A Night of Change: The Ethiopia Benefit Concert
Danielle Germaine
April 3, 2009
Filed under Spirituality, Student Life, Top Stories
“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never forsake them.” – Isaiah 41:17
What happens when a gym full of people, a passionate group of students heads for Ethiopia, and the band, Alexander, gathers together after church for a concert? The Holy Spirit speaks, inspiring us to get out of that apathetic state almost everyone finds themselves in regarding child poverty…sending us a wakeup call reminding us of the gifts God has given us to make a difference…and filling us with remorse and regret when we realize how we have wasted so much time and missed so many opportunities to do so.
A night at the Ethiopia Benefit Concert was one that no one will forget. Everyone left convicted but reminded of God’s endless mercy for us last Saturday night, March 28. To not only raise money for Liquid’s students who are preparing to go on a missions trip to Ethiopia, but to also raise awareness, Ryan Alexander and his band composed a CD and teamed up with Compassion International to perform a benefit concert. Amazingly enough, almost all of the students going to Ethiopia on April 2nd have raised the money for their trip, so the majority of the donations received will directly help those experiencing the famine over in Ethiopia.
Alexander’s CD, Concrete and Steeples, consists of four songs that relate to what the students will be doing in Ethiopia and how, as Christians, we are called to do the same things daily. Alexander explains, “The Holy Spirit exists to rouse us with shame and if we get serious about this [world hunger, HIV, etc.] and we use our money and our time to help, God will get that much more serious about it.”
Alexander’s heart and passion for those we never see and have no voice but suffer was clearly seen throughout the night in his lyrics. In between songs, he referred to Job 29 and talked about how even though Job had everything taken from him, his worth wasn’t based on the things that he had but rather on the things of the Kingdom and the issues we are faced with today certainly are “Kingdom things.”
The night concluded with a powerful rendition of “It Is Well with My Soul,” when the Holy Spirit’s presence was felt by all. Even if you may not be able to go on a missions trip in the near future, or you feel as if you’re too small to fix this big problem, God can still use you if you are willing to dedicate your life as you store your treasures in Heaven. Be challenged to wake up from your luxurious, air-conditioned life and take part with so many others in fighting the horrific realities we as humans have created in the first place.