Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.25.24New CD Mailed to Fans, BOGO Ends Soon
03.22.24Fans Making Plans to Attend Our Big Show September 1
03.22.24Easter Season Playlist 2024
03.22.24How to Donate Online or by Mail
03.22.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
03.22.24Get Multiple Downloads for One Donation
03.22.24Influential Albums: 1409-1415
03.22.24This Week's Bible-Reading
03.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.20.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.20.24New Single: Top-Five Hits by Four-Man Bands
03.20.24Over 1650 Tracks for $100
03.18.24USBs Include New Single & Next CD
03.16.24Influential Albums: 1402-1408
03.16.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.12.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.09.24Influential Albums: 1395-1401
03.09.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.09.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.03.24New Single: '74 Solo Smashes
03.01.24A Serious Problem We're Trying to Address
02.29.24All About Our Next CD
02.29.24Influential Albums: 1388-1394
02.29.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.29.24Clues for 2024 Single #5
02.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.22.24Get Ready for Our Next CD
02.22.24Influential Albums: 1381-1387
02.22.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.22.24Wayne Is Retiring, What's Next for Him and Us?
02.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.19.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.19.24New Single: Billy & The Beach
02.16.24Influential Albums: 1374-1380
02.16.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.16.24Remembering ApX Friend Paul "Doc" Nigh (1956-2024)
02.16.24Clues for 2024 Single #4
02.10.24Influential Albums: 1367-1373
02.10.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.10.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.06.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.06.24New Single: '74 & '83
02.03.24ApX Lead Singer/Lyricist Shares His Testimony 36 Years Later
02.03.24Influential Albums: 1360-1366
02.03.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.03.24Latest CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
02.02.24Clues for 2024 Single #3
01.29.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.26.24Influential Albums: 1353-1359
01.26.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
01.26.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
01.26.24Flashback: J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2014
01.26.24J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2024
01.26.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.24.24Checking in With ApX Alum Drummer Fred Behanna
01.22.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.22.24New Single: '70s #1 Hits That Remade '60s Top 10 Hits
01.19.24Influential Albums: 1346-1352
01.19.24Encouraging Message from Longtime Fan in Oklahoma
01.19.24This Week's Bible-Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
01.15.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.12.24Influential Albums: 1339-1346
01.12.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.12.24Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
01.12.24New Testament Reading Started Wednesday
01.11.24New Worship Songs Available from ApX Alum Bill Rieger
01.08.24New Single: '81 & '83
01.08.24New CD BOGO Ends Sunday
01.08.24New USB Thumb Drives on the Way
01.05.24Clues for 2024 Single #1
01.05.24Influential Albums: 1332-1338
01.05.24Have You Heard About the Other Music City Miracle?
01.05.24This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.29.23Influential Albums: 1325-1331
12.29.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.28.232023: A Record-Breaking Record-Making Year
12.28.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.26.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.26.23New Single: 1974 & 2008
12.23.23Influential Albums: 1318-1324
12.23.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.23.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.18.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.18.23New Samson CD Mailed to Fans, New Orders Sent as They Come In
12.16.23Influential Albums: 1311-1317
12.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.16.23New Story
12.16.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.11.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.11.23New Single: '83 & '84
12.11.23ApX Apparel: Order by Tuesday with Express Shipping
12.07.23New ApX Apparel and More: Order Soon for Christmas
12.07.23Influential Albums: 1304-1310
12.07.23Just Reword CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
12.07.23Clues for 2023 Single #25
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible

Parodies Minister to Muslims in Australia
Thu., Jul. 31. 2014 9:43pm EDT

Last week, we wrote about a fan in Australia who uses ApologetiX and Christian parody music to minister to the mentally ill. You can read that story at http://apologetix.com/news/news-details.php?news_id=2727. This week, he sent us some testimonies about how the parodies are ministering to Muslims:

It was a wonderful mustard seed you planted when was you first started writing parody songs to make Bible studies you were part of come alive. What a huge, wonderful tree of blessing this has grown into, touching and providing shelter for many lives. But that's the nature of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fruit of His Spirit working.

Not long after Alex started to busk, it was getting closer to Christmas, and his busking customers started asking for Christmas carols/songs. This part of his repertoire was a bit limited. He rang me for help. I just happened to be driving through the suburb he was busking in. It was the first weekend I was allowed to drive again after a hip replacement (two days earlier and I wouldn't have been there and couldn't have got there).

I knew I would be singing/playing on my feet for at least an hour if I said yes. Was the new hip ready for it? After a few Christmas songs, a man came up and a bit sarcastically said that he bet we couldn't do an Elvis song. Because we had been singing/playing "Don't Be Fooled" regularly we immediately launched into "Don't Be Cruel." His mouth hung open for half a minute because he didn't expect the Christian, Christmas buskers to suddenly do Elvis. Then he sang with us. I then challenged him to sing a few Christmas songs with us, as we had done his Elvis, so he did.

It was only after that I learned that he was the Muslim, Halal butcher from the neighbouring suburb. Muslims singing Christmas songs because we also sang their request. Sang spontaneously only because we had been singing an ApologetiX song. Only Jesus can cause that sort of thing to happen.

In that same area the Salvos operated a café. While busking, Alex went there one day for their free community lunch. The leader, Graham, saw his guitar and invited him to play. He was happy for him to play popular songs as well as Gospel, thought it created atmosphere in the café. Alex told me about this, so one day I went there for lunch as well, curious how it all worked. Alex sang one song, then thrust his guitar into my hands. So I did a bracket, including a number of ApologetiX.

The songs certainly caught people's attention, Graham was fascinated, and I began to share my story with him. He told us we were always welcome to sing/play, so we have tried to make it a regular thing. Sometimes the whole café sings along with us. I have a lot of the lyrics on a flash drive and Graham puts them up on the big TV screen. I love it when the kids are on holidays and come with their parents, they dance, really get the joint jumping. They love "Dancing with the Ark." Other times it's more like us playing background music, but the lyrics can provoke lots of interesting conversations.

The second time I met Graham, he shared with me that the Sunday church that operated out of café had no musicians (used Internet through PA and screen). His immediate problem though was that an Iranian, Muslim couple had come to faith in Jesus and wanted to be baptised. This was going to happen at a nearby beach, but they would have no music.

Alex and I felt honoured to be asked to help, of course we would sing/play down at the beach. They also had a breakfast barbeque (we Aussies love our barbys) so we sang during breakfast and after ceremony as well. Although Mohammed was renowned for not liking music, Iranian Muslims are of a different persuasion. They love their music, know a surprising amount of Western music.

Quite a number of family, friends from local Iranian community came along. Most were not Christians but really connected when we sang. They, too, were fascinated that we were singing songs about Jesus, Bible stories to music, some of which they recognised. Lots of questions. Praise God a number of these have since become Christians.

Gary Cuthell
Parkdale, Victoria
Australia