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Something Special from Sun City
Thu., Mar. 28. 2019 11:06am EDT
Back in 1985, Sun City was a controversial resort area in South Africa that made the news as the subject of an anti-apartheid protest record organized by Steven Van Zandt and featuring many famous rock, pop, R&B, and rap artists along the lines of "We Are the World."
But there's another Sun City in the metropolitan Phoenix area of Arizona, and it makes our newsletter this week, simply because an ApologetiX fan who lives there wrote us this wonderful email: I wanted to tell you thanks for the many years of your ministry. You guys have been a blessing beyond what I can express.
I started my Christian walk in 1974 and, as you can imagine, Christian music sure did not have rock. I grew up on Petra, White Heart, DeGarmo & Key, Disciple, Mylon LeFevre, Idle Cure, Kutless, Mastodon and many, many more. When I wanted to slow down a bit I would fire up some Carman, Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman and Clay Cross.
It was an uphill battle and I thank God for opening doors for the pioneers of Christian Rock music, or as they called it in my church, devil music.
I attended a public school as most do, and they had a jukebox that played all the top 40 music and I did not have a clue what the songs were. When my son got to that age we had a long discussion about music and what he should be listening to. I told about how bands like Larry Norman and Petra made it possible for Christians to listen to something with a beat and still have a biblical message.
However, like during my days in high school, the jukebox played the top 40 of his day. So, I took him to an ApologetiX concert and he (so was I) absolutely blown away. We have been to three of them and just loved it. Now anytime I go to anyplace that is playing secular music from the 70's, 80's and 90's, I sing your version and get lost with what is actually being played.
As a side note, it was because of you guys that my son started a band in my garage. Once they had enough songs, about six years later, they hit the road and played festivals (as a backup to the backup to the backup) from Michigan to Florida.
My son was the only young married person in the band and he quit once he got back to Michigan. They toured for two months but he was and is a family man who decided God didn't want him on the road. It was a great experience for him, so your explanation of why you are not on the road makes perfect sense.
I listen to ApologetiX all the time. As matter of fact Keep the Change is playing while I write this email.
Robert Court
Sun City AZ We sent a thank you note to Robert, and he followed up with this:I have been sitting here for the past three to four hours reading all of your bios … I have been listening to your music for all of those 25 years but in the last few days you have become more than a Christian rock band to me.
I just want you to know that although your music is the best of the best your testimony is very much a blessing and tremendously encouraging. Thank you, Robert!
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