A busy autumn...
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
16:43
1
Hi all... it's been a while since I've updated this blog - apologies for that - but I just wanted to catch up with the events of the autumn, and let you know about next year's plans...
UNITED STATES
I made a short trip to the US towards the end of September. My first stop was at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, where I did some teaching for the graduate worship program there, along with my good friend Aaron Keyes (many of you will know the song we co-wrote based on Psalm 62, "My soul finds rest" which is on the "There is a hope" album), and some of the team from Lifeway.
It was a really enjoyable trip, and it was great to meet some of the staff who are working so hard to equip students for ministry, not least Vernon Whaley, who heads up the program. There was also a real hunger among the students to learn and be challenged.
I then flew on to Nashville, where I did an interview with Mike Harland for Lifeway's website (you can view this by clicking here), and had lunch with some of their team. I really appreciate all they do to help provide resources for the church throughout the US and internationally. They have also been very supportive of my songs in the US, and have produced a number of recordings, octavos and sheet music of my songs (as you can see here).
During my time in Nashville I stayed with Gary and Debra Sadler, and I got some time to do some writing with Gary - he is such a gifted writer, it was a real privilege to work with him. I'm hoping that at least a couple of the ideas we had will end up as songs on my next album!
SOUTH AFRICA
October saw my first ever visit to South Africa! I had been invited to be part of a couple of conferences in Johannesburg with John Piper, so it was an opportunity not to turn down! I was also able to take some musicians with me, so it was really fun to share the experience with Mark Edwards, Julian Ferraretto and Matt Weeks. The conferences went great, it was very stimulating to work with John Piper again, and meet his family (right) we also visited Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg (here I am with Julian Ferraretto and Mark Edwards), and at the end of our trip actually went on a two day safari!
The conferences were actually run by a small church called Antioch Bible Church, headed up by Tim Cantrell. They did an amazing job, and I really want to commend them for their vision, their faith, and their hard work!
LEE ABBEY
Straight after the South Africa trip I spent a week at Lee Abbey in North Devon with the family. We are invited there more or less every year, and for all the Townend family it is one of our favourite places in the world! For those of you who don't know anything about it, it is a Christian community that hosts retreats, conferences and holidays throughout the year. The atmosphere is so relaxed, the scenery is so beautiful, and the team is so inspiring that it really is a privilege to be involved. Take a look for yourself. I spoke on the power of the cross to stand firm, to live and to worship in daily life. I also did a short solo concert on one of the evenings, which is always good fun!
OAK HILL COLLEGE
In early November I did a morning's teaching at Oak Hill Theological College. This was my second visit there, and I really value the opportunity to have input into people who are going on to be key church leaders in years to come. Oak Hill also has a nice family connection for me, as it was where my Dad did his training for ministry in the Anglican church three decades ago.
MISSION WORSHIP
Kingsway's an
nual worship event was as much fun as ever! In addition to the seminars, I got to bring the Creation Sings team to play at the Saturday evening celebration, and that seemed to be really well received. Mission Worship is also a fantastic opportunity to meet up with various people in music ministry, as it really is a unique bringing together of people from many different streams and movements, but with a great sense of unity and preferring one another.
Photo: Andy Colthart www.jharts.co.uk
REDEEM CITIES BELFAST
I was invited by Jeremy and Ann Simpkins to be part of this 2 day New Frontiers event with Mark Driscoll in mid-November, looking at strategies for reaching cities with the gospel. It was great to meet up with Mark again (albeit briefly), and he was his usual inspiring, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is self! I also really enjoyed spending time with Dave Stroud (who heads up New Frontiers UK) and David Capener, who leads a church plant in Belfast. It was also a lovely surprise to see Trish and Malc Morgan at the event. Trish you may remember was for many years lead singer with Heartbeat at the time my brother Ian was in the band.
NEXT YEAR...
We are planning a number of solo and band events for 2011, but I have set aside part of January and February to focus on writing songs, with a view to recording a new album in March. Although we are still in the early stages of planning, I am looking for this to be in part a development of the more acoustic, folk sound we explored on the "Creation Sings" album (although not limited to that). And I would appreciate your prayers for some inspiration (and discipline!) to get enough songs written to make a strong album.
UNITED STATES
I made a short trip to the US towards the end of September. My first stop was at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, where I did some teaching for the graduate worship program there, along with my good friend Aaron Keyes (many of you will know the song we co-wrote based on Psalm 62, "My soul finds rest" which is on the "There is a hope" album), and some of the team from Lifeway.
It was a really enjoyable trip, and it was great to meet some of the staff who are working so hard to equip students for ministry, not least Vernon Whaley, who heads up the program. There was also a real hunger among the students to learn and be challenged.
I then flew on to Nashville, where I did an interview with Mike Harland for Lifeway's website (you can view this by clicking here), and had lunch with some of their team. I really appreciate all they do to help provide resources for the church throughout the US and internationally. They have also been very supportive of my songs in the US, and have produced a number of recordings, octavos and sheet music of my songs (as you can see here).
During my time in Nashville I stayed with Gary and Debra Sadler, and I got some time to do some writing with Gary - he is such a gifted writer, it was a real privilege to work with him. I'm hoping that at least a couple of the ideas we had will end up as songs on my next album!
SOUTH AFRICA
October saw my first ever visit to South Africa! I had been invited to be part of a couple of conferences in Johannesburg with John Piper, so it was an opportunity not to turn down! I was also able to take some musicians with me, so it was really fun to share the experience with Mark Edwards, Julian Ferraretto and Matt Weeks. The conferences went great, it was very stimulating to work with John Piper again, and meet his family (right) we also visited Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg (here I am with Julian Ferraretto and Mark Edwards), and at the end of our trip actually went on a two day safari!
The conferences were actually run by a small church called Antioch Bible Church, headed up by Tim Cantrell. They did an amazing job, and I really want to commend them for their vision, their faith, and their hard work!
LEE ABBEY
Straight after the South Africa trip I spent a week at Lee Abbey in North Devon with the family. We are invited there more or less every year, and for all the Townend family it is one of our favourite places in the world! For those of you who don't know anything about it, it is a Christian community that hosts retreats, conferences and holidays throughout the year. The atmosphere is so relaxed, the scenery is so beautiful, and the team is so inspiring that it really is a privilege to be involved. Take a look for yourself. I spoke on the power of the cross to stand firm, to live and to worship in daily life. I also did a short solo concert on one of the evenings, which is always good fun!
OAK HILL COLLEGE
In early November I did a morning's teaching at Oak Hill Theological College. This was my second visit there, and I really value the opportunity to have input into people who are going on to be key church leaders in years to come. Oak Hill also has a nice family connection for me, as it was where my Dad did his training for ministry in the Anglican church three decades ago.
MISSION WORSHIP
Kingsway's an
nual worship event was as much fun as ever! In addition to the seminars, I got to bring the Creation Sings team to play at the Saturday evening celebration, and that seemed to be really well received. Mission Worship is also a fantastic opportunity to meet up with various people in music ministry, as it really is a unique bringing together of people from many different streams and movements, but with a great sense of unity and preferring one another.Photo: Andy Colthart www.jharts.co.uk
REDEEM CITIES BELFAST
I was invited by Jeremy and Ann Simpkins to be part of this 2 day New Frontiers event with Mark Driscoll in mid-November, looking at strategies for reaching cities with the gospel. It was great to meet up with Mark again (albeit briefly), and he was his usual inspiring, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is self! I also really enjoyed spending time with Dave Stroud (who heads up New Frontiers UK) and David Capener, who leads a church plant in Belfast. It was also a lovely surprise to see Trish and Malc Morgan at the event. Trish you may remember was for many years lead singer with Heartbeat at the time my brother Ian was in the band.
NEXT YEAR...
We are planning a number of solo and band events for 2011, but I have set aside part of January and February to focus on writing songs, with a view to recording a new album in March. Although we are still in the early stages of planning, I am looking for this to be in part a development of the more acoustic, folk sound we explored on the "Creation Sings" album (although not limited to that). And I would appreciate your prayers for some inspiration (and discipline!) to get enough songs written to make a strong album.
Greetings Stuart, from Dallas, TX.
Do you have plans to come back to the US in 2011? Would gladly hop on a plane to fly wherever. Would be excited to learn of any plans to come out to Texas ... anywhere in Texas. You have many fans out this way! Two of your songs I recently 'discovered' and have encouraged me greatly: Spirit of Heaven (Christ in Me), and O Church Arise. And so many more. The Holy Spirit continues to work in and through me, through your music, giving me a new peace and joy. Hard to describe but wonderful to experience.
Thanks for your faithfulness to spread the message of God's unfailing love.
Bob Bartley