Change Through Worship: Soulfest & Gospel Fest!

Last weekend I got to do something I have desired to do for years, I led worship at Soulfest! Soulfest is a 3 day Christian Music Festival in New England. It was located in Greenfield, MA at the Franklyn Park Fairgrounds and attracted well known and lesser known Christian artists including We the Kingdom, Switchfoot and Katy Nichole (Pictured with me above) and Shelby Patterson from a local church in Reading, MA!

Now before you get too excited, I wasn’t invited to showcase on the main stage (Praying for that in the coming years), it was an end of the night opportunity… none the less, I got to lead “Goodness of God” for a packed house of worshippers accompanied by Paul Coleman and his band! Big thanks for my friend Karen Gerbi that accompanied me on this adventure!

Change Through Music (Part 1)

Worshipping changes hearts! When we put aside our petty squabbles and nagging fears to raise our voices in song, we find joy; we find peace; we experience comfort- it breaks down walls.

Our worship on a Sunday mornings softens the hearts of the crowd to prepare them to hear the message more deeply. When we listen to a meaningful song to or about God, on our computer, phone or in the car, God moves in us. Music is powerful and God is all powerful- put those two things together and change is on the way!

Katy Nichole is one of my new favorite artists. I was blessed to hear her in a songwriter’s circle and then meet her and give her a copy of my book: Vocal Training for Praise Singers, and finally watch her on a main stage concert. She is only 25, but writes songs that reach my heart deeply. I already cover her song “My God Can” which his based on one of my own them scriptures Philippians 4:13

She also shared a new song “Have Your Way” which is a rocking anthem of surrender. You must check it out!

But for today’s theme of change I want to highlight “Healing Now” which lays bare Katy’s earlier anxiety and depression and path to healing through God. Because we can’t change a world, a country, a town, a community even a family without healing each individual one by one. “Healing Now” its emotional, raw and relevant. Thank you Katy for baring your soul. I see the pain in the eyes of my own students as a voice teacher and long for them to find this same healing.

One of my new songs to be released soon is called “Someone to Dry Your Eyes”- a song I wrote in response to the pain I saw in the hearts and lives of many children I used to teach many emotionally challenged kids in the foster system. But in order to heal, it takes first knowing you are loved. The next song I plan to release is called “Masterpiece.” (Here’ a live acoustic version) It is so important that we know we are loved by God; in fact, we are His masterpiece of creation!

Change Through Music (Part 2)

Above we discussed how we can bring change one person at a time through the music we make as artists, through teaching and at church; in this section I want to focus on how we can bring change as a community.

My colleague, Professor Angela Perry, from our Berklee ensemble department, is partnering with Boston Mayor Wu and representatives from churches across Boston to produce this year’s Gospel Fest!

I LOVE their vision to unite worship leaders from churches across the city! It is so easy for us to be divided by apposing doctrines we practice. So often we who preach unity and brotherhood can be arrogant and divisive. No, we don’t all agree on all aspects of salvation- and I am not playing down the importance of sound doctrine; we certainly still need to be open to honest discussions about truth in scripture- BUT we of genuine faith MUST look for where we agree!

One thing we all appear to agree on is the need to glorify the Lord through our worship. How can we use this to lead others to Him?- And to produce positive change in the City of Boston? Or your city?

My friend Angela reached out to many churches, inviting us to bring a representative praise team to join in Gospel fest. It is happening Labor Day weekend, honestly a tough weekend to find people available, but those involved are sold out! By raising our voices together in song, we plan to spread the word in music that we want love to conquer hate, praise to overcome violence and unity to overwhelm division and prejudice! These are things not easily accomplished by the secular world.

Sadly, I was the only caucasian person at the last rehearsal; And my friend Rebekah, the only Asian- even the worship in Boston is still too segregated- we have a ways yet to go, but I have hope. This is a beginning! It gives me ideas of how else I might gather people together across churches!

In fact, I am already doing that with the Berklee Worships Concerts I direct every Spring at Berklee College of Music! There, I can build unity between the worship leaders of tomorrow!

How did I get involved in Gospel Fest?

It’s a fun little story! Angela and I had never met before the day we were both hired to judge entering student placement auditions for Berklee College of Music where we are both professors, she in the ensemble department and me in the voice department. We had some down time between students and got to gabbing. Discovering that we were both worship leaders, she at Morning Star Baptist in Mattapan, MA and me at the Boston Church in Lowell, MA was cool enough! Then she told me about Gospel Fest and I got excited! By the time the day was over I was jazzed to bring a team from my church to take part!

After the first rehearsal I was even more excited about the this incredible event!

WHEN: Sunday evening, August 31st, 5-8pm

WHERE: Leader Bank Pavilion 290 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

WHO: Gospel Choirs and Worship Teams from across Boston- AND YOU!

WHAT: An exceptional evening of worship, building unity between churches and individuals across Boston!

Come join the movement!

By the way- I will be leading “Holy Forever” at the concert

“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.” – Psalm 30:4