Mela Kamin – 4:10 Ministries

We’ve been listening to this wonderful new album from Shaun Groves.
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Here, take a listen, yourself.
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Third World Symphony by shaungroves
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The whole CD bursts with beautiful melodies under Biblically-sound, experience-rich lyrics.
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It’s not merely music that sells, but that teaches, acknowledges, reflects and remembers.
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Shaun graciously answered a few questions of mine as he prepared to release this, his fourth album.
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Mela: What still moves you to write Christian music when some might say it’s just preaching to the choir – why not go mainstream and “enlarge your territory?”
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Shaun: I’ve been in church since I was conceived. I understand the Christian culture, how the church operates here, what it’s like to follow Jesus in evangelical America – or what we’re told following Jesus is here. And so God uses me to re-evangelize Christians – to introduce them to the other half of the gospel, not as one who has arrived but as one exactly like them. To sing and speak about relationship with God here and now, partnership with God on earth to bring His kingdom.
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There are non-Christians in my life off-stage and God uses my family, in relationship with these friends, to share Christ. But on stage, my audience is Christian because I understand that audience, I love that audience, and God has consistently used me to meet the needs of that audience and used that audience to meet mine. So I go where God makes me useful and makes me better.
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Mela: Would you share some ways in which your work with Compassion has changed the way you view ministry?
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Shaun: The greatest change in my view of ministry is a little embarrassing to even talk about but I really feel like I should. So here goes. I’ve stopped being sarcastic in concert. That may seem like a small thing but the reason I made that decision is a big thing. When I’m sarcastic 99% of the audience laughs – they get the joke. But that 1% is potentially angry with me – and because I’m representing Compassion International? Well, my joke could prevent a child from getting the help they desperately need.
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You see, the shift for me was from focussing on my enjoyment and my rights to putting someone else’s needs first. There’s nothing wrong with being sarcastic. And I enjoy it immensely. But there’s something more important – 24,000 kids under the age of five die everyday. Do I want my joke to bury one more?
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At Compassion, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of children in Jesus’ name is the most important thing. And for me, it has become as well. 500 children come to faith in Christ everyday through Compassion’s ministry. That’s more important than anything else.
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Mela: What is a favorite song off each of your albums, past and present?
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Shaun: Gosh, that’s hard, but I’ll try.
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Let’s see…from Invitation To Eavesdrop I’d say Welcome Home is my favorite. It’s still my prayer.
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From Twilight, Twilight is my favorite. It’s my favorite piece of music I’ve made.
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From White Flag I’d pick Crave. It’s the only song of mine that my rock-lovin’ son actually likes.
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From Third World Symphony I’d pick Kingdom Coming. It’s the whole gospel as simply as I can state it.

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I hope you’ll be ministered to through his offering – I certainly have been.
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I’ve found Shaun to be an artist who both follows and leads. He’s quick to deflect glory onto Jesus. In his own words, he’s “helping Christians discover what they were saved for, and being a voice for children around the world, desperate to be saved from poverty.”
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And, his work with Compassion “spurred my family on toward love and good deeds” Heb. 10:24 – we sponsored our lovely Nancy from Kenya through one of those Compassion trips.
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I subscribe to Shaun’s blog and follow him on both facebook and twitter. I’ve found him to be entertaining, thought-provoking, compassionate and prayerful. A community of supporters helped fund this album. I hope you’ll consider joining in.
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For the record, one of my favorites is Come By Here, which I first heard while Shaun was on a trip to Guatemala. From a brightly-tiled bathroom, he sang passionately and purely and I couldn’t stop singing that song for days.
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All’s Grace is a stunning offering as well, as is Enough and well – might you just listen to all of them? He was inspired to write All’s Grace, through his friendship with writer/author Ann Voskamp. After meeting and hearing her speak last year, I’ve been moved to write more deeply and to see the world through her lens of grace and gratitude. It’s no wonder these two soul poets inspire each other. See their interview & him singing on her farm.
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Have some music that’s ministered to you lately? Share in the comments.