Blessings & ‘Goosebumps’ from The Blessing by Trevor Thorn
As far as I can tell the song was launched just ahead of the lockdown. In early March a video called ‘The Blessing’ appeared on YouTube by Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes of Elevation Worship, Ballantyne (which I take to be Ballantyne in North Carolina). By the time of writing this (21st July), that video had attracted more than 21 million viewings. And more than that, it had given rise to an amazing number of ‘split screen’ performances of the song where singers recorded from their own homes or in a remote location of their choice. Then the individual singers’ and musicians’ offerings were cleverly spliced together to make impressive complete videos.
The UK version involves more than 60 churches in the UK. A write up about it says, ‘If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits, look no further…’ You can find it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U
If you do decide to listen, I hope it will indeed, lift your spirits - but there’s much more. A collaboration between 60 churches is impressive but other versions, mentioned below, involve even more churches of a wide range of persuasions, far beyond any inter-church co-operative initiative I have ever been aware of.
Once you have watched the UK version, YouTube will very probably direct you to several other of these versions. Among them there are at least the following: Australia (336,000 views), South Africa, Canada, Channel Islands, Qatar, Mauritius, The Arab World (106,000), Egypt and all nations, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Passion City Atlanta, Sweden, Latin America, Ireland, Bolivia, Brazil: there are versions in Dutch (150,000), French (231,000), Spanish, Hebrew. And by the time you read this, there will, I imagine be several more*.
Whilst having many similarities, every version is distinctive in its presentation: the Singaporean version has some spectacular views of the City: the Malaysian version has a number of singers in what I take to be exquisite contemporary versions of national costumes: the Zimbabwean version shows collaboration in that country which I could never have imagined. There are now Spanish, French, and Swedish language versions among several others, effectively showing the international breadth of Christianity.
As you can see, a number of these are in major languages and several of the other versions incorporate lesser known languages spoken within the ‘host’ country. Quite amazing! I’ve really enjoyed watching many of these, reflecting again on the story of Pentecost (Acts 2. 4) when the Apostles spoke in tongues which were understandable to everyone present. In our contemporary setting, the multiplicity of the languages used feels an amazing testimony to the global reach of the Gospel message.
As I have watched these various videos, they have provoked yet more ideas and thoughts.
• Every one of them is full of joy and energy and harmony (both literally and metaphorically).
• All of them feature a majority of young people, which is not a pattern in many of our more traditional ‘mainstream’ churches: so, perhaps those who think of church as only for the older or the more staid, might hopefully be encouraged by these initiatives of the younger generations.
• Also, they demonstrate to the world that there are large numbers of churches which are ‘IT savvy’ and able to build rapidly on the amazing opportunities that arise from that awareness. In business terms, I think this would be approvingly called, ‘being fleet of foot’.
For these reasons, they are, in my view, initiatives that demonstrate an amazingly positive display of world-wide Christian endeavour - and for this reason I have felt confident to suggest to some of our friends and family they might also like to watch. There are opportunities to guide them to a version that is in some way particularly relevant to them. An early conversation was with an Irish friend who was thrilled by the Irish version, said it had given her ‘goosebumps’ and had also moved her daughter.
Within a very short time, one of my next generation relatives had responded using exactly the same expression - then added. ‘...it made me cry - and then smile’.
As this has for me, maybe also for you it could offer a gentle form of outreach to someone you have found it hard to talk to of the Good News we share. I’m sure the inventive minds of ACW writers and others could find links between at least one of the countries represented and their individual friends or family members.
So, finally, with very many thanks to Elevation Worship!
Trevor Thorn
who blogs at The Cross and The Cosmos
* PS: Spotted for the first time the New York version where the Covid 19 experience has been terrifying. The song is wonderfully multicultural,, multi-lingual and contributors come from 100 co-operating churches. You can find it at https://youtu.be/0JZlqkAanhA
I loved this - I watched one of our local ones, Ipswich Blessing and it made me feel very moved. I will read this again later and digest it properly. Out to do my first piece of catering work since lock down!
ReplyDeleteThe UK blessing is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you - it's been one of lockdown's high points. I've watched several versions including one with dance which was fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI love it, and have seen the wave of different versions spread across the world - brilliant!
ReplyDeleteIf you have a sense of humour that can take it, there is even The UK Blessing Parody (not all heroes should sing!) which won the approval of Tim Hughes and all involved - I laugh every time I watch it, and laughter too is medicine!
I'm sure we can use the original UK Blessing in school - it emphasises unity - in RE they are taught the differences between religions and the rifts within Christianity through history (often focusing on the extremes)... this is music for souls!
In schools students learn the often uncomfortable history of religions and of the rifts in Christianity: this UK Blessing video is an antidote! We can use it in assemblies and lessons - because it is music it will be far more 'listened to' by pupils.
ReplyDeleteThe international wave of this is still sweeping and is a blessing in itself - demonstrating the rise of the internet as the primary vehicle for the Christian message now.
If you have a sense of humour that can take parody then you might also enjoy the UK Blessing Parody - done by the brilliant Rob Thomas ["not all heroes should sing!"] it has won the favour of Tim Hughes and those involved in the original UK Blessing. Laughter too is medicine.