On November 20 and 30, 2007, I, Tom, had the time of my life. First, let me say that I grew up with Southern Gospel music. I cut my teeth on fine quartet harmonies, studied gospel music at the Stamps-Baxter School of Music, and sang back-up with JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet (Live at Murray State album, 1975). My Grandpa Case taught shape note music in the hills of West Virginia; around Duck, to be exact, using the old song books. I have been around quartets, chiors, and such, that one might think that I would not venture out of my "genre".
Well, on the mentioned dates, I not only "ventured" out, but I plunged right in the middle of a style that, I must confess, had little knowledge of - REGGAE. And was I in for a surprise.
The Reggae Band, CHRISTAFARI, did a one night special presentation for our church on Nov 20. Our pastor, Carlito Paes, later told me that the church has never had so many lost, un-churched people in attendance at one time. The jam packed, 3000 plus crowd (we turned away over 1000) was in for a treat as the award winning, CHRISTAFARI band did a three hour, 25 song program, that left us all singing and swaying reggae by the end of the night.
But the most spectacular thing was how the gospel presentation was weaved into the music thru personal testimonies, and the lyrics to the songs. I translated for lead vocalist Mark Mohr, also founder of the band. His testimony, and gospel presentation was so powerful; so "right-on", that I was deeply impressed. Not only was I impressed with the "word", but the influence of the word. At the end of the program 55 first time salvation decisions were made for Jesus Christ. WOW!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Mark invited me to accompany the band on their 3 week tour of Brazil, but I already had a family seminar scheduled, plus a few days planned with the family to celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary. I did spend one day with them at the beach.
Several of the 11 band members are avid surfers, and they wanted to surf Brazil. What blew me away was the fact that in every surf shop we looked in, trying to rent boards, the band was immediately identified. Even after the beach, I took Avion Blackman, Mark's wife , bass player, and vocalist, into a store. The clerk that waited on us knew the band.
Well, needless to say, I felt really out of touch with reality, as these were lost people, not church people, whom were recognizing one of the most successful reggae bands of all times, and they are Christian. And I don't mean in name, but in deed. This band truely wants to glorify God with their lives. Later, in a news paper interview I translated, mark was asked what is the most important thing to the band. His response, "KEEP JESUS FIRST!"
On Nov. 30th, I did assist by translating for the band on thier LIVE in BRAZIL dvd recording. It was a special night in São Paulo, again, over 3000 people packed into a church, and again over 3 hours of music and testimony. Again, many decisions for Jesus Christ. By the way, my part will be edited out. The producers didn't want me translating anything at all. They wanted pure English, but Mark would not hear of it. He asked, "How will people be able to hear the gospel and be saved?"
If you would like to learn more about CHRISTAFARI, go to www.christafari.com , or to www.gospelreggae.com . You can read a blog that Mark Mohr posted at http://www.gospelreggae.com/news/all/78da33344a0600015d00c7/detail.html
I don't have many good pics, as my camera went haywire, but here are a few to give you an idea. By the way, I am beginning to understand what they are saying on their CDs, and I like it a lot...... smiles =)
