Spirit West Coast, Del Mar, CA: Sunday, 5/24/09, 11:30AM

[Mercy Road Music]

We had a fabulous time at Spirit West Coast yesterday... lovely weather, an incredible stage crew made up mostly of unpaid volunteers, a sound system I'd like to take home with me (even if everybody within a mile would ask me to never use it!), and people in the stands waiting to worship God.

Though I'm no stranger to being in front of a large number of people, I admit it was kinda odd for me: a circumstance where a lot of - if not most - people are already believers, but where the intimacy of a service at church or a night at a coffee house is lessened. It's a performance for us, more than a time of pure worship; I'm not used to it, and pray that the Lord lessens my unease about that.

Not that there wasn't worship going on!

Those who came (and many of those who were working) DID worship, though we couldn't see most of them too well. In an atmosphere where money is to be made (and is: the prices for admission, food & such are very high), these oases (5 or so stages scattered about the grounds) of music and worship going on all day for three days is a very neat and uplifting thing.

I got a chance to talk to a young man who, though he had a broken leg, was backstage to see what he could do to help and to just be with the people he likes working with once a year in this environment. Said a lot to me about how this impacts lives.

During and after our time on stage, I communicated with a woman who was doing speech-translation for the deaf and hard of hearing: sister, if you ever read this, I was so very happy to 'speak' with you over distance, and your worship, your 'singing', was SO beautiful! It touched my heart beyond measure. I hope the Lord opens the door for me to do that at some point: I love singing to the Lord in two languages at once! If you have never seen someone worship in Sign Language, it is worth traveling many miles to see!

I'd love to be invited back some day (and we are going to be at Spirit West Coast in Monterey in July, as I understand it), just to see the one-man mosh pit and his friend who's been clean for 120 days (woo!) still on-fire for God!

Keep us in your prayers, keep Him in the primary place in your lives, and remember to tell ALL about Him every chance you get - you may be the vessel God uses to bring that person to Him.

Love you!

Cate

PS - Thank you, Richard, for including us!

[Richard Andrew]

Love it! Really good stuff Cate. Keep sharing! ~ra

[Mercy Road Music]

Bro, you got it.

I was felled a bit by not feeling well afterward, and was just... wondering who was impacted because I usually get to see it. I had faith regardless, but you provided some needed bolstering with your telling of that woman (whom I mistakenly said 120 days sober), but I was still a bit... disconnected. I felt God, but did anyone else?

Yes, those who I know did. I saw them. The woman signing. Yes. DID ANYONE ELSE?

And a memory came back to me after I posted that: a man in a 'workers' vest, raising and waving his hand towards Heaven as he worshiped with us. A man who had looked bored when I saw him as I walked underneath him, staring at nothing.

A man whose face was transformed when worshiping.

So, yes, I actually got it, a day late. Your lovely wife helped a bunch, at the event: she gave me the words to get to where I could get out of the place I had gotten myself into.

Many years ago, before any of this was a twinkle in any human's eye, I had felt a distinct calling to minister WITHIN THE CHURCH. I don't think I knew what that meant. I think I may know, now.

Cate

[Richard Andrew]

Here are some pretty neat statistics... SWC is a faith based event, however many folks over the years have used it to bring unsaved family and friends. To date, they have thousands of 1st time (recorde) decisions for Christ under their belt as a result of the many altar calls throughout the 3days each year. So Christian music festival it is, and the majority of people are believers... but there's always that one. There's always that "man in the orange shirt" at every event, no matter how large or small. For me, the degree of intimacy is what I make of it. Though my heart is for the lost, and my prayer is that the ministry will reach out to them... I'm also very concerned for the believer. They are in need of ministry too, as this journey can be challenging at times. God uses us to minister to both the church, and the world. And use you HE did on Sunday at SWC. I saw people that were Christians crying as we sang songs like "None Compare". Even though they were Christians, at a Christian event, in a large venue, with people spread out over a large area... God was still God, and still meant them there, and still used the music to touch them. That same woman in tears during the performance came up to me and said, "I have 131 days clean (from drugs) today. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from the stage. Someone who understands my struggles was up there where the Newsboys or Third Day usually stand. You're a god-send!" And then she went on her way. I too will be praying that God 'lessens your unease' my friend. You're a force to be reconned with, and the kingdom of darkness shutters when your breath leaves your lungs and enters the air in melody. That much I know for certain! ~ra