But the mission statement of Candlefuse says it all, again, in the most direct manner: "With purpose, poetry, and passion, we choose to follow Jesus Christ and the ministry example He set: To go out into the highways and hedges and compel souls to come in. We pray that our ministry will bring edification to the body of Christ and be a hand of comfort and healing to an aching world in need of His love." The purpose and passion part are pretty self-explanatory but I wanted to hear Ben's take on the poetry.
"It has everything to do with our music, written by myself and bass player Steven Howell. We see our music as art, as far as our lyrics and arrangements," he explained. "It all flows together, allowing us to use what God gave us to penetrate the culture."
It's what Ben most wants listeners to take away from the unique and penetrating music of Candlefuse. "Ministry doesn't have to imply mediocrity," he says. "We don't, as Christians, have to accept the stereotype that as artists we are somehow inferior to our secular counterparts. We should be even more creative than they are with the gifts that God has given us, in expressing ourselves musically and lyrically." He adds also, "The other message underlying all of our songs is that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven." He claims dc Talk as the band most influential to his own ministry development, and it's easy to see the comparison in mission if not music.
Matt. 5:14 and Psalm 133:1 are the Scriptural references that explain their choice of name and mission, to be a light to the dark world with music as their communication medium. I think of God's willingness to use the humble as Ben tells me a bit about his early days.
"I've been writing music for about five years now, playing guitar since I was 14. I was really shy when I began and actually never played in front of anyone for a long time. But eventually I started playing with the worship team in front of the church and that's where it began for me. Candlefuse actually began when another band came to the church and it really struck me that I needed to get serious about my music."
Sometimes the best things come from inauspicious beginnings. "Never Go Unheard" is Candlefuse's challenge to the community, ten stirring and well-crafted tracks produced by Dove-winner Barry Blair. (Find review here.) Candlefuse puts a point on it, and a poetic point at that.
