AndyRogersMusic.com - Blog

And I think I have challenges sometimes!

I was leading worship at an event recently and ended up giving someone a lift to the local train station afterwards. Turns out he’s involved in an Irish organisation that produces a magazine called Church in Chains, they campaign for persecuted Christians around the world.

The magazine had an article about Helen Berhane who was arrested after recording a Gospel album in the West African country of Eritrea. After many months she has recently been granted asylum in Denmark (after the UK couldn’t decide whether she was a genuine case or not).

Here’s part of the Amnesty International press release…

She spent most of her detention in inhuman and degrading conditions inside a metal shipping container which was used as a prison cell. The authorities reportedly tortured her many times to make her recant her faith. In October 2006, she was admitted to hospital in Asmara as a result of new beatings. She was released in late October but is said to be confined to a wheelchair due to the injuries she sustained to her feet and legs. She refused to abandon her faith despite the threats and ill-treatment.

I’m about to embark on some recording, this makes me realize how easy we have it here in the west when you consider that in other places simply recording a Gospel album can get you arrested and tortured!

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This CD is not due for official release in the US until mid December as far as I’m aware but I’ve managed to get my hands on a few copies that Kathryn has agreed to sign for you.

Before I comment on Kathryn’s album I need to declare a bias. I’ve had the pleasure of playing some of these songs in Kathryn’s band before this release, and have seen them actually at work helping folks connect with God in worship. This means my opinion may not be that objective!

Anyways, for what it’s worth I think the album is genuinely great!

The production adds a lot of life to what are very effective contemporary worship songs. I remember first hearing the opening track ‘Everything Changes’ in our church and literally having ‘goose bumps’ when we hit the bridge ‘…this is the kingodm, this is the kingdom come…’

On this project, which is her first solo studio album, Kathryn has engaged in more co-writing. The collaborations that stand out for me are The second track co-written with her mother, Mildred Rainey, “No Turning Back” and “You Gave Your Life Away,” co-written with Paul Baloche.

I suggest you check out some of the tracks here on Kathryn’s myspace.

You can snap up a signed copy before they all go here. (when they’re gone I’ll take the payment button down).

[Sorry - All gone!]