You know you've been to a good place when you are better when you leave than when you first went in. That's what happened last Saturday night at
Sacred Grounds Espresso & Coffee Shop. Carrie Revel opened the door to a spirit-filled evening of music, fun and fellowship, sharing songs from her CD,
"Rain or Shine". Her easy connection with people and her solid-soul voice revved up the room. Carrie explains how "Rain or Shine" came about. "We were in the church van, taking care of band business when it broke down. We got out, sat on the curb and called for help. We were sitting on a curb in the rain, waiting for someone to get us, and Chris started strumming so we sat there and starting singing. That's where we got the whole concept of Rain or Shine. We called the song Rain or Shine and decided to call the whole album "Rain or Shine". God rains down. God shines down. Through the rain we should worship Him, give Him all the glory, be aware of His love. All we want is to make Him proud; to be overshadowed by His presence. We can't change the world but we know we can inspire someone else in a small way."
Standing on a stage bordered in candlelight, in jeans and a blue t-shirt trimmed in white, one black sock, one white sock ("It has a very deep meaning for me, I just can't remember what it is."), looking comfortable with himself, his audience and with God,
Mitch McVicker picked up one of the many guitars at hand, strapped in and turned the engine over. We were in for a ride straight to the top of the mountain, and he was our guide. The band included Mitch,
Adam Jeffrey (keyboard, percussion, sax, guitar, vocals),
Brian Carter (bass, percussion, mandolin, vocals) and
Matt Wilson (bass, steel guitar, percussion, vocals), all of whom, it seemed, could play almost any instrument they wanted to. Except, by his own admission, Mitch ("They change instruments, I switch guitars.") If they actually wore a different hat for each job they do, they would need a trailer just to hold their wardrobe.
After a devastating accident ten years ago which almost took his life and took the life of his friend,
Rich Mullins (Our God Is An Awesome God, Sing Your Praise To The Lord), Mitch McVicker says he had to relearn a lot of things he had taken for granted. None of it made sense. He still doesn't have a pat answer for why things like that happen.
"I don't think God is interested in making sense. He's interested in truth. We all go through hard things. We all go through hard stuff. Our troubles are turning us into the people we are to become."
Mitch reminded us of a passage in the Bible in Lamentations that says, Lord, I can't count on You for anything. All I do is think of my troubles and it makes me miserable and depressed. But there's reason to have hope.
Mitch continued, "So I go, all right! I like this guy. I can relate to him because he's such a schizo. If it were not for Your mercy, our troubles will destroy us. There is a hope that remains apart from our present circumstances. There is a hope."
That feeling of hope continued to grow stronger with each song. A natural performer, Mitch poured out his body, soul and mind, spinning a musical quilt that blanketed everyone in earshot. He held nothing back, but fearlessly and openly shared his deep-rooted faith through the talents and skills with which he's been blessed. Mitch gave a new spin to "witty banter" after his guitar strap unloosed during a song (he didn't miss a beat), and when he talked about his new album
"Love Will Rise".
"Stuff happens. We have to look to that which will lift us up beyond any circumstances. You don't plan on your guitar falling off. You don't plan on your harmonica getting clogged up", then something about queso and trying to suck it out while he's singing, to which Adam, on drums at that time, replied with the immortal riff, "ba dum bum..chsh!"
One of the many highlights of the concert was an acoustic number, "Honest of Heart" with Mitch on acoustic guitar, Brian on snare, Adam on the "sax-o-magic" and Matt on the upright bass. The guys had a rhythm that was absolutely magnetic, pulling everyone in until the whole house was moving and singing along.
Mitch's message of hope isn't just for show. He is passionate about
Compassion International and sponsors a boy in Thailand and has even visited him there. While Mitch was sitting with the family, the boy went to the corner and picked up an old, beat-up warped guitar and started playing and singing. Mitch had no idea what he was saying, but the interpreter said, that it was a song about God.
"They need you to be the light of the world," says Mitch. "I've seen it work." Please join Mitch and thousands of others and reach out with
compassion to those in need.
Mitch's tour will take him to
Westridge Community Church in Elgin, IL on September 19. It was after playing that venue a decade ago, that Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker were involved in the accident that sent one man home and another on the road. In memory of his friend, Rich, Mitch puts it this way. "It's not a heavy thing. It's about celebration."
On September 18, Mitch officially releases his new album, "Love Will Rise" on Surrogate Records and is available on his website at
http://www.mitchmcvicker.com.
Carrie Revel's Album, "Rain or Shine" on Dayspring Music, Inc. is available on her website at
http://www.myspace.com/carrierevelmusic.
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