Alive on the Island organizer Pat Moore Christian Music

Alive on the Island organizer Pat Moore

August 24, 2009 – 7:54 pm

PAT MOORE first started singing gospel songs at church when he was nine years old.

Pat Moore

Since then, he’s recorded a Christian album with the group Four for the Lord that won two national awards. His latest project, Alive on the Island, will bring more than 20 international and local Christian artists to Cape Breton on Friday for a weekend of gospel music. Musical acts range from hip hop to country, from rock to choral.

Q: How did you get involved in the Christian music scene?

A: Ever since I was nine years old, I’ve been singing in church. So I’ve always done Christian music, but more specifically a few years ago some friends of mine asked me to join a group and do a recording. . . . We won two national awards with the CD and were nominated for numerous awards, and we performed and got to travel a little bit.

But during that time, I realized there was no Christian music played here, in this community, because there was no Christian music station. And the other stations that were here, Christian music didn’t fit the format. So it was difficult to get (our music) played on the radio.

Q: What’s your vision for the Alive on the Island Festival?

A: I think the vision is to develop a fan base here for Christian music, but also to bring in tourists. What we want to do really, is expose people to a whole new kind of music, because Christian music is a different genre but encompasses all other types. We’ll have people come and enjoy it, and hopefully we’ll develop a group that will come back.

Q: We’ve seen Christian music evolve from traditional hymns at church services to contemporary rock songs. What do you think of that evolution?

A: We’re witnessing an evolution in music, period. We’ve got a hip-hop artist coming in (Fresh I.E.) and he does great stuff, people just have to listen to the words and understand what he’s saying. And basically, it’s got the same message as what the Gaithers are going to say when they sing He Touched Me. It’s the same message, just delivered in a different way. That evolution is not so much in the fact that we’re hearing more Christian music, it’s just more in the way it’s being presented.

. . . I think the word of God can be presented in many, many ways, by a hip-hop artist or a rock artist or a country artist. And that’s what we’re doing with this festival — we’re presenting that message through all kinds of different groups.

Q: Attendance at organized church services has been on the decline for about 50 years. How do you think that contemporary Christian music can affect that?

A: Attendance at the traditional church, there’s no question (it) has fallen off. I don’t think there’s any less Christians. The Christian Church is not necessarily a building.

Jesus said ‘Where two or more are gathered in my name’ (is worship). So church is what we’re doing right now, you and I, sitting here and talking about God. It’s the same thing that goes on inside that building. . . . Church is everywhere. So when people go to these concerts, they may not necessarily go to the building but they’re still getting the message.

Q: What, if anything, will non-Christians get out of attending Alive on the Island?

A: We have something for everybody. The Oak Ridge Boys have 66 albums out, and they have major hits like Elvira, Bobbie Sue, that have been played all over the world. People who are fans of theirs will hear that kind of music when they go there.

It’s not going to be all Christian music at the show. So, people that come to that, whether they’re interested in Christian music or not, will be entertained by a group that’s had number one hits. And if they want to attend the other shows, they will see very professional acts and hear excellent music.

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