Christian Music Arizona
One of Christian music's most acclaimed singer/songwriters, Schultz's first new studio album in nearly three years, Come Alive, is also his most personal recording to date, inviting listeners to "come alive" through these songs birthed by stories of hope, loss, joy and redemption. Pulling from real life experiences, the songs on Come Alive were inspired by families dealing with cancer, special needs and through Schultz's coast-to-coast bicycle ride that raised over $250,000 to benefit the James Fund, which provides assistance for widows and orphans. Produced by Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, Third Day, CeCe Winans), Shaun Shankel (Beyoncé, Hilary Duff), Bernie Herms (Natalie Grant, Avalon) and Paul Mills (Third Day, Bluetree), the album also features collaborations with such hit making songwriters as Bart Millard and Barry Graul of Mercy Me, Matthew West, Joy Williams and Herms.
Contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith responded to the devastation in Haiti the best way he knew how: by writing a song he hopes will motivate listeners to offer a hand — or a dollar.
Smith, with Cindy Morgan and David Mullen, wrote “Come Together Now” on January 15, spurred by the 7.0 earthquake that ravaged the island nation on January 12. Proceeds from the sale of the song are to be donated to Haiti relief efforts. (The song will be made available digitally, but details for sale and distribution have yet to be finalized.)
By Wednesday night, the plan had grown to include more than 100 Christian and country artists. The Oak Ridge Boys, Point of Grace, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Lee Greenwood, Brandon Heath, TobyMac, Wynonna, Matt Maher and a host of others poured into Belmont’s Ocean Way Studios to sing with Smith.
“We’re just trying to do our part to come to the aid of this poor nation that so desperately needs our help,” Smith said. “Obviously, it all started with a song, and I thought it might be a draw if we all sang it together. It’s just miraculous it’s all come together in 11 days.”
Coming together
After the song was written, Smith started calling friends to see who would help. One of the first e-mails went to Matt Maher. The internationally known songwriter and worship leader, who toured with Smith in 2009, immediately agreed to fly in from Arizona to lend his voice.
“As a person, I’ve already responded countless times to Haiti relief,” Maher said Wednesday. “I’ve texted (donations to) the Red Cross more times than I can count, and I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed. ... I almost feel like the human race is being presented with an opportunity, through this tragedy, to grow immensely in compassion. ... We need to put faith to action, and that’s why I’m here.”
Steven Curtis Chapman’s reasons for participation were more personal: seeing the living conditions of Haitian orphans inspired the Chapmans to adopt their three youngest daughters.
“This hits so many places that are tender in us,” Chapman said of the earthquake. “It’s something that has immediately caused us to cry out our hearts to God for these people, and this (recording) is one tiny way we can do that and show our love and concern. There’s a whole lot I’m confronted with daily with things I can’t do in a situation like this, and this is the one thing I can do.”
Help and hope
Chapman said he hopes “Come Together Now” offers hope to people who hear it and serves as a reminder for years to come of the devastation and loss the Haitian people have suffered.
“In the days and months to come, don’t forget to care and keep showing that support and love to these people,” he added. “It’s going to take years and years to rebuild their country.”
Smith said that was the songwriters’ goal, too.
“We’re going to stand by you and hold your arms up,” he said. “I think this is a pretty easy way for people to respond. You buy the song, it’s not that much money. I hope we make millions. Every penny goes to Haiti, and everything has been donated.
“I don’t want to heap guilt on anyone, but there are people out there thinking, ‘Well, that’s just the way it goes,’ ” he said. “That’s not the way it goes. May God give you a conscience. Maybe all this has happened as a wake up call for us to go, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ We have no guarantee of tomorrow.”
Related reading:
Local artists come together to benefit Haiti
