Two shining lights in the Christian community will perform “Glory Revealed II: The Word of God in Worship” at First Baptist Church in Benton at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.
They will perform with Christian artists Aaron Shust, Laura Story, Shawn Lewis and Trevor Morgan.
“Glory Revealed II” is a follow-up to the 2007’s Scripture-infused “Glory Revealed.” Forged from a creative vision shared by Mac Powell, frontman for Grammy-winning Christian rock band Third Day, and acclaimed author/speaker David Nasser, the first “Glory Revealed” won two Dove Awards, spawned the No. 1 song “By His Wounds,” and, most importantly to Powell and Nasser, had people around the world singing Scripture.
During a telephone interview this week with both Powell and Nasser, Powell recalled the origin of the project. On a summer day, in the piney woods of Georgia, he woke up in a record producer’s dream: Many of his favorite singers, songwriters, musicians and friends had gathered in a rustic cabin — Bibles open, hearts in tune — to write songs specifically designed to put the word of God in the mouths and hearts of the people, Powell said.
Like the first “Glory Revealed,” Powell said the new album became a labor of love that attracted many of the top names in Christian music, including Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall, Amy Grant, Brandon Heath, Natalie Grant, Jason Crabb, Ed Cash, Tenth Avenue North’s Mike Donehey, Aaron Shust, Matt Maher and country songtress Sara Evans.
“What’s great about the ‘Glory Revealed’ record is that the songs originate with Scripture,” said Hall, who also appeared on the first album. “There’s something amazing about singing God’s word back to Him in worship.”
That sense of purpose and enthusiasm permeates “Glory Revealed II,” and much of the spirit of the latest project was born during the tour supporting the first album. “That tour became more than just a successful music industry trek supporting a hit project; it evolved into something different and more special,” said Powell. He explained that a community developed that set the stage for the second “Glory Revealed” and informed the direction for the new recording.
Instead of being birthed in a sterile studio, “Glory Revealed II” came to life in the cabin owned by one of Powell’s good friends.
“Even though the record musically is very similar to the last record, it’s pretty different in how we recorded it,” he said. “It really came from going on the road and being together with a lot of these musicians.”
The unique approach to the recording cast a distinctive “live” flavor to the project. “There’s something live on the stage that comes out when you spend some time together and when you’re singing each other’s songs,” Powell said. “We wanted that live aspect to come through on the record. So that’s why we did this in a big cabin, living together for a week, playing the music together live. One of my favorite things about this record is that when you hear it, you’re not hearing music that was made; you’re hearing music that’s being made.”
To write and record “Glory Revealed II,” Powell gathered some of his favorite singers/songwriters, including Trevor Morgan, Shane & Shane, Laura Story, Bethany Dillon, Shawn Lewis, Jonathan Shelton and such sought-after Georgia musicians as Lallerstedt, Olds, and Jason Hoard. Lewis and Third Day sound engineer Chris Biggs recorded the sessions. Powell’s wife, Aimee, and Nasser’s wife, Jennifer, “kept the creative brood happily fed during the retreat, which had the feel of a fun summer camp with an undeniable sense of adventure and purpose,” said Powell.
In keeping with the mission of the first “Glory Revealed,” all the songs on the album are taken from the Bible. On “Psalm 23,” Morgan and Geoff Moore sing the oft-quoted Shepherd’s Psalm. Shane & Shane’s “Cup O’Salvation,” taken from Psalm 116, is a gentle reminder of the grace of God. Lewis delivers a vocal on “Never” taken from Hebrews 13:5-6. Accompanied by the voice of Bethany Dillon, Lewis reminds people that “the Lord is our helper. We need not be afraid.”
“The week we recorded was one of the most encouraging weeks of my life,” said Powell. “The faithfulness of God and visions given for the project were a matter of trust in the Lord and each other. God made it all happen.”
The 19-city tour will kick off Aug. 19 in Nashville. When asked how Benton was chosen as a stop on the tour, Nasser said, “I have been to First Baptist Church in Benton a couple of times before and fell in love with the church. Benton is a great, small-town American city, the heartbeat of America, which goes with the vibe of the record and offers what urban areas don’t: a closeness of worship.”
Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the concert. They are available at the church office or at www.fbcbenton.org by clicking on Glory Revealed II. The church is at 211 S. Market St. Dr. Rick Grant is pastor.
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