RECOLLECTIONS
OF A CONTINENTAL DIRECTOR
(By Gonzalo
Gallardo - a Chilean Continental for 3 years and director for 10 from 1992 to
2001)
PLEASE DON’T LAUGH OUT!
 |
| Gonzalo Gallardo |
It was 1992
and I was in my junior year as a music major at the University of Playa Ancha,
in Chile. I attended the Catholic Church
and I thought that because I lived in a Catholic country, that fact made me a
believer. That summer I was invited to a
rehearsal concert of the Chilean Continental Singers, directed by the
missionary, Michael Mahoney. The
Evangelical Christian music in Chile was known to be of low quality and geared
toward the lower social class.
Based on
this impression, when I went to the concert with my two friends I said, “This
is a concert of an evangelical group, so please, out of respect for the people,
don’t laugh out.” As the concert
started, the singers ran through the aisles and onto the stage. The sound quality was incredible! The energy displayed by the group was
something I had never seen in any choir or musical group. My mouth was literally hanging open. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears.
The program
was called “Set Them Free.” At the
beginning I was so impressed with the vocal arrangements and the
instrumentalists, but then the words of the songs filled my mind and heart:
“Free in Christ, leave your burdens on Him, freedom in Jesus….” When the director asked to see the hands of
those who wanted the empty space in their heart to be filled with Christ, I
felt the need, but I was worried what my friends would think.
The next day
I found out where their concert was and as I neared the church I heard the
music and my heart responded. I entered
the church and I just couldn’t stop crying.
When the invitation was made I fought the urge to respond, but I felt as
if someone physically raised my arm. I
am convinced it was the Holy Spirit.
Despite the
darkness of the church, Michael Mahoney sent one the singers to pray with
me. At that moment Christ accepted me as
His son. The heaviness in my heart was
lifted. I felt different, I looked at
things in a different way and even my friends said that my expression was
different.
I wanted to
use music in that way, so mid-year I applied to the Chilean Continental
Singers. Only one year after I had
received Christ in my heart and now as a Continental myself, I was praying with
people to receive Christ in the very same way that I did.
The
Continental Singers was my “church” during the tours I participated in. It was in this ministry where I grew
spiritually and became part of a new family.
Since then I have led Continental tours throughout South America, Mexico
and even Cuba and actually spent one summer directing an American tour in the
States. I am so thankful for what God
has done through the Continentals here in Chile and in reaching people like me
all over the world.
Gonzalo is currently Director
of Career of Phonoaudiology (Speech Therapy, Vocology and Audiology) on faculty
of Rehabilitation Sciences, Andres Bello University, Chile
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