Louder Than The Music

I had heard a lot about Jesus Culture over the last few years. Friends were giving me rave reviews of how these guys were the next big thing in the world of Christian worship, yet sadly I had never heard any of their albums. It wasn't until a few months ago when I was asked to play guitar at my little sisters wedding that I even got to hear a Jesus Culture song. The Bride and Groom wanted 'Holding Nothing Back' by Tim Hughes as one of the songs played during the time of worship at the wedding. This was fine until I was told they wanted the rockier Jesus Culture version with the big guitar riff intro to be played, thank goodness for the internet.

With the release of Jesus Culture's new live CD/DVD 'Come Away' coming very soon, I really had to go and check them out when I heard that these guys were coming to Cardiff. Just in case you haven't heard of Jesus Culture before, they are a Christian youth outreach ministry that hosts regular conferences around the US and the world. The Jesus Culture band achieved unprecedented success earlier this year when its 'My Passion EP' landed a top 10 spot on the main US iTunes download chart.

It has seem to have become a little bit of a joke that whenever I go to events or gigs I seem to have a 'driving drama' on the way. This event is no exception, it all started when I got home at around at 6 o'clock thinking I had an hour and a half to have tea and then drive out to north Cardiff. It wasn't until I checked facebook that I saw the event started at 7, and panic quickly kicked in. I scoffed down the Pizza and drove as fast as possible (within the law of course) to the event.

Unfortunately a small golfing event called The Ryder Cup was being played out in Newport and we had to drive on part of the connecting road between Newport and Cardiff, the traffic was crazy. I didn't know so many people enjoyed golf, this slowed us down but thankfully we just made it in time.

What captured everyone from the start was the fast paced energetic worship that Jesus Culture had been producing on their albums, song after song of big anthemic worship. People were engaging with God through these songs from the word go, led stunningly by the band. Some of the songs they played were Holy, Fire Fall Down and the Delirious song Obsession, singing over and over "My heart burns for You".

After an hour of continuous worship, we were led in a time of healing and then preaching. The preacher talked a lot about the history of revival in Wales and also a bit about the Welsh revivalist Christmas Evans (yes that really was his name!). Overall a good and very challenging talk. The event finished more than half and hour later than it was meant to, but when God shows up time means nothing. 

It would be easy just to put Jesus Culture in the same bracket as Hillsong United, as they do have similarities with big sounds, big anthems, big lights and passionate singing. But what I heard and saw last night from Jesus Culture was how they wanted to see God move and heal people within the worship and were not scared to let God move people into action. If nothing else, I learnt that I wanted to be a light in this culture, I want to live in a Jesus Culture. Amen.

Jono