Drive
In the two years since we’ve released the Prepare album, we’ve done pretty well, considering it was a local project with no backing. The idea was always to do the project as something for our church family, and make it available to anyone who wanted it. We’ve given away dozens of CDs to new believers and visitors to Gospel Light, and that was by design.
Now, there is an opportunity to use this project to do some good, and we’re hoping you’ll help. We’ve been using proceed from the record and other sources to upgrade the instruments and sound equipment at Gospel Light. This is not a vanity thing; we’ve been able to replace some equipment that really needed to go, and improve the volume and clarity of the worship and media presentations to make them more comfortable and effective. We’ve recycled some of the old equipment to use in street outreaches and other evangelistic events. We’re pretty happy with that.
We’ve outgrown our old mixing desk. Nothing really wrong with it; it just isn’t meeting our needs anymore. We’re hoping to get a new, digital mixer to facilitate further improvement to the worship environment, as well as better quality recording for our sermons, and perhaps even our worship services. (We’ve had over 13,000 sermon downloads!)
We’d like to continue to sew seeds, mainly by passing on our current mixer to another church that needs it. We have a church plant in Waterbury, Connecticut that just moved into a new, larger facility, and is no longer serviced by the portable mixer they are now using.
Here’s where you come in… if all of the people who “friended” our Facebook page posted a link to this page on their own Facebook profiles, that would reach over 60,000 people. Add Twitter, Google+ and word-of-mouth, we can reach over 100,000 people. If just one percent of them bought an album, we could raise enough to purchase a new mixer, give our old mixer to Beacon of Light Community Church, and buy them wiring and a power amp.
It’s easy to help. Hopefully you already own the Prepare album. If not, click the “Swag” link at the top of the page, head over to Amazon or iTunes or CDBaby and download the album. Every nickle we get (after paying the songwriters, of course) goes to ministry. If you have any questions, you can email them to worship@gospellightcommunitychurch.com
Pretty easy, huh?
Scoop
When the idea of recording a worship album first came to our heads back in 2008, it seemed so simple at first. After all, we had been asked time and again by our home congregation to make an album so that they could worship with music that was familiar to them.
Another goal was to come up with songs with a definite message, something we could give to people who were just coming to know the Lord, or who hadn’t even gotten to that point. We decided that it would be a good idea; the only question was how to do it?
We spent a lot of time and effort during that year recording ourselves live – during services, during rehearsals. We never seemed to capture the sound we wanted. We decided that we would either have to get a lot more equipment, or to try and record a studio album. With the encouragement of our pastors and congregation, we set out to record a studio project – something that could be used not only for personal worship, but to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. The theme of the record would be “evangelism” of all forms – reaching out to others, hearing God’s call, drawing closer to God.
It wasn’t easy. We would learn that recording in a studio would be completely different from playing live. It would take a lot of time, a lot of effort, and some new skills. After several months of recording, we were ready to begin mixing the album when disaster struck – due to a severe electrical storm, and our lack of sufficient backups, the entire project was lost. We would have to start from scratch. Struck down, but not destroyed, we went back into the Studio in September of 2009, and recorded a record that was better than the first. Prepare is the fruit of those efforts.
Swag
Where to Purchase Prepare:
Gospel Light Worship on DigStation
Toons
A Brief Summary of the songs on the album, and why we chose them.
Tell the World – Written by Joel Houston, Jonathan Douglass and Marty Sampson, “Tell the World” is the perfect opening song for this album. The idea behind Prepare was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to “tell the world” about Him. What better way to begin than by sharing a chorus that says “Tell the world that Jesus lives!”
Mighty to Save – Written by Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding. Taking its title from Zephaniah 3:17, “Mighty to Save” has become a popular modern worship anthem. The song tells about a Savior who is loving, compassionate and forgiving. It also calls on those who have been transformed by Jesus to “shine a light, and let the whole world see” the change in them.
From the Inside Out – Written by Joel Houston. Sometimes we wonder if we are so far gone, that God has no time or desire to bring us back. ”From the Inside Out” tells us that no matter how many times we stumble, God is there. God doesn’t begin with the surface – He goes right to the heart, and begins transforming our lives there.
He Reigns – Written by Peter Furler and Steve Taylor. This is a resounding anthem of God’s word spreading around the world. Listening to this song, one can imagine tiny village churches, soaring cathedrals, missionary chapels and underground house churches. The Word of God and the Gospel cannot be stopped by borders, political considerations or economic status. It is universal, applying to “every tribe, every tongue, every nation.”
Draw Me Close - Written by Kelly Carpenter. The oldest song on the album, “Draw Me Close” is a classic Vineyard worship song. It has stood the test of time because of its simplicity and intimacy, and its resounding conclusion that God is all we need.
Say So – Written by Israel Houston and Michael Gungor. What if the entire church were to rise up and shout the fact that they have been redeemed? What if everyone knew the purpose God had for them? What if we saw others as Jesus sees them? We could truly show the world Heaven.
One Way – Written by Joel Houston and Jonathan Douglass. One of the most fun songs on the album, “One Way” tells about Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Calvary - Written by Justin Phillips. ”Calvary” is the one original song on Prepare, written by Gospel Light member Justin Phillips, who shares vocals with his sister Gabrielle. It is a song with a simple message: that Jesus was thinking about all of us when He gave His life on the Cross of Calvary.
Your Love is Deep – Written by Jamie Smith, Susanna Bussey and Dan Collins. We chose this song largely for this ideal: that it’s God’s love that trancends all distance and boundries. Think about it: How deep does the love of God reach into our souls? How far is His reach for you? How wide is the sweep of his arms that includes everyone? How high can we aspire?
You Said – Written by Reuben Morgan Personalizing Psalm 2, “You Said” talks about how we fulfill Jesus’s commandment to spread the Gospel to all nations; by simply asking for it. Our desire is that Prepare helps spread the Gospel. So we ask God for the nations!
We Prepare the Way - Written by Rick Pino, this song is a prayer for us to be able to prepare the way for Christ, to receive new hearts and minds, focused on God and His glory. “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill brought low. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God!” Luke 3:4-6
Peeps
The people involved in the project.
Josh Miller is Gospel Light Worship’s team leader and lead vocalist. Josh has been leading worship for several years at Gospel Light, and was one of the driving forces behind this project. Josh sings lead on “We Prepare the Way,” “You Said,” “From the Inside Out” and “He Reigns.”
Mike Mahoney has been part of Gospel Light Worship since 2003. Playing guitar, drums, bass and keys, he can slip into any role, which he demonstrates when playing for the Send Judah First gospel choir. Mike did all the guitar work on Prepare, both acoustic and electric, as well as drums on “Calvary.”
Justin Phillips is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Not only singing for Gospel Light Worship, Justin also is the music director of Send Judah First, and leads worship at Good News Christian Church in the Bronx, NY. Justin played keyboards and piano for Prepare, and sang lead on “Say So” and on “Calvary,” a song of his own composition.
Laura Vazquez is as talented vocalist, who is a member of Send Judah First as well. She sings lead on “Mighty to Save” as well as background on many of the songs.
Celia Miller is Josh’s sister, and has been a member of the worship team and choir for several years. She also leads worship at Good News Christian Church. Celia sings lead vocals on “Your Love is Deep” and “We Prepare the Way.”
Mariah Hattrick is a member of the worship team and Send Judah First. Besides background vocals, she sings lead on “From the Inside Out.”
Elyano Nascimento has a long history in Christian Music, travelling around the country with the Ozark Bible Institute & College choir, and having been a vocalist in several groups. Elyano spent many years on the worship team, and sang with Send Judah First as well. He played drums on seven of the songs on Prepare, as well as background vocals, and lead vocals on “Mighty to Save.”
Henry Danny Irizzary spent several years playing with Gospel Light Worship, in addition to singing with Send Judah First. A multi-instrumentalist, Danny plays bass on Prepare.
Gabrielle Phillips has been a mainstay of the alto section of Send Judah First since its inception. She joins her brother singing on “Calvary.”
Emmanuelle Camilla is a recent addition to Gospel Light Worship. Along with background vocals, she sings lead on “Draw Me Close.”
Esther Charlestin - sang with both Gospel Light Worship and Send Judah First. Esther sings lead vocals on “Draw Me Close.”
Christopher Burgos - has played drums with Gospel Light Worship and Send Judah First. Chris plays on “Draw Me Close,” “Your Love is Deep” and “We Prepare the Way.”
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