Steve Grace
World Missions
Heritage Tour
The OL SKOOL Resurrection Blues and Gospel Tour.
The parking lot is loaded with Harley’s and a few Triumph motorcycles on a warm late summer’s evening. Members of God’s Squad motorcycle club have travelled from chapters across the Eastern States to support the old blues preacher Dr John Smith and a rare event of Chicago rock/blues and Australian folk/gospel music. The concert features the original hard core rebel for Christ, the very humble yet great Glenn Kaiser and his band from the 70’s. And yes… a scruffy ol truck driving, spray painter missionary kid who always needs a haircut and a shave. Me.
Ironically… Respectable, conservative well dressed people quietly stroll in from everywhere. 40 years ago they were the wild hippy generation and the Resurrection Band was one of the loudest heavy rock Christian bands in the world, preaching a radical gospel message that was born from the book of Acts. Those were the post Vietnam War days and and the only accepted music in church came from the piano and organ. Rock music was of the devil. But to a disillusioned generation of young people in America, Europe and Australia this JESUS they encountered on their search out of the drugs, sex and rebellion era was worth singing loudly about!! The JESUS revolution was a revival like the world had never seen. This new found faith in God and zealous return to a desperate need for truth was the birth of a whole new movement of the Christian Church. But where did it go?
Did we settle for comfort and convenience? Did we compromise our deepest convictions to lay down our lives for Christ and just end up attending some nice church meeting every week? I believe we are all created for so much more than that.
I look at the book of Acts and read of the incredible miracles and movement that began when people genuinely cared enough to give, to share and believe. I don’t want to lose that.
We are called to be the salt and the light to this generation. And our world is so thirsty for truth and lost in the deception of darkness. But I believe we can be part of a new JESUS revolution… a revival and reformation to the simple Christ like ways of living. That’s my prayer.
Acts 4: 32-33 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
Thanks to so many of you who have given of your time, your prayers and giving to help this ministry reach people for Jesus.
Godspeed,
Pictured: Glen Kaiser, Steve and Dr John Smith
Fair comments, Steve. I agree with your assessment of Glenn Kaiser. The Ol Skool gig in Melbourne was good and not everyone there was conservative and well-dressed and well-groomed. I may have lost my hair, but I was never a hippie, more of a rocker in the 60s…I look forward to more gigs like this one with more people in attendance and better pre-gig promotion. :)…Vic.