"YES, LET'S GO!" - Monday Sept. 11, 2017

REWIND, THE CONTINENTAL SINGERS OPENING NIGHT, JUNE 1992

Monday, September 11

“YES, LET’S GO”

OUR 25^TH ANNIVERSARY

You are part of a big family!  In the first 24 years, there have been over 250 tours performing in 25,000 live concerts.  The Continental Singers have performed in all 50 states and close to half of the countries of the world.   

We stand here tonight to glorify the Lord for all of this.  It was always His plan all along, and we are the blessed ones to have had the privilege to “Praise His Name and See It Happen”.

We dreamed big dreams, and we still do.  Keith Wheeler taught us this chorus last week at Director’s Camp, and here are the lyrics:

“I’m gonna dream big dreams,

accomplish great things,

Climb that mountain for God. 

I can do anything through Christ who gives strength to me.

I’m gonna dream big dreams for God.”

THE DREAMS BECAME REALITY.  In the 70’s, we crossed over into Communist Eastern Europe for the first time.  We opened the door to Catholics in Poland, where thousands stood in giant Cathedrals waiting for our groups to arrive.  In 1981, we sent Brent Edwards to Communist Hungary, and the next year, Julia Winterberg went again. After that tour, she made the decision to go back to Hungary and start The Continental Singers ministry there.  The result is sitting in this room, right here tonight, Andras Tornay, the current Director of The Hungarian Continental Singers.  The rest of the early 80’s, we focused on Asia, and started groups in Japan, Korea and Singapore.  In 1985, it was about world hunger, so we joined with World Vision and raised $2,000,000 on our tours for hunger relief in Ethiopia.  At the finale concert that year, people pledged $180,000 to buy two delivery trucks that would get the food from the ships to the people.  In 1986, we partnered with The Jesus Film Project with Campus Crusade for Christ.  Along with our music, we took The Jesus Film to people groups everywhere who had never even heard the name of Jesus.

Then, in these 90’s, has come The New Zealand and Chilean Continental Singers, and last summer, 400 young people in Russia auditioned for a future Continental group there, if that government will allow it.

Yes, we dreamed big dreams for God.  And tonight, you are the result of our dreams this year.  This concert you are learning will be sung in eight languages, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Dutch, Hungarian, Spanish, and English.  You are the English version!

Our challenge is to follow the command the Lord gave to the prophet Jeremiah, who actually felt like he wasn’t ready for the task God laid out before him.  He said, “I do not know how to speak, I am only a child”.  Maybe you feel the same way, not quite ready, musically inadequate, worrying about your part in the concert or concerned about the movement.  Remember, music is still the language of the youth worldwide. And God said to all of us in Jeremiah 1:7-8, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you, declares the Lord.” 

I say to that ok, “Yes, let’s get going”.  It will be tough going sometimes this summer for sure, but hang on to God’s promise and it will be the greatest spiritual challenge and success of your life.

Everyone grab someone’s hand right now.  OK, we just want to bless you and dedicate you tonight for this tour.  You are valuable to me, to us on the staff, and to the Lord.  You were chosen because you are more than good, you are really talented.  You will be exceptional and successful beyond your own biggest dreams.  Our commitment to you is this, we will pray over you this summer, so that you will reach people everywhere with the message that Jesus Christ can change people’s lives.  We will also pray for your safety, so that when we meet in Denver for the 25^th Anniversary Finale, you will be well and full of the Lord’s blessing.

NOW… YES, LET’S GO!

We had a huge finale concert in Denver at the end of that summer, 1992.  Jim Chaffee and his staff did a super job of promoting and 6,000 people enjoyed a fantastic evening of music with Sandi Patty, Wayne Watson, Scott Wesley Brown, and Don Francisco, each performing their biggest songs, backed up by all of The Continental Singers and Orchestra.