Rend Collective Experiment Live On The Red Letter Revolution Tour
Northern Ireland worship band Rend Collective Experiment have joined best selling authors and speakers Dr Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne for the three-date Red Letter Revolution Tour in the UK this summer.
Worship Leader Ian Yates, who released the brilliant album 'Good News' earlier this year, went along to the opening night of the tour in Birkenhead, and sent LTTM this special guest blog.
Red Letter Revolution Tour:
Tonight was the first night of the Red Letter Revolution Tour in Birkenhead, which is on the Wirral, across the water from Liverpool.
The tour is 3 evening events with best selling authors Dr Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne in which they will talk candidly about the "red letters" of Scripture, life and teaching of Jesus and the wisdom He offers our fractured world, with worship led by Rend Collective.
Doug Ross, who runs Spilt Milk Bookings and has organised the tour, started off the evening by welcoming everyone and then a downsized Rend team led the people in worship kicking off with 'You Are My Vision' which led into 'Build Your Kingdom'. One thing I love about this songs is that it is always sang with passion by Chris. Gareth also brought out his old European instrument called the Jingling Johnny for this song.
You craft life from our mistakes.
Black skies of my regrets outshone by this kindness;
New life dawns over my soul."
The guys then handed over to Dr Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne who started off the conversation. Both were really engaging, inspiring, funny and challenging. Both men are passionate about making a difference in our world and both shared stories of life defining moments and also about some people who inspired them, like Mother Theresa and St Francis of Assisi. Tony Campolo also shared a powerful story from the second world war in Bulgaria which was really moving
The evening finished with Tony giving the challenge for people to sponsor a child with Compassion.Rend then closed the evening off with 'Amazing Grace', requested by Tony, and a final version of 'Build Your Kingdom Here'.
In the end I think 31 Children were sponsored. Compassion are a great charity and I know the Rend guys are really passionate about working with them. Checkout compassion at CompassionUK.org.
Overall a challenging and inspiring evening.
Ian Yates
The Red Letter Tour also visits:
Southampton (22nd Aug), Belfast (23rd Aug).
