In short – yes. The Christian music scene is packed – pretty much any style you care to name, from most places in the UK. There is a market for Christian music – in the words of the Simpsons ‘Sorry, but there’s profit to be had‘. Worship leaders are also bustling to be heard in this cattle market – desperate to follow in the hallowed footsteps of Martin Smith, Matt Redman or Tim Hughes. So why would I try and follow suit and join the crowd?

I guess for me it comes back to the point of writing songs. I think songs are a way to express a feeling that cannot simply be conveyed by saying it out loud. When considering Christian songs I think these provide us with an opportunity to convey to God something that means something personal to the person writing it – and this often has the effect of meaning something to other people who listen to it. For me, at it’s very basic, this album contains songs that mean something to me and say something about my relationship with God and where it has been heading over the last few months and years.

I see Christian life as a journey which can be played really safe with our feet on the ground. However, I think I am starting to understand that God doesn’t want us to live our lives with our feet always on the ground – indeed He wants to teach us how to fly. This for me means actually putting into practise my faith by living that way God wants me to live, regardless of how stupid the world may tell me that is and striving to be someone who is more concerned with living a life that pleases God rather than a life that pleases man. That for me is the theme of where I am as a Christian and as such the theme of this album.

So what is the point of it? Why make it and sell it? Well for me the answer is two-fold:

Our church resides in an area of Portsmouth called Somers Town. This is a deprived area of the city made up of council owned property and large towerblocks and the area has many problems. However, one thing I have found is that the majority of people who live there are really quality people who are finding life hard and we as a church are really keen to show them something about Jesus, who He is and how much He loves them. I believe that music is a great way to convey this and so I would love to be able to get them to listen to the CD – music that is available for ‘free’ (i.e. radio) can contain such negativity and in my opinion it is a great thing to offer people the opportunity to listen to something that can change their lives for the better. The only problem is that they cannot afford to buy it – so the plan is to give the CD away to people we come into contact with as a church. We are not out to make big bucks out of the CD – but see it as much more worthwhile to get the words of Jesus into their lives. I have strived to make the CD the best that I can make it – not because I want it to be recognised amongst the other worship CD’s out there but because I want people to actually listen to it! Some Christians may give it a sympathy listen because ‘I tried my best’ but I am sure others will not be so forgiving.

My tongue in cheek start to this post may make it sound like either I am jealous of people like Matt Redman and Tim Hughes or I disagree with them producing worship albums for commercial use. This is not the case in the slightest – I have the greatest admiration for them as they have encouraged and facilitated me with their songs and their humbleness has shown me how I would like to be as a person and a worship leader. I have the greatest respect for them and think that God is really blessing them in the extremely difficult job that they have. I do not set out to try and be the next Matt Redman with this album however. I feel that God really needs people who are committed to their local area and committed to using music to reach people in that area. Why should you have to go to Soul Survivor or buy from Wesley Own to hear people gifted in leading worship? I don’t believe you should and so am excited to use whatever God given abilities I have in a local way and see that as something more important that setting my sights on being an international worship star.

So I release this CD with a lot of unknown about what will happen to it, who will hear it and what God will do with it. In my mind though, if one person hears it and it helps them to understand Jesus a bit better or draws them closer to Him in some way then it has been worth it.