We got an email from Tobi this morning with an update on Creation Fest.  The students are having a great time with each other and seeing some great bands.  Switchfoot and David Crowder Band opened the festival on Wednesday night followed by Newsboys and Casting Crowns last night.  These bands are amazing performers and have a way of telling the Gospel story that appeals to people both inside and outside of the church.  They weave the truth of God’s holiness, sovereignty and His love that redeems us into musical stories about the trials that all of us face in life.

But there is another group of artists that come to Creation Fest each year.  They are not as well known as the headliners and they don’t get the radio play on Christian radio that the headliners do, but the message they spread through their songs is no less important, and in many cases, so much more impactful.  They are the worship bands.  Their job is not to entertain the masses at Creation, but to lead those in attendance in praising and worship God.

If you’ve joined us at Christ Community Church recently, you’ve probably heard “How He Loves” during our praise and worship time.  This song has been recorded by several artists.  The writer of the song, John Mark McMillan, is serving as one of the worship leaders at this year’s festival and lead worship this morning.  Tobi’s email mentioned John Mark.

Great worship leader this morning, you would like him I think.  Really loved his sound!

John Mark began playing guitar on the loading docks behind his father’s store front church in Pineville, NC. He began writing in late 2001. He writes:

I think it was during those months that I learned how to write a song, because that was the year I learned to be honest with God.

He had endured a tough breakup, had quit his job and, in November of 2002 while recording in Jacksonville, had received a call that some close friends had been in a bad car accident.  It was through this that John Mark began to lean heavily on the one thing that could support him and the heavy burdens of life that he was carrying.  Out of this came “How He Loves”.

To hear this moving story in John Mark’s own words, go to the Creation Festival Worship Leaders page.  For more of John Mark’s music, visit John Mark McMillan’s web site and click on the music player link.

Tags: Casting Crowns, Creation Fest, Creation Festival, CreationFest, David Crowder Band, How He Loves, John Mark McMillan, Newsboys, Soulfire, Switchfoot