Destination 7’s single “Rest (His Name is Jesus),” was written while on a missions trip in Romania working with the orphans. I have gone three times and have built a strong relationship with the staff of the fabuous organization Heart-to-Heart International Ministries. The last time I was there, it was very hard for me to leave. As Jim Sorrels, founder of H2H, was giving me a goodbye hug at the airport, he said, “Why do you even bother leaving? You know you belong here.” I cried for weeks thinking about those words. I was very seriously considering becoming a full-time missionary with Heart-to-Heart. I was ready to pack my bags and go. However, the Lord made it clear to me that I needed to use my passion for missions to encourage others to “Go and make disciples of nations.” I was shocked to find out there are 2.1 billion people in this world who claim to be “Christians.” Out of that 2.1 billion, only 27 percent are involved in missions/outreach. That is a startling 540,000,000 people ministering to 4.5 billion. Jesus said, “The Harvest in plentiful, but the workers are few.” His words are true and alarming, something needs to change.
My first plan of action, was to start a missions and outreach team at my churches college and young adult ministry, “The Vine.” We did a couple of local outreach events with Children’s Hunger Fund, Dream Center, and we conducted “fast and feeds” in Santa Monica. I had a table every week at our Sunday night service where people could learn more about upcoming global mission trips. Unfortunately, not many people were interested in getting involved, and eventually the ministry died out. I was so discouraged and disgusted by the lack of enthusiasm for sharing the love of Christ with the world. At the same time all of this was going on, I was writing more and more songs, and got a band together.
Music-Ministry-in-action — Our first gig was at my church, The Vine. I shared my story about Romania, and during the song “Rest” showed pictures on the screen behind me of my time in Romania. After the show several people approached me about upcoming trips. That’s when I realized the music God had given me is the vehicle. The stage is simply a platform for me to get up and not only share about what the Lord has done in my life (through my personal testimony of salvation), but what He has done through my life (in missions). The Lord laid it on my heart years prior to all of this to create a reality TV show about a group of strong believers doing different outreach events nationwide.
THE FILM — Well, bands tour, and we might as well roll up our sleeves and get involved in ministry wherever we go — and film it! So, with all of that said, our vision is to use the music as the vehicle to stir up a passion for missions in people’s hearts. We want to challenge people to go with us on outreach events and missions trips. We envision the first “season” will be domestic mission trips and the second season will be international (Romania anyone?) I would love to be able to coordinate the biggest Romanian mission trip in history. Wouldn’t that be neat?
I shared my vision with the promoter who booked us for Ichthus (we have become friends and talk often). He passed on the vision to the head ministry director of Ichthus, and we are going to be serving on the mission field of the Appalachian mountains just so happens they have hired videographers to document this year’s trip. So, it looks like our first episode will be of us serving in the Appalachian Mountains by day, leading worship by night, and playing the Ichthus Festival at the end of the week. Pretty awesome 1st episode! The ministry director also mentioned possibly leading worship at the Festival in the 24-hour prayer tents! I’m so ridiculously excited!!!