Rebecca St. James describes "the new face of worship" that she sees sweeping the world as "theology-rich music that rocks."
Currently on the U.S. “Worship Revolution Tour” with the UK’s top Christian worship band, Delirious? and fresh new young worship voice, Vicky Beeching, Rebecca St. James is seeing a real passion for reaching God with this generation’s music. It’s a fresh wind of change the Australian born artist says she's seeing all over the world. As recently noted in full one hour specials on both the Fox News Channel and CNBC, Christianity and Christian music has an ever changing face of relevance in the 21st century.
Notes St. James: “Last year we were in more than a dozen European countries on a three week tour and I was constantly amazed at how worship today knows no real boundaries. I saw a passion for worship in Bulgaria and a day or two later were we singing "Here I Am To Worship" in Moscow in the very shadow of the Kremlin—and there was such a sweet spirit of unity. We were at the Parachute Festival in New Zealand in January—and here more than 30,000 young people were rocking out with hands raised—praising God. It's an effect in today's Christianity I am seeing worldwide.”
It’s also a scene St. James and her tour mates are currently seeing repeated nightly on tour. Says St. James: "Our mission statement for the tour was to reach 'the heart of the church' with an event that would really engage not only concert goers but the the local Christian leadership. It's our goal to make a definite difference and a lasting impact for God on these concerts."
A unique facet of the “Worship Revolution” is the invitation extended by St. James and the other artists for local worship leaders to join them pre-concert for a time of prayer and reflection on the subject of reaching outside the walls of the church with the music and message. The time of questions and answers with the artists has produced full sessions at each night’s event.
“We need a ‘worship revolution’ every day,” notes Martin Smith of Delirious?, a band that has for more than a decade been a galvanizing force in changing the face of Christian music internationally.Songs such as ‘I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever,’ Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble,’ ‘Shout To the North,’ and a litany of modern anthems from the British group are regularly sung in worship services around the world. The band reached 25 countries last year—sweeping the gospel through their music. “Our job as musicians, worship leaders, and artists,” notes Smith, “is purely to lift up the name of Jesus. We want to create an atmosphere in which people can come with their hearts and tell Him that He’s amazing.”
The Worship Revolution has generated passionate crowds since taking to the road in mid-March in the northeastern US. The tour will continue on a full course schedule throughout mid-April.
