For 25 years I've been a part of God's kingdom.  At age 15, in Pueblo, Colorado, I was baptized into Christ.  My conversion to Christ was radical as I went from a completely non-spiritual background to making Jesus Lord in 9 weeks!  My decision today remains just as firm.  When asked during one of my studies, "What is your dream for God?" I pictured myself on TV telling the whole world to change their ways.  Everyone was greatly moved and repented and got baptized.  It was naive dream, but one that was not in vain.

That year I wrote a spiritual song and sang it in one of my high school assemblies.  Before the performance I prayed, "God, take this song and make it connect with my classmates".  It was amazing.  I made friend with people I never thought I could.  A song can be a powerful outreach tool.

Four years ago I decided that my songwriting hobby needed some serious work, so I joined a songwriters forum to get input and direction.  I wrote over 60 songs in three years spanning many different genres.  Then, last fall Brian Craig and Geoff Fawcett sent out the call for new worship music.  I was ready.  The Songs of The Kingdom songbook became my study guide.  I asked myself, "Why are certain songs so popular?  Why do the message and the melody stick with me like glue?"

Meanwhile, my heart was aching over the struggles at my local church as well as the churches in our regional fellowship.  I???ve invested so much of my heart in our movement.  How can I help our fellowship grow and mature?  Perhaps I can share my convictions through a song.  I started reading John 21 where Jesus confronted Peter asking him if he was going to love him more than anything else.  If so, Jesus wanted Peter to prove it by taking ownership of his disciples: Feed My Sheep.

Click for FEED MY SHEEP lyrics and audio track.

A couple months later I was reading one of my kid's Bible-based books called "God Can Do Anything".  It was plain and simple English, and it made me realize that God is able to do anything he wants to with our movement.  He can take our weaknesses and make them our strengths.  He can lift our broken hearts and bring that crucial healing.  He can restore us and make us stronger and wiser than before.  Not only can God do this, but I believe God is doing this now: God Will Do Everything.

Click for GOD WILL DO EVERYTHING lyrics and audio track.

Finally, I long for unity in our fellowship.  Unity has to be forged. It???s like a marriage.  If either spouse ceases to work on it, divorce may result.  I started thinking about how hard Paul worked for unity in the churches in the first century.  He spent so much time and energy feeding and encouraging each church.  In every letter, he encouraged their faith, he urged them to grow and mature, and he pleaded with them have unity with humility:The Unity Song.

 
Click for Sheet Music at River City Songbook 

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to express your convictions this way.  Use the Word of God to write a song from your heart!  Ask yourself, "What moves my soul?" Then go make music that will move many souls. 

Love in Christ,

Mark Haven Hoyle

Wichita, KS  

October 19, 2006 

Mark Haven Hoyle - Wichita, Kansas