This past week I had the privilege of taking in a Freedom Singers concert. I've seen this group perform three times, and I enjoy it immensely every time. This concert was at the Winkler Mennonite Church - more than an hour away from here, but well worth the trip!! To see a clip of them performing, click here. I love all the songs they sing, (four CD's worth) but was pleasantly surprised to hear a few new ones! Their new CD is my favourite of all - probably because most of the songs on it, they performed at our colony last year, including 'Home'. Watching the Freedom Singers singing this song, you get the impression they're seeing heaven's door wide open. It also made me think of my dad, and how much we still miss him around this time, especially.
You can also read more about them here, when we had them come to our colony last year. They have an amazing story, part of which they also share at their concerts. Listening to it, really makes you think about how much we take for granted, when it comes to being able to serve Jesus freely, without being persecuted for doing so. And also what people would put themselves through, to attain this freedom. It's a book I highly recommend! As one of the Freedom Singers' songs says: 'We Are So Blessed!'
“It was so
beautiful, I was wiping away tears all evening long!” one woman told me after a
Dec. 13, 2012, Freedom Singers concert here at our colony.
I’m not sure
how to adequately describe a Freedom Singers concert in a mere blog post, but
I’ll try to give you a glimpse of what it was like. (If you don’t know who the
Freedom Singers are, you may want to read my review of their book, The Price of Freedom and visit their website)
Together
with Glenn Dumontel, Freedom Bound Agency, I’d been planning this day since
June, when December seemed too far away. So just the thought of saying ‘Good-Bye’
to November was already very exciting, as it meant we’re into the month I’d
been looking forward to for so long. My Google calendar boasted a ‘Freedom Singers’
event for Dec. the 13th, a reminder that was as unnecessary as one
telling me December the 25th is Christmas. Still, it was sweet
seeing it there.
To start the
evening, our choir sang two songs. The first was a Christmas song, ‘He Brought
us Joy’, written by James Waldner from Wingham Colony. The second one was, ‘The
Price of Freedom’, a song that I was inspired to write after seeing the Freedom
Singers for the first time in February. I’m not a songwriter, so was I
surprised how easily the words came to me
– like somebody else was giving me the words and I was jotting them down. However, I could not have done the music part without my sister-in-law Karen's expertise. After that concert, I also started dreaming about bringing this group to my colony sometime.
Little did I know back then that before the year was out, we would be
performing my song in our gymnasium with the Freedom Singers sitting in the
front row! “This is so special!” they told me when we sat down, appreciation
shining from their faces. "Thank you so much!"
Simon and Stefan singing a Romanian Christmas song
The first
strains of their opening song, ‘Just a Little Talk with Jesus’, set the tone
for an unforgettable evening! Simon Ivascu is a wonderful storyteller, and in
between songs he shared snippets of their story. Since we did this concert as a
fundraiser for the Freedom Singers’ work in Romania, he also showed a slideshow
of the poverty in their home country and told us how they go there a few times
a year to help these people - a beautiful demonstration of Matthew
25:35 in action: For I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…
The entire
evening left a lasting impression on all in attendance, but there were some moments
that added an extra sparkle. One of those came when Simon addressed our
children sitting in the front row. “When we arrived today I heard you singing a
song. Do you remember which one it was?” Too stunned that he was talking to
them, no one answered, so Simon continued, “It was ‘Silent Night’. Would you
like to sing it with us?”
Finally a
few of the children found their voices and chorused, “Yes.” With the Freedom
Singers leading, our children beaming, all of us sang this beautiful carol
together, while Simon captured the moment on his iPhone. For many of the
children this was the highlight of the evening.
One of my
favourite Christmas songs is, ‘Come Make a Place’. Thanks to You Tube, I knew
that the Freedom Singers sing this song and wanted to hear it
live. (You can see it on the book review post mentioned above.) Before the
concert, I had asked Simon if they’d please sing it and he kindly agreed. Not
to take anything away from Wesley’s solo on the You Tube video, but Craig Smith has
an amazing voice and like every other song they sang, it was beautifully
complimented by the harmony Stefan and Simon provided! No wonder then, that I felt like singing
along at the top of my lungs when they sang We
Are So Blessed.
Throughout
the evening we fully enjoyed this group’s superb harmony and inspiring story. It
soon became evident that their deep faith in God is the driving force that
takes them all over North America and beyond. Their story and music go hand in hand – in their bleakest moments,
whispering songs like Because He Lives, brought
them hope and courage to hang on. Thus, today as they share their music,
they’re able to sing some of the same songs and many others with resounding
conviction!
Their finale song was ‘Home’, a powerful
and touching rendition about our eternal home. While the Freedom Singers
melodious voices filled the room, I couldn’t help thinking that we’re getting a
glimpse of heaven right here! And I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
Thank You Glenn Dumontel, Freedom Bound
Agency for helping me arrange this concert. Heartfelt thanks to the various
colonies that shared this special evening with us. I know I speak for all who were in
attendance: Simon and Stefan Ivascu and Craig Smith this was a magnificent
evening – you’ve created a beautiful Christmas memory that will stay with us
forever.
As noted in a previous post, I recently had a chance to take in an awe-inspiring concert by the Freedom Singers. Not only was the audience blessed with superb music, but we also heard Simon tell their amazing story. After the concert we were able to buy their CD’s and self-published book, ‘The Price of Freedom’. Their story and music go hand in hand – in their bleakest moments, whispering songs gave them courage to hang on. Thus, today they’re able to sing some of the same songs with resounding conviction!
Back Cover Blurb:
Determined to escape to freedom, Simon and Wesley faced danger and hardship fleeing from Romania to Italy. But their nightmare began in earnest when they crawled into a container full of ceramic tiles that was headed across the ocean - baking in the heat for days in a shipyard, surviving a tremendous storm at sea and suffering from lack of oxygen. And then the agony of thirst, Simon and Wesley both came close to death. The Price of Freedom is the miraculous story of how two young men cling to their faith in God, as they struggled to stay alive against all odds.
From the first page right till the very end, this story of surviving under harsh conditions had me mesmerized. I was drawn into the lives of these two brave young men as they set off on their treacherous flight from Romania. It struck me how Simon and Wesley’s faith in God, which was put to the ultimate test, never wavered; even when they thought they were breathing their last ragged breath. It’s evident in the story, and also when they’re singing, how songs like ‘He Touched Me’ and ‘Because He Lives’ provided courage and took on a whole new meaning! As the words of these well known songs fill the room, coming from voices of conviction you can’t help but feel God’s presence. I rarely say, “This is a ‘must read’ story.” But I will this time. Read this touching story and you too will be compelled to measure ‘The Price of Freedom’ against the freedoms we take for granted all too often. We truly have no real concept of what people are forced to put themselves through, just to be able to serve Jesus freely! I have seen containers rumble along railroad tracks many times; after this, I will undoubtedly see at least one of them emblazoned with this message: ‘The Price of Freedom’.
The book and the CD’s are available on The Freedom Singers website. Here you can also see how they brought 'The Dragon's Den' to tears.
