Aaron decided Scott and Jana needed a legit Bible Belt experience, abd there’s really nothing more “southern” than strangers talking to each other about Jesus. He bought us all tickets to the Chris Tomlin Holy Roar tour. The girls were SUPER excited when we told them they were coming, too. More than Chris Tomlin, who’s great, we are all fans of Tauren Wells. One of our favorite songs is Hills and Valleys and it was really special to hear it live.
“No matter where I am, I’m standing in Your love. On a mountain I will bow my life to the One who set me there. In the valley I will lift my eyes to the One who sees me there. When I’m standing on a mountain I didn’t get there on my own. When I’m walking through the valleys I know I am not alone.”
One difference I noticed about Christian rock vs other concerts I’ve attended, is that all of the lyrics are posted up on the jumbo screen. Why? So you can sing along, of course!
And everyone did. Thousands of Christians together, all singing songs of praise. I’m sure there were dozens of denominations represented there, but the music brought people together in a lovely way. What a way to kick off the Holy Week! Errrrybody was excited about Easter and they were so joyful and unapologetic about it.
Chris Tomlin took some time to do present his personal ministry to the crowd. It’s one that’s pretty close to my heart.
His platform is from Psalm 68:6 “God setteth the solitary in families...”
There are 107,900+ children in the United States waiting for a forever family. These are children who’s parents rights have already been terminated and they are adoptable TODAY. There are over 400,000 children currently in foster care. We need good homes for these most vulnerable, precious children of God.
Chris and his wife have started a non profit to help connect adoptive children to families. Their philosophy is pretty basic. There are over 400,000 Christian congregations in the United States. If just ONE family in every four congregations opened their home to a waiting child, there would be ZERO children waiting for families in the United States. Can you imagine? So he’s using his concerts as a platform to shine a spotlight on the need for more foster and adoptive homes to open. Angel Armies funds organizations that train foster families. Like in Arkansas we have The Call, which is a church and community funded organization that trains Christian families to foster or adopt. We did our PRIDE training directly through DHS, and it took nearly a year to open our home. Through one of these organizations, a family can be trained and opened within just a few weeks. This is huge because few people know what their lives will look like in 1-2 years, but the coming 6 months are a little more predictable, so a fast turnaround entices a wider range of families who will be willing to take in children.
Anyway, Chris has all of the foster and adoptive families in the concert audience stand up. There were so many of us! It was amazing. The answer really is “the church”, as these fires up rock singers say. One family in four congregations. This seems possible. Why? Because if we cannot take in children ourselves, we can still commit to minister to a family who is able, right now. Education and respite and just following promptings from the Spirit to love and pray for and uplift and connect. Why Christians? Because we understand the worth of souls. We understand the value of a family. We know that every child is a child of God. Because Jesus loves children and we are commanded to love them and care for them and become more like them.
We need to take care of each other. Not just the people we can see, but the invisible needs in our communities and congregations as well. Foster children are often so invisible and the work can sometimes not feel like work at all. On other days? I wonder why in the world Heavenly Father thought I was capable of such a charge. It is such a blessing to have some friends who understand this roller coaster very well and know I can reach out to them for support and encouragement. It’s possible when we take care of each other. One family can ministers to the waiting child, because 3 families will minister to that family.
I just read that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints just donated 10 million dollars from the humanitarian aid fund to provide transitional housing in Salt Lake City for the homeless. YES. Yes yes yes. Again, it goes back to the mission to “strengthen home and family.” We are a home centered, church supported church.
Anyway, yeah, sure, it was a teeny bit different for me to be at a big awakening event with peoples hands in the air in praise and worship and shouting all the amens.
But not really.
It just felt like a bunch of Christians being Christians. Enjoying a wholesome family activity, good music that also praises the Savior and encourages us to be “more Christian Christians.”
We’ve spent more on football game tickets abd didn’t come home so motivated to do good will and love one another, so I’d say it was 10/10 perfect evening.
