This week I was honored to have one of my songs chosen to be played on the Atlanta Country Music Radio station (94.9 The Bull). Some people have asked, why would you want to have your music played on a secular (non Christian) radio station that plays music that glorifies ungodly practices such as drunkenness, fornication (sex outside of marriage), etc. I understand the concerns and questions that may arise and I have spent time in prayer about this decision. Let me clarify this decision with the following explanations:
1. Although my primary ministry calling is in the area of leading worship for the church, as a Christian I have another calling, that is to be salt and light to the world (Matt. 5:13). My desire to have my song played on secular radio stations is to influence listeners who are not in the church. My hope is that they will hear my songs of hope and be drawn to my website to see what the songs are about. I have written detailed blogs about each song that explains that the inspiration for these songs is my hope in Jesus Christ. I also hope that the people who connect to these songs will be drawn to my worship songs as well. It is my belief that the light must be shined in the darkness not only in the light.
2. The songs on my latest album are relationship songs written from a Christian world view. I believe that families are under attack in todays society and many people who never visit a church service listen to the radio while suffering from broken families, broken relationships, and broken hearts. My goal in releasing my song into the secular market place is to connect people to something positive and hopeful that glorifies God and promotes His power to preserve marriages and families. This message is being sung about on Christians Radio and in churches but my desire is to send these songs into the places where it is scarce. The world. Jesus instructed us to take the hope of the gospel into the highways and the hedges. That is my desire. (Luke 14:23)
3. I believe that the church should actively engage in influencing the world rather than being influenced by the world. There is an old saying, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." I am grieved at the messages being distributed to todays young people over the radio. According to a USA today article written by columnists Cathy Lynn Grossman & Stephanie Steinberg Published August 10, 2010 only 1 in 4 teenagers are currently part of a church youth ministry. This means that 75% of this generations young people get their ideas about relationships from the their friends, schools, & most notably the media. Instead of just complaining about the garbage that is being fed to them on these stations, I have made an attempt in my very small way to make a difference and put something positive on a station that kids who don't attend church and don't have a youth pastor are listening every single day.
4. My songs are written from a Christian world view and are moral and clean. In writing songs that deal with love, marriage, and relationships it is important that the message of hope and a clearly Christian perspective be maintained and never compromised. I believe I have succeeded in doing this in my recent album of relationship songs and it is my goal to always live up to that standard. I would never write a song that compromises or is morally ambiguous.
5. I am part of the local church and I always will be. I released my songs and sang them first in my local church. I am not looking for a career outside of the church nor attempting to gain fame or accolades outside of the church. My desire is to continue to be used inside of the church for God's glory and to also be supported by and uplifted by the church in my efforts to reach the lost with a message of hope. I pray that everyone who knows me and those who don't will see and hear my heart in these efforts and will pray for me as I attempt to reach out beyond the four walls of the church.
Matthew 5:13 (salt & light)
Luke 14:23 (highways & hedges)
Thanks for reading and thanks for voting to keep it on the air!
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Shining the light,
Carrie
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