Serving the Voices Blog

Posts from March 2016

Loving Musicians Like Jesus

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If Jesus was walking the earth today where do you think He would hang out? Who do you envision He’d be spending His time with? In the Gospels we clearly see His game plan for life and ministry, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17 NIV.)

Jesus spent His time with real people who were dealing with real life challenges. Furthermore He chose to meet people where they were, in the midst of their circumstances, and He spent time with individuals who had social influence. The verse after Jesus invited Levi to follow Him; He’s seen at Levi’s house having a banquet with all of Levi’s friends (Luke 5:27-29).

So if Jesus was walking the earth today where do you think He would hang out? Who do you envision He’d be spending His time with? It stands to reason that one place He’d be is in music venues, spending time with musicians. More than anyone else Jesus would understand the unique challenges artists face. He would offer them hope, encouragement and freedom rather than clamoring for their touch and suffocating them with adoration.

The cultural influence of the music community can not be understated. 6 out of the top 10 profiles on Twitter are musicians, and those artists alone have a following that’s greater than the US population. Despite the level of influence and the rapid secularization of our nation the music community is a mission field that’s often overlooked. The Good News of our day is that Jesus is still walking the earth! His Spirit lives within His followers and we have the opportunity to follow His lead into the places of need around us. You can be A Different Brand of Fan…

 

Prayer for the Voices

Prayer for the Voices

Next Saturday (the 12th) at 12PM PST we are hosting our quarterly conference call for RYFO staff members, Host Home families, and financial partners to join together in prayer. If you believe in the mission of RYFO we invite you to commit to join us in “Prayer for the Voices.” Here are some ways you can focus your prayers:

-Health and safety for the bands who have started to hit the road now that winter is ending

-Provision for the RYFO staff members who raise missionary support through financial partnerships

-Effective recruiting of new Host Home families in areas of the country where we need to expand our network (mainly the East and West coasts)

-Blessing over our continuing efforts to develop and launch our Artist Chaplain program in 2016

Thank you in advance for those of you who will be praying with us. Please email our Communications Coordinator any insights you receive while you are praying: .

3 Keys to Transform Musicians Life Backstage

Key to transforming musicians lives

All around the country, communities of local musicians are the voices of their city’s music scene. Through their music these artists shape the cultural identity of their city. United in their experiences of being misunderstood, or feeling judged by the church, these local artists congregate in bars and clubs, music venues and concert halls—spaces where they feel welcomed and at home.

In addition to local artists, touring musicians typically spend more time on the road than they do at home. Their communities are their fellow bandmates and the other bands they tour with. When they return from long months on the road, touring musicians find it difficult to assimilate into the norms of life back home. They come back to find that life has gone on without them—often straining even their closest relationships.

In light of this reality, we’ve identified, and committed to focus on, 3 Keys to Transform Life Backstage:

1. Connectedness – The emptiness and isolation musicians often experience creates a need for genuine trustworthy relationships—relationships where they are given the opportunity to stop performing and simply be.

2. Sacrificial Service – The musician community needs servant-hearted individuals to identify and respond to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of artists.

3. The Love of Christ – Musicians who’ve lost their way, or those who are struggling to find it, are in desperate need of hope and truth. They need to be encouraged in the midst of their doubts, and reminded about their true identities.

If you resonate with the importance of these keys we invite you to partner with us by joining the RYFO FAM. For as little as “Five-a-month” you can become a Key Holder in transforming life backstage.

Are you a Key Holder?

[Click Here] to join the FAM

All donations are tax deductible. RYFO is a ministry of CRM (Church Resource Ministries), a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Anaheim, California. CRM is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that demonstrate compliance with established standards.