The Conversation (watch video)
Serving as worship pastor at my church in Nashville for 4 years gave me a new perspective on the value of a church concert. As I entered back into full time music ministry, I desired more for the congregations I would visit than my typical, traditional concert could offer. “The Conversation” is our best attempt at creating an evening that is valuable for a church body on many levels.
This event was born out of my passion for the journey of faith, and my appreciation for the unique role the arts play in revealing truth to human beings. I prayed that God would allow me to marry these passions in whatever he led me to do, and that prayer led to a vision. Mocha Club caught the vision and helped me shape and craft it until it became, “The Conversation.”
Through songs and stories and video, we explore the reality of the presence of Jesus in our everyday lives. We consider how we miss his voice, as well as how we hear him… We ask the question, “What does Jesus really have to do with my life, day to day…” as songs of everyday joys and struggles weave through the evening.
Songs are mysteriously suited to say things we do not usually say. Music is mysteriously effective at opening our ears to the truth we can not otherwise hear. And that is the hope of “The Conversation.” We long to open our ears to the greatest conversation – the ceaseless prayer we read about in Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica. But we need help seeing past the brilliant illusion of this concrete life. At least I do.
Having said all this, if the goal of the evening were only set as high as raising our spiritual antenna, this whole thing would be a waste of time. No, we want to become like him. We want him to replace our heart with his heart – our passions with his passions, and he came to bring freedom to the oppressed… to deliver good news to the poor. This is why partnering with Mocha Club has been such a vital and providential piece. The work they do across Africa is stunning, and “The Conversation” gives listeners a window into their ministry, and a challenge to remember the poor and oppressed across Africa and across the world.
It is no small thing to be entrusted with the ears of a congregation, but as the Lord leads I am excited about any opportunity to partner with churches across the country and the world that might see “The Conversation” as a valuable artistic tool for their ministry. Thanks for prayerfully considering it.
Peace to you,
Randall