Christian Music Online

Trumann concert Major Christian artists

November 17, 2005 – 10:59 am

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

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