Amazing Night of Worship and Amazing Testimony
On July 11, 2015 Casting Crowns traveled to Huber Heights, Ohio to ring praises through the brand new Rose Music amphitheater. Opening for the group was the British Columbia native Dan Bremnes.I have always found it quite interesting that each time I catch a Casting Crowns concert they are introducing me to a face of someone whose music I already like but just have not connected a name to it.
Dan wins that special award tonight, in 2014 that award went to For King & Country and they walked away with 3 K-love Fan Awards this year so Dan is following in some pretty promising footsteps. Though there are several musicians on his latest album, this particular evening he was joined by Drew Middleton on keyboard/guitar and Niko Xidas was playing drums.
He also has a new album out titled Where the Light is released June 9, 2015. I was familiar with his song Beautiful, which is also on the WOW hits 2015 album. In my opinion we are just seeing the surface of possibilities for this young man. He was passionate in his performances and sharing his heartache of the unexpected loss of his Mother.
Kyle has got to be one of the friendliest musicians I have met and you can tell he has a blast on stage leading everyone in worship. He recently completed a brand new album titled Already Here consisting of several original songs and a few covers. The album is set to release late August or early September but you can pick up pre-releases at some concert venues he attends. I loved how he incorporated the audience in his catchy song Holy, you just can't help but sing along. Keep your eyes open for my album review later this month! For now you can see his first video off the new album, You Said My Name (below).
One of the most amazing things about Casting Crowns is that when they are on stage they make you feel like you are at church with them. You can tell that these wonderful men and women of God enjoy being so involved in their home churches because they seem to exuberate so much natural passion in what they do.
There is a quality in the genuineness that they bring to the stage that is admirable. In a time when I feel Christian's have an issue distinguishing between performance and praise this is a group that puts their heart out there in all they do. The worship and spirit in what they present to their fans and fellow brothers and sisters speaks for itself.
Mark Hall, who is the well known lead singer of the group always shares wonderful stories with the crowd. Not only through his wonderful sense of humor but also through the testimonies and stories that have birthed some of the greatest songs in Christian music history. A lot of the songs that they share on their albums are created through life lessons and segments of teachings that take place at their home churches. It's no wonder that so many of their songs are relatable to such a vast number of the Body of Christ.
Throughout the evening it appeared that the Crowns could have just started playing the instruments and the crowd would have sang all the songs without them having to sing a peep. There was such an awesome echoing factor in the amphitheater during Thrive when it came to "Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh (ah you get the picture)" that sounded fantastic.
Before the brief intermission Mark begin to speak about his recent battle with cancer. For those who are unaware of the situation, in March of this year he had his right kidney removed due to a cancerous mass his doctor found. Thankfully everything seems to be healing now but during that season the group was still on tour and he said many of their songs were like he was singing to himself. The lyrics were speaking directly to him and little did he know God would turn them around to give him strength.
Casting Crowns are a huge influence in many Christians lives with songs that inspire and encourage. Through the years seeing the spiritual kinship that fans have formed with the band, I cannot imagine how close the band has come to each other. In this photo I think I captured a glimpse of the love that this group has for Mark and how thankful they are along with the rest of the body of Christ that he is in the recovery stages now and able to sing again. Praise God.
One thing I did before going to the concert that weekend was pray about who God wanted me to speak with to share their testimony in the review. I didn't get a response until we walked into the entrance that day and I heard Him whisper, "You will sit next to them." I began doubting my discernment when I walked down the aisle to my seat and realized I was sitting next to a very young girl between 9-12 years old. I thought to myself, how in the world could a girl that young have a testimony?
I began to tear up as I seen these young kids next to me raising their hands praising the Lord. I thought to myself how badly their generation needs them to shine that bright light into such a lost world. During the time Mark was talking about his recent struggle he asked everyone in the audience who has overcome or fought a battle with cancer to please stand.
In that moment one of the young girls sitting next to me stood up prosthetic leg and all. My heart began to break as God revealed to me that age does not carry the testimony; but the heart reveals the trials and the triumphs.
Dawn Thomas brought her three kids Kierstin, Faith and Hunter to the concert along with Mickayla (left). After speaking with her I found out she was very close friends with Mickayla's Mother Renee. I wanted to make sure it was OK with her family to speak with them and share her testimony before going into much detail at the concert that night, so Dawn and I exchanged phone numbers.
I remember standing there talking to Mickayla who I had initially stereotyped as a "little girl, who couldn't possibly have a testimony at such a young age."; to seeing her as a strong young woman who has become an amazing inspiration to others. That night at the concert was the first time she had heard Praise You In The Storm and it really ministered to her.
Grandma was the families glue and they all draw strength from her. It's no doubt as you speak to them why they are encouraged and held up by her. She has overcome some tremendous battles herself. A fighter of MS and victorious over breast cancer amongst many others situations God prepared Sheila to speak life into all of them from day one.
At the age of nine Mickayla mentioned to her Mother that her leg was hurting her. The first instinct most parents have in this situation is to write them off as growing pains and give them some tylenol. Dustin and Renee were no different than anyone else and as parents of course you don't want to think it could be anything else. It wasn't much later when the pain became more intense and her leg began to swell. A visit to the ER at Upper Valley led to her being transferred to Dayton Children's.
At the age of nine Mickayla mentioned to her Mother that her leg was hurting her. The first instinct most parents have in this situation is to write them off as growing pains and give them some tylenol. Dustin and Renee were no different than anyone else and as parents of course you don't want to think it could be anything else. It wasn't much later when the pain became more intense and her leg began to swell. A visit to the ER at Upper Valley led to her being transferred to Dayton Children's.
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| L-R Mickayla with her parents Dustin and Renee and her with her sister Caitlin on the right |
Two days before starting fourth grade, this vibrant young child was about to be told she had cancer. At first Mickayla was upset asking "Why Me?" she didn't fully understand what was going on and the whole family was initially just in shock. Renee said, "You hear about other people's kids with cancer and never think it is going to hit home."
The initial treatment involved 12 rounds of chemotherapy. However due to a wait period to be approved for a 70,000 dollar port it took 13 rounds of chemo and several hospital stays and blood transfusions. The internal process did not take and her ankle deteriorated around her calf causing the discussion of a prosthetic limb. Dr. Mayerson who is one of the highest rated cancer surgeons in the country discussed the procedure with Mickayla and talked to her about how he trusted God to guide his hands.
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| In memory of Jessica Joy Rees 4/8/99-1/5/2012 |
Another thing that inspired Mickayla was the Jessie Rees Foundation. While Jessie was fighting two brain tumors as a ten year old girl she asked her parents to create joy jars to give to other children fighting cancer to shine a light of love on them and encourage them through their difficult journey. Though Jessie is no longer with us, her legacy lives on and her spirit still shines into the lives of others like Mickyala who received one of the joy jars.
Mickayla loves inspirational songs and they increased the fight within this already positive young girls heart. She said, "I still continued to thank God because it could have always been worse. It broke my heart to see all those little babies in there fighting for their lives and they didn't even understand what was happening to them. At least I did understand and I was able to be encouraged through a lot of prayer and other people praying for me all over the world."
As a local spokesperson for Walmart who strives to earn money for Dayton Children's Cancer Center , Mickayla continues to encourage others. The fight that she battles everyday as a young woman gives strength and encourages not only her family and other children but grown adults who confront the same horrible disease.
As someone who loves to sing and dance she has shared the song Stronger by Kelly Clarkson in her church. A young woman at the age of 12 she decided this month to be baptized in Christ. Coming forth out of the water she will be rebirthed into the mission she was designed to walk in. A testimony for generations to see that her fight is not in vain. She has come out stronger more aware of the presence of God and the comfort we receive when we call out to Him in our time of need.
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| Mickayla with her Grandmother Sheila |
I asked Mickayla if she was standing in front of a young girl getting ready to enter the 4th grade who was just diagnosed with cancer what she would say to her and this was her response.
"Cancer does not care about a person's age when it attacks you. So I would say this to anyone facing this battle. Don't ever feel like you are alone, because you are not. Don't ever give up no matter what. Always continue to pray and encourage others who are fighting just as hard or harder than you. I am thankful no matter how hard it has been for me, I am still alive and not everyone gets that chance to keep fighting."
In a time when it seems Christians are undergoing so much persecution for their faith it's hard to describe what happened that wonderful evening as Casting Crowns exited the stage. As the crowd echoed Glorious Day (video below) in unison it was a picture if only for a brief moment in time of the unity of the Body of Christ and the spirit of God demonstrated from breast to breast among His Bride. Those moments are hard to explain if not personally experienced. There was no denying the presence of the spirit of God that was there that day and one day He's coming back again. Amen!
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