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Christian rocker focuses on AIDS - Louis Brittz and his band had a stained–glass window backdrop and a pulpit for a stage for their concert Sunday night at First Presbyterian Church.

They were right at home.

Brittz, a South African Christian rocker, has released 10 albums and has traveled the world sharing his songs.

“He was really good,” said 16–year–old Kayla Rhum of Mediapolis after the concert. “I saw him before in Mediapolis (a few years ago). This was just as good.”

Her younger sister, Andrea Rhum, 12, was enthusiastic about the band as well.

“During the first concert at the Presbyterian Church (in Mediapolis), he and the whole band signed my CD,” Rhum said. After listening to the album numerous times, Rhum decided “Dry Bones” was her favorite song.

The band was new to 12–year–old Ivy Fullerton, who said she liked all the songs played Sunday night.

For Brittz and the band, however, the concert was more than just music.

“It’s not just music for the sake of music,” Brittz said. “It’s not just Christian music for the sake of worship … we try and make a difference with what we do.”

During the concert, Brittz talked about the HIV/AIDS virus in Africa, something he has made part of his Christian missionary.

“Many, many children — millions — in South Africa are dying of HIV/AIDS,” Brittz said.

Through the Beat the Drum HIV/AIDS awareness program, thousands of teens have been educated about AIDS, and in one country, only a small number of new AIDS cases were reported over the last year.

Other countries in Africa are still struggling.

“This is a (Christian’s) greatest opportunity to show faith in God, show real love in Jesus Christ,” he said.

After sharing his message, Brittz and the band played a few more songs, drawing people into the music with their enthusiasm. Soon, the people were clapping and waving their hands to the African–toned music.

“For me, people are getting the word,” said bassist Rixi Roman after the concert. “They are really feeling the music and that’s awesome.”

Before Brittz ended the concert, he invited people from southeast Iowa to contribute funds for a youth conference in South Africa designed to train African youth to be missionaries and help spread AIDS education.

By SHAWNA RICHTER

srichter@thehawkeye.com

Christian Rock Bands Fall on Album Charts, Lead Christian Singles

Christian rock bands fell out of Billboard’s top album charts but held on to keep top positions on the Christian singles charts as Christmas approaches.

After placing as high as number 8 out of all albums sold, Third Day has fallen to the 52nd spot, down from 28th last week as time elapses since the release of their latest CD Wherever You Are.

Casting Crown’s latest, Lifesong, and Christian surf rock band Switchfoot’s Nothing is Sound have both fallen out of the top 100 Billboard albums.

Several bands who placed in the top 25 albums on the Heatseeker’s chart, for bands that are newer or have never placed in the top 100 before, have fallen out, including Relient K, Superchick and Falling Up.

However, Underoath’s “They’re Only Chasing Safety” holds the #18 spot, down three from number 15 last week.

Meanwhile, Christian rock artists continue to dominate the Christian charts for top songs.

Third Day’s single “Cry Out To Jesus” still holds the number 1 spot while Jeremy Camp is at number 3 with “This Man.” Superchick is up one to the 7th position with “We Live” and Matthew West is at number nine with “Next Thing You Know.”

Rounding out the top 25, Audio Adrenaline is at number 19 with “King,” Lifehouse holds the 21 spot with “You and Me,” Kutless has the 22nd and 23rd positions with “Draw Me Close” and “Strong Tower,” Todd Agnew claims the 24th spot with “The Middle of Me” and Switchfoot’s “Stars” is 25th.

A glorious Christmas tour

Label brings its artists to Southland Christian

Christmas brings busy people together with their loved ones for some family time.

That has applied to the Rocketown Records family the past couple of years.

For the second year in a row, some of the label’s marquee artists, including Ginny Owens, Watermark and Shaun Groves, are touring behind Gloria: A Christmas Celebration, an album that features those label favorites along with Rocketown owner Michael W. Smith and Christian pop superstar Amy Grant.

“This project really did bring a lot of busy lives together,” says Christy Nockels, who with her husband, Nathan, comprise Watermark. “Collaboration, that has been Rocketown’s strength. It’s a family atmosphere.”

The tour’s first stop is next week at Southland Christian Church, where the stars will join with Southland choirs and worship leaders for three nights.

“We wanted to do something a little different for outreach into the community this year,” says Greg Corona, seek minister for Southland Christian. “This is a season where people are more open bringing people to church and coming to church.”

To make it happen, the Southland folks traveled to Nashville to meet with the tour manager and producer to plan the event.

The evening will feature the artists performing some of their own material, a performance of the Gloria album with a dramatic flair, and other Christmas and worship music.

Christy Nockels says that last year, they had talked about working with choirs at the churches they visited, but it didn’t work out.

“Since we’re able to stay in one place longer, it will be easier to make that happen,” she says.

Getting all of the artists together for the record must have driven producers Scott Dente and Charlie Peacock crazy, Nockels says.

“Even though Nathan and I are married, they couldn’t even get us in the studio at the same time,” she says.

Like many Christmas albums, it was recorded in much warmer months, albeit with a tree and lights in the studio for atmosphere.

Part of the thrill for Owens was working with and being on the same project as Smith and Grant, whom she listened to while growing up.

“I remember when Scott Dente and I were working on these tracks at Charlie’s studio and remembering what it was like to listen to Out of the Grey’s music,” Owens says, referring to the name Scott and Christine Dente record under. Reflecting on that and opening the Gloria CD in a duet with Peacock,”This is a fun life I get to lead,” she says.

There was fun on the road too, including a birthday party for the Nockels’ daughter, Noel, with stars Owens and Groves in attendance.

Corona says he looks forward to Southland artists getting to see and spend time with some of the stars because it will give them a chance to see how normal they are.

On the Gloria tour, the artists will have time to share favorite Christmas songs and memories. A few of those are captured on a reissue of the Gloria CD, with selections from last year’s tour, including Owens’ rendition of The Christmas Song. She introduces the song, saying she doesn’t know why she likes it, because “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” and “Jack Frost nipping at your nose” were not part of her Christmas memories growing up in Jackson, Miss.

“I think it’s because it has a lot of jazz chords,” Owens says.

Southland has hosted contemporary Christian music acts before, but this collaboration is a first, Corona says.

“There’s a lot of anticipation,” he says.

And while it’s several weeks before Christmas, Corona says he likes the program being the week after Thanksgiving to “set a mood” for the holiday season putting the focus on the birth of Jesus Christ.

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‘Gloria’ tour

What: A holiday concert featuring Watermark, Ginny Owens, Shaun Groves, Michael Olson and Taylor Sorensen, along with the Southland Christian Church worship choir, vocal teams, praise band and orchestra.

When: 7 p.m. Wed.-Fri.

Where: Southland Christian Church, 5001 Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville.

Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 ages 12 and younger; available online at www.southlandchristian.org (click the “Gloria” banner ad) or by calling Mia at (859) 224-1650 or Sarah at (859) 224-1651.

By Rich Copley

HERALD-LEADER CULTURE WRITER

Christmas albums : Praise, joy and adoption - Check most kids’ Christmas lists and you’ll find Xbox 360, a skateboard or a puppy.

Check an orphan’s list and you’re likely to find something else, said Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman.

“If you could ask them, ‘What do you really want most?’ … They would say: ‘All I really want is a family,’ ” said Chapman, who has adopted three daughters from China in recent years.

In his new album, “All I Really Want For Christmas,” Chapman describes an orphan’s letter to Santa, asking for “someone to tuck me in, a shoulder to cry on.” The song, “All I Really Want” is touching, humble and hopeful.

“It did give me a chance to acknowledge something that’s near and dear to my heart: the fact that there are 50 million children who spend that day without a family,” Chapman said.

Appropriately, the disc opens with a recitation of the Christmas story by Shaoey Chapman — the first daughter Steven and his wife, Mary Beth, adopted from China.

The new CD is Chapman’s second Christmas project in recent years, the last being “Christmas Is All In The Heart,” a 2002 CD created for sale only at Hallmark stores. Because of its limited nature, “most of my fans didn’t know about that album.” For the new disc, he took some material from the 2002 CD and added some new music.

“I love these new recordings and I’m sure there are a lot of people who haven’t heard them,” Chapman said.

The disc is packed with wonderful renditions of classic Christmas tunes. Chapman’s voice is ideally suited for traditional orchestral arrangements as well as pop takes on classic songs, such as “Angels From The Realms of Glory.” Other standards include “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day” and a gospel-oriented “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”

A treat for longtime fans is a new version of Chapman’s own classic “Christmas Is All In The Heart,” featuring country star Vince Gill.

The disc wraps up with Shaoey and Steven singing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” This solid album certainly goes a long way toward answering that wish.

‘Christmas Sessions’
Chapman is currently on a Christmas concert tour with the worship band MercyMe, which also has a new holiday disc.

“The Christmas Sessions” contains traditional carols and songs set to new arrangements. It swings from the bluesy “Winter Wonderland” to the easy-listening “Christmastime Is Here” to “Drummer Boy” — a solid rock track that’s the best on the disc. Unfortunately, many of the styles don’t quite mesh with the lyrics, which makes this disc somewhat disappointing.

‘Adore Him’
One holiday disc that does an excellent job of blending style and content is “Come Let Us Adore Him.”

This compilation album features many of contemporary Christian music’s top artists performing mellow pop and traditional songs.

Teen singer Krystal Meyers and Day of Fire frontman Josh Brown team for the praise song “King of Angels.” Other standouts are the upbeat “Silver Starlight,” by Cliff and Danielle of Caedmon’s Call, and an acoustic version of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” by Jars of Clay. One of the best tracks is the thankful “Manger Throne,” in which rockers Third Day take an acoustic turn.

This disc brings the awe and majesty of the season to life.

By Brian Bowers, Stars and Stripes

Kutless Hits #2 on Christian Charts With Strong Tower - Christian modern rock ban Kutless has achieved more chart success with their latest album Strong Tower, a praise and worship masterpiece. The title track Strong Tower is now #2 on CRW’s Top 100 CHR Chart for 2005 with their title track “Strong Tower.”
Kutless is not only seeing success at radio, but also in the press. This new album is being touted as one of the most successful praise and worship albums to date:

“Great worship project! Kutless brings the praise music we love while implementing their familiar rock sounds in versions of worship songs you’ve never heard” - Christian Music Review

“….its unique blend of accessibility, musicianship, and hard-rock attitude, a very listenable, heartfelt, worshipful record results.” - YouthWorker Journal

“A must-have for the youth worship leader as well as the main congregation’s worship; you’ll find music that is adaptable due to the lyrical strength and have a great listening experience.” - Worship Leader Magazine

Currently in the studio finishing up their next album, KUTLESS has sold over 400,000 copies of their previous releases to date. For tour dates and more information on Kutless visit www.kutless.com. Click here to purchase Strong Tower, if you don’t have it already.
by Steven Ertelt

Major Christian artists headline concert in Trumann

Local music enthusiasts are all looking forward to a celebration of faith through music as Christian recording artists Todd Agnew and Jonah 33 pack their bags and head to Trumann. The musicians will perform live beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Trumann Recreation Center.

Maple Grove Baptist Church is hosting the concert in conjunction with its Celebrate Recovery Program, a program designed to help people live free of addictions.

Maple Grove pastor Jim Shaw said he is excited about the opportunity of reaching people through the ministry of music.

“Contemporary Christian music has its place in a generation of people who have grown up enjoying music,” Rev. Shaw said. “Music motivates them, and they can identify with some of the songs.”

In a telephone interview last week, Todd Agnew also shared his passion about using music to share a message of hope to those who seem to be hopeless. He said this is a message people with addictions especially need to hear.

“Our music is all about God’s grace,” Agnew said. “That’s a real powerful message for people who are recovering from lots of different things. God is consistently forgiving and willing to walk with us through things. That’s a powerful message because it’s hard even for me to believe that at times. All the different things I’m capable of doing, and still God remains faithful to me.”

Agnew describes his music as a melting pot of sound drawn from different influences.

“There’s a little bit of blues, funk, gospel,” he said. “It’s really a smorgasbord of styles with a little bit of everyone.”

While music is a driving point for Agnew and his band, he said the heart of what he does lies in the message of the song.

“Lyrically, we’re really pointed and try to dig very deep,” he said. “We have a pretty strong message, a message that says there is hope for you wherever you are.”

Rev. Shaw said that the positive and encouraging message of Agnew and Jonah 33’s songs are one of the main reasons they invited the band to Trumann.

“The music is a good draw for people to hear about Christ,” Rev. Shaw said. “And it’s music that you’re not afraid for your kids to hear. It’s positive and encouraging, not like the negative message in so much other music.”

Agnew said he felt music presented a great opportunity to get across a message in a way that other forms of communication can not.

“Music has an easier route into the heart,” he said. “Any form of art has the capability to say more than words allow. It allows us to speak some of the groanings of the heart when words fall short at times. When you combine those two in music it can be very powerful.”

Agnew said that music has always been a part of his life, but has not always been a career goal. He started off leading worship in church, then moved on to youth camps and conferences. However, he knows that God had a bigger plan in store for his life.

“Even when we recorded the first album I had no intention to of coming this far career wise,” Agnew said. “It was just a door God opened and he kind of pushed us through. We’ve taken the last two and half years to figure out what we’re doing and how to be effective in this new environment.”

Rev. Shaw is excited about extending a Trumann welcome to Agnew and Jonah 33. More importantly, he is excited about the opportunity to make a lasting impact on people’s lives.

“I’m glad we’re able to do this,” Rev. Shaw said. “We want to offer an invitation for people who need hope and are looking for answers.”

Rev. Shaw said groups from as far away as Georgia have reserved tickets for the event this weekend. He and the church are hoping for a great turnout.

Tickets are on sale for $12 in advance at the Storehouse and the Lighthouse Bookstores in Jonesboro, at Hightowers in Trumann and at the church. Group tickets are $10 for each individual for groups of ten or more. Tickets may also be bought at the door for $15

By SAMANTHA MARTIN, Democrat Editor

Christian music’s message draws youth Students flock to Power of One for praise, worship

The music was loud and the message was louder at the 15th annual Power of One Festival on Saturday at the Resch Center and the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena in Ashwaubenon.

An array of Christian rock bands — hard rock, pop, contemporary — satisfied the tastes of the middle and senior high school students who came to the one-day event, even providing mosh pit possibilities.

But it was all about “music with a positive message,” said Dave Romanesko, director of marketing and development for Life! Promotions, the Appleton-based non-profit group that sponsors the Power of One.

“It’s an opportunity for youth from all denominations to come together for a day of praise and worship,” he said. “The music allows us to present Christianity as something really cool, more relevant to what the kids are listening to.”

He expected 5,000 to 7,000 young people and some parents to attend. Many of them had been there before, like La Thao, 18, of Appleton. The University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman brought her sister, Der, 20, and brother Peter, 25, with her. She and Der came last year.

“A lot more people are getting into it and the bands are getting more popular,” La said. “I like the message in their music.”

Hawk Nelson was her favorite group, and it was a hit with Zach Langlois, 8, who came from his home in Plover with his sister Samantha, 14, and parents, Mike and Kathleen Langlois.

“The message here is fantastic, and as adults, we have to encourage our kids to come here,” Mike said.

Maria Armbrust, 16, and Tony Dionne, 18, both from Marinette High School, enjoyed the festival, too.

“It’s one of the few times you can go and hear lots of Christian music,” Armbrust said. “This is cool.”

Dionne wasn’t a fan of Christian music before he came, but he agreed the event was worth attending.

“I’m rubbing off on him,” Armbrust said.

Like most of the young people there, Kristi Schive, 12, and Sam Bekkala, 12, both from Iron River, Mich., came with a church group. They’ve been to the festival before. Bekkala said the big draw for her was “the mosh pit … and I learn about God … The Power of One is the power of God.”

Schive said the reason her church makes the two-hour trip is to let youth “meet new friends and get close to God.”

Christian CDs were big sellers at the event, and booths for Christian colleges drew students. Life Missions, an arm of Life! Promotions, and Compassion International spread word of their efforts to help those in Third World countries through donations, education and sponsorship.
By Sean Schultz
sschultz@greenbaypressgazette.com

Christian Napster Meets American Idol -Nashville, Tenn. (www.songtouch.com) - The networks better take note: on November 9th hundreds of aspiring Christian artists will know whether they have won the ‘American Idol’ of the Christian music world.

The Talent Show is a competition for independent Christian artists who all want to make it big in the fastest-growing sector of the music biz. The show itself will feature 30 artists and bands, whittled down from hundreds of entries across the nation, and will take place in the heartland of the recording industry – Nashville, Tenn.

The winners will receive 20 hours of studio recording/editing time and the resulting CD will feature on SongTouch.com, dubbed the ‘ Christian Napster ‘ in TIME magazine and industry publications.

‘This is truly the American Idol of the Christian music industry,’ says Dave Dickinson, SongTouch Vice President of Operations. ‘The winner will gain immediate recognition in Nashville – home of Christian music – and will be up there alongside such bands as Pillar and Casting Crowns on the largest download site in the industry: SongTouch.com.’

The songs being performed at The Talent Show are positive, family music with entries of Christian country, Christian contemporary, Christian rock, southern gospel, and more. Judges are Derek Jones, VP of marketing for Word/Curb/Warner; George Collier, President of Aspiron Records; Eddie Crook, MorningStar Records; and Lloyd Knight, Rustic Records.

The Talent Show is a part of the Inspirational Music Awards and Convention. The Inspirational Music Awards and Convention is a yearly event that draws music fans, radio programmers and record company executives to Nashville to showcase music and to discuss industry related issues culminating with an award show on the final evening. The 11th annual event is scheduled for November 5-10, 2005 with the awards show being held at the historic Ryman Auditorium on November 10. The show will be nationally televised on Great American Country, a part of the Scripps Network. For more information, visit www.ccma.cc.