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However, there was change this year during September, in fact. While the candidates and pundits were hashing over the same old stuff, Music Evangelism Foundation was preparing for something new. On September 8th the MEF musical team led by visionary founder Jamall Badry descended on the Welk Theatre in Branson, MO to prepare a new Down From His Glory presentation for our sixth concert series. The team had decided at the MEF Bible Conference in June that we would make some big changes for this year’s Branson concerts. Instead of the past programs where each artist did their own thing, we decided we would have several theme nights and tailor our programming accordingly. Of the four concerts we would do, we chose to stay with our old format of “everybody do their own thing” for the first night. Then on night two we would have an “America Celebration”, on night three a “Christmas Celebration”, and on night four an “Old Fashioned Hymn Sing”. Of course, this would take a lot of pre-coordination work on somebody’s part. Our team is quite exceptional at making things happen quickly, way better than most. However, like all artists, we do not herd very well. Point being, you do not get a bunch of artists organized for a major presentation overnight. So, huge ‘kudos’ go to Jamall, Paul Ferrin, and Scott Cameron for their work over the summer to get everything and everybody ready. Funny thing, after we made the decision to go for it, the immediate topic of conversation was, do you think it will work? Many of you noised the same. That is the interesting thing about a decision, you gather as much info as you can, but then you have to decide. I love what Charlie “Tremendous” Jones says, “No decision is a perfect decision when it is first made” (With the exception of deciding to trust Christ as Savior). “You gather all the info you can, then you make the decision and then you go to work to make it better.” Our decision galvanized the team. We made the announcement at the MEF Bible Conference in June so we boxed ourselves in. Then, Monday, September 8th came, the team arrived in Branson, and we began to pray and rehearse together in earnest. As we listened to each other and saw how the programming was coming together, we knew that God had gone before us to prepare what we could not, the presence of His Spirit. I wish you all could sit in on one of our prayer and preparation times. You would be amazed at the unity of spirit and all due to His Spirit’s presence among us. In an age of artist egotism and arrogance, it is so refreshing to be with artists of ‘world class’ talent dedicated to Jesus Christ. Do you know we have four, count them, four tenors on the program? Now, it is a known fact in the vocal world that there is no greater ego than that of ‘the tenor’. But you will not find a hint of that among our guys. We deeply love each other and readily praise each other’s talents and ministry. And another thing, in an age when it seems everything is pandering to the youth, it is so wonderful to sit in session with Jamall Badry, Ian Leitch, Jeannette Clift George, Russell Newport, and Paul and Marjorie Ferrin and drink from the cup of wisdom these dedicated servants deliver. I do no injustice to the Spirit and His power when I say how valuable these people are to the Kingdom and particularly to those of us who walk in their big footsteps just a few years behind. Well, my favorite night was Christmas. Of course, I did not know that it would be my favorite night until it happened, but ohhhhh, did it happen. The music was grand. I know heaven’s choir was contributing. We had decided to have a simple ‘nativity’ scene at the end of the evening, and when the Koenig Family children (10 children all adopted by one couple) came on stage, in costume and sang, “What Child is This”, I about lost it. Then to top it off, God’s Spirit was all over Ian Leitch as he presented the simple gospel in the birth of Jesus. Suffice it to say, we were in His presence and everybody knew it. It was one of those evenings you just did not want to end. God blessed with an average of five people per service making decisions for Christ. That makes all the work worth it. We may be artists, but we are evangels at heart. Nothing is more validating to our calling and service than to know that a new name is written down in Glory because God used us. For those of you who were with us, you are our best evaluators. We are so grateful for your affirming and encouraging words. For those of you who could not be with us, we missed you greatly and hope to see you soon. So, ‘change’ happened in Branson! We drastically changed the appearance of our presentation. We loved the change and according to you who were with us, you did, too. When the last note was sounded and the house went black, whatever change happened on stage is gathering dust in our memories. But the God we serve is the God who never changes, the same yesterday, today and forever. Our unchanging God used us in Branson to make real change in the hearts of many. If we know Him, we know about this change. By His grace, He changed our hearts. “picked us up out of a horrible pit, put our feet on solid rock, established our going and put a ‘new song’ in our hearts, even praise to His name.” This is not change that will make the nightly news and be discussed by the candidates and pundits. Here is what I know. Far beyond all the rhetoric of presidential candidates and their posturing about change, there is only one “change you can believe in.” Rufus McDaniel had it right in 1914 when he wrote one of my favorite gospel songs “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart.” |
