TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Christian Artist Makes World A Better Place

CMA Media Promotions

Chris Tomlin will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18371 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in Lutz.

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHELLE BEARDEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 28, 2009

In these not-so-happy times, contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin picked a fitting name for his newest CD and tour: "Hello Love."

"Our tour is bringing a message of hope," says Tomlin, 36. "We don't come with a circus show. It's about the music, it's about connecting with the audience and it's about God. Straightforward and honest stuff."

Time magazine calls Tomlin, who comes to Tampa next week, "the most often sung artist anywhere." He's got a bucketful of Dove and Gospel Music awards, and is one of the most popular recording artists in the genre.

But as important as his recording career is, that's not what makes Tomlin a standout among his peers.

Last year, the Texas native participated in the Compassionart International Songwriter's Retreat, which was dedicated to writing songs whose revenue will go to the poor. He also joined with other prominent worship leaders and speakers for the Passion World Tour, to encourage college students to support local and international missions.

At each venue, they asked the students to give a few dollars. And the students responded: 23,000 gave a total of $1 million.

Tomlin loves this new math. "We decided not to go to the big donors and ask for $100,000. Who has that kind of money these days anyway? Instead, we just asked the students to give what they could. And we proved that a lot of people with a little bit can do a lot to change the world."

Where is the money going? Tomlin and the rest of the Passion team identify seven global causes and their partners on each project on a new Web site called OneMillionCan.com. Among them: Ugandan refugees, women and children trapped in sex slavery in India, children at risk for disease because of a lack of clean drinking water, hope and homes for former child soldiers in Uganda.

You can understand how $1 million, however substantial, is just a start when tackling such overwhelming problems. So the fundraising continues.

I asked Tomlin why he chooses international causes when we have so many needs right here. While he's empathetic to America's needy, he says the situation here doesn't begin to compare to developing countries.

"We're going through serious stuff here. But you've got to put it in perspective. If most of us lost everything, we would still be way ahead of some of these people we've identified," he says. "We're all God's children. Jesus says love your neighbor as yourself. He didn't put boundaries on that teaching."

Tomlin has traveled the world - 17 countries - and has seen the devastation and hopelessness firsthand. Perhaps the most compelling memory is the scrap-metal shanties in Kampala, Uganda, where families of six or more lived in buildings the size of an average American bathroom. They housed malnourished children and elderly grandparents, because most of the parents have died of AIDS.

Those are images Tomlin can't forget. So he's chosen to use his celebrity to make this world a kinder, more livable planet. If only other celebrities would follow his act.

IF YOU GO

Chris Tomlin's "Hello Love" Tour

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18371 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz

ADMISSION: $23 to $30

INFORMATION: (866) 440-7880 or www.thejoyfm.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT