“They locked me up for preaching Jesus at the university…”
“The jailers set us free because our prayers and preaching started a revival among the other prisoners and some of the guards…”
“We each had one page of the bible. No one had all of it. We met as often as we could, in secret, to trade pages…”
“They burned me here…and here…and here…”
I felt like a child at the adult table that night. Eating Chinese food in Ethiopia, in a basement restaurant where Christians once worshiped in hiding.
We gathered to worship again. Now in the open.
We sang. Stories were told. Sesame chicken was passed. The bible was read.
I drank up the stories poured out by these men and women who’d done more than weather years of persecution at the hands of the Communists – they’d prospered. When the curtain came up the doors of their churches were unchained once again and there was not enough room in them to hold all the converts made underground.
I turned to the elderly pastor sitting beside me and with the best intentions I offered all I had. “I’m a musician. When I get home could I gather up some worship CDs and send you a big box of them? Maybe your church could sing some of the songs? Would that be OK?”
A smile pierced through his black skin. His hand came to rest on mine.
“We know your music,” he said. “And it’s good music. But it hasn’t been where we’ve been.”
I went to bed that night in Addis Ababa replaying his words. I thought through the thirty-one songs I’d recorded over the years.
Have any of them come from the places they’ve been?
Persecution?
Hunger?
Poverty?
Desertion?
Desperation?
Inexplicable joy?
Prison breaking perseverance?
Gratitude with little?
Yesterday an interviewer asked me what inspired the songs I’ll be recording in April. “It all started in an Ethiopian Chinese restaurant…”
Aching to get these songs out and onto silicon. Recording starts April 18. Thank you for all your support so far. Prayers still very appreciated.
Jenn says:
Oh, now I am really excited to hear the CD! This is a beautiful story Shaun. What a great picture of this man humbly speaking the truth in love to you, and you humbly receiving his words and applying them to your work. I’m sure a lot of artists would have bristled at his words, and become defensive. I’m praying for wisdom and for a fountain of inspiration like you’ve never had before!
Melody Joy King says:
Wow! That’s a powerful, thought provoking post! I too can’t wait to hear all the new stuff. It was great to hear some of it in Trucksville, PA and Binghamton, NY a few weeks ago. Keep on keeping on Brother. God is amazing to us and I appreciate your ministry. It is so eye opening and again, thought provoking. Actions can’t be changed ’til thoughts are changed, so keep up the good work! I am glad I “stumbled” upon your blog through Amando Jones’ blog. :0) Blessings to you and yours brother. ~Melody Joy
~ I cannot for the life of me figure out why my picture never shows up when I comment on your blog. It appears on every other blog I comment on, so this is indeed a mystery to me. Any insights?
Jenna B. says:
Powerful. Thank you! I can’t wait to hear this album.
Rebecca says:
You’ve got my prayers. Thanks for this post.
jonny solari says:
Hey! I love this post, I often get frustrated when I think about where some worship songs come from. I love the idea of real authentic worship, not just catchy songs that will sell cds.
Keep doing what you do its great!
Barbara says:
This is one of those brain-exploding posts that I almost regret reading after I’ve read it because it is hard to know what to do with it.
I want to throw up my hands and say, “I will never be where they’ve been. How can I relate? How can I help? How can I even know how to pray?”
But we are of one body. Somehow their pain affects me, and their experience is mine. Mine is theirs, too.
Maybe just knowing that we have all chosen to surrender our lives fully to Christ is the point of relation. Total surrender to Christ, in whatever circumstances the Lord chooses to give us: it is still death to self. Maybe I’ll start there.
julie says:
barbara, you said so perfectly what my heart feels…
JessicaB says:
Very excited.
Brittany says:
Powerful, beautiful story. Thanks for sharing, Shaun. There’s something really special about the Ethiopian people, isn’t there?
Katie says:
When you first said you were eating Chinese food in Ethopia, I laughd inside a little. Then I remembered that the best Chinese food I’ve ever had was in Nicaragua, another place filled with people who daily live experiences that break my heart. Another place filled with people who experience God in a very different way than we could ever dream of.
Katie
Cheri says:
Still praying and thanking you for allowing us to journey with you and be a part of this project.
Amanda says:
That’s a pretty big puzzle piece in your story.
sara varghese says:
not sure how to take this post, but I am more excited to hear the CD. ‘twil be nice to hear some deep stuff, though I never really thought you were shallow….
Jason says:
I’ll keep praying for you and the project.
Brad says:
Shaun, I love you man…that is all. Peace.
jen says:
A while ago, you asked your readers what they were looking for in music. This is it. Challenge: to walk deeper, to live a more holy life, to see through eyes that are not mine, to experience God (if only a little bit) in a bigger way than my life experiences have allowed thus far, to ache for those who are hurting.
I do like music that makes me feel good, but most often my favorite music is that which gets tumbled over and over in my mind.
Susan says:
Shaun, your humility is astonishing. God is going to use this new album in a mighty way. I can’t wait to hear it!
Shaun Groves says:
I’m not as humble as this blog of mine might make me out to be. I’m certainly not trying to mislead, but, well, who writes about the moments that fill them with pride? Maybe I should ; )
misty says:
I can not wait to hear your new CD!
Thank you for sharing this. It brought me to tears…what faith these men and women who suffer the persecution have. I often think it is a more real faith than mine.
My husband and I get the Voice of the Martyrs magaizne. Each month as I read the stories of persecution these brothers and sisters face I think to myself “they are the ones that deserve Heaven”. Their faith to them is a living, breathing thing. So unlike mine is most days.
Zoë says:
Misty, don’t worry. God loves you as you are. No one deserves heaven. We have been given a gracious gift, which is what has given the people you are reading about the strength, when the time comes, to never stop holding the hand of Jesus.
It’s not about them being better than you, or you being less. It’s about doing what God asks you to do. Maybe you can help those who are recovering from horrible situations (which happens everywhere) by being the cup of water that Jesus asks you to be. Remember, “what you do for the least of these you do for me”.
Don’t ever think you’re not good enough. When you start to think you *are* good enough, then you’ll have a problem! God bless you x
misty says:
Oh….definately praying for you, your family and the CD! 🙂
Zoë says:
I’ll buy your CD. Will it have that song ‘All’s Grace’? I loved that 😀
Shaun Groves says:
Yep. Thanks, Zoe.
caroline says:
I am so excited about your post this morning. I had been pondering about replying to your previous one “justice wrapped in love” instead i prayed for you.
I’ve been to Eritrea, Burundi, Sudan and other places through the heart and tears of my friends i met being involved with world relief, but truly i haven’t been where they’ve been. Since you’re on twitter, you might want to check Voice of the Martyrs @VOM_USA and Intl Christian concern @persecutionnews. VOM also has musicians participating at their conferences, fyi. Really can’t wait for your new CD!
Kelli says:
You emit such deep passion in your writing, particularly when you’re writing about the issue of poverty and Compassion. Anything birthed out of that kind of passion and then set to music is bound to be amazing. I can’t wait to hear the lyrics and music that God placed on your heart!
[email protected] says:
Powerful perspective. Love that you are writing and singing about this reality, and I love what that Chinese man said– about we Americans never having been where they have had to go. It speaks to this reality that we so often think that we in the rich-West are the “blessed” ones and that those in closed or impoverished countries are the ones in “need”. But, spiritually-speaking, I wonder if it’s the other-way-around.
Rhonda says:
I can’t wait! The couple of songs you’ve posted recently have really resonated with my spirit.
Honestly, I’m crying as I read this. I know, I’m emotional today. But I believe it’s because of what the Holy Spirit is up to.
I was just saying to a friend the other day, in a discussion about worship music, that there isn’t much out there that leads me into deep worship right now. It just doesn’t resonate with my soul and where I’m at with God right now. In one way, it’s good for me because I can’t rely on something given to me to facilitate my journey to the throne room. But it’s hard for me as a worship leader. I pray that God will use my journey to help our congregation desire to grow deeper and not be satisfied with something shallow. Because that’s what most of the “new” stuff out there feels like right now – shallow.
Sarah says:
Wow. Talk about being put in your place (in the best posssible way). Thanks for putting me in my place with this post.
Kelly @ Love Well says:
I can’t stop thinking about this post, Shaun. How incredibly humbling. And so very true.
It makes me think about statements my husband has made about not being able to relate to many “average” American men. Growing up an orphan, his life experiences have been so different. He just doesn’t have the desire to sit around on a sofa and watch a football game together. He is marked.
I look forward to your new album — now, even more so.