then perform their songs without all the glitz and glitter of their bands. You see the hearts of the songwriters and those who are songwriters as well as singers. When you see their hearts, and hear the words of their songs, you appreciate their music a little more. I still don't listen to it, but I have an appreciation for it.

That brings me to the connection of Compassion International and GMA Week. We were fortunate to be invited to the Compassion Banquet that was put on at GMA Week. Since we are Compassion Artists I thought that it would be good to see a little more of what compassion is about. CCM Artist Bebo Norman was one of the speakers. He spoke his heart to us. He told us of what he saw as he visited one of these poverty stricken countries. It was clear that he was intimately touched by the visit. The one thing that really stuck with me about what he said was that as he was visiting and saw the poverty and dastardly conditions that these people live in, he found himself asking "God where are you, how do you let this happen to these people". Then he seems to get an answer back that said, "Where are God's people". Wow, what an awakening. Who are the arms and legs and hands of God? It's us, the Christians who have the obligation to reach out to these poor people.

Then the President of Compassion spoke a little bit and he brought about several things that struck one of my nerves. He asked if there was a Biblical precedent for doing what Compassion does as far as helping the children and impoverished in these foreign lands. He then related the story of the Samaritan. The Samaritan didn't take the man into his home and nurse him, but instead he took the man to people who were capable of tending tot the needs of the beaten and bruised man. Then what did he do? He gave money to the people who were qualified to tend to the fallen man. That is exactly what the Compassion artists share every time they present Compassion to the congregations where they minister. They offer to let other Christians pay for their care of poor children who are not only fed and clothed, but also presented the Gospel.

Just a few facts were shared about Compassion while we were there. They have seen over 102,000 children saved. A new church is being birthed every day in these poverty stricken lands. Since Compassion has been working in these countries 1,200 kids have gone through their school and went on to graduate from college. 500 of those have returned to their country as ministers to positively effect their nation. Compassion International is transforming children into adults who are changing the world for the cause of Christ. On the front page and on the message boards there is a link that will take you to the Compassion International website where you can see many of these children that you can sponsor and change their lives. I strongly encourage you to go look at these kids, it just may change your life.

New Face On The Scene

I think that for the last little while everyone has been waiting to see who was in the wings to replace the huge hole left in our genre by the tragic loss Anthony Burger.
Well last night at the SGN Awards Celebration, a new face appeared at the piano. Known for being a part her great singing family, Kim Collingsworth gave a show stopping performance with her rendition of "How Great Thou Art". I have not seen another pianist play with the energy, enthusiasm, and expression since I last saw Anthony play.
Kim has set a standard for all of the other piano players in our genre to strive for. She received several standing ovations during the single song performance and not a single seat had a person still sitting in it when she was finished. Then, to make her performance complete, she gave the Glory to God by leading those in attendance in a praise chorus. It was a highlight of the evening.

A few great piano players set themselves apart with a talent that allows them to compete with the finest artists in their genre. Kim Collingsworth proved last night that she has that level of talent, and I expect that she is going to be thrilling audiences with the same intensity and finesse as Anthony did for us in the past. Congratulations to Kim Collingsworth as she is following in some huge footsteps, but has all of the ability in the world to successfully follow them.

Wrong perception

I have heard several people lately say that the quality of the singers in Southern Gospel Music isn't on par with other genres. My first question is "what other singers from what other genres have you been listening to?", and my second question is "What Southern Gospel singers have you been listening to?". One of the things that Southern Gospel Music has always prided itself on is the quality of it's singers. Even in the second and third tiers of this genre, artists are attending music schools each year to try to perfect their craft.

Now I realize that we have our share of mom and pop groups that can't sing their way out of a paper bag,and that some of those groups are singing four part unison, all the while thinking they sound like Gold City or the Talleys. Fact is, it ain't so. they sound terrible. The truth is that these groups are a small minority of artists who sing SGM. We have had great voices in the past, such as Jake Hess, Jack Toney. JD Sumner, Rosie Rozell, Smitty Gatlin and the list could go on and on. The fact that we have singers today who have retired and come back on the road with strong quality voices such as Bill Baize, Ed Hill, Bobby Clark, Gary McSpadden, Larry Ford and that list could go on is a real tribute to the quality and education of our talent. Voices of today that are as high in quality as any genre could include, but not limited to Daniel Riley, Bill Shivers, Steve Ladd, Jeff Pearles, Guy Penrod, Brian Lester, Ivan Parker and that list could go on and on and on, well you know what I mean.

This vocal quality isn't just limited individuals. We have some of the best group harmony in the world. We always have had. Groups like Gold City, Brian Free and Assurance, the Crabb Family, the Talley Trio, Gaither Vocal Band, the Hoppers and that list could go on and on, will meet the same stand of excellence of any secular artists that I know, and in most cases will vocally exceed the secular talent.