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Geoff Rankin's musical ministry at the Nest
I met Geoff & Renata for the first time on the evening of Sunday 19th October, 2003. After a busy weekend of ministry and music at a youth camp in Hervey Bay, Geoff and Renata (members of the band 6across) visited us at our monthly Bread 'n' Jam Session in Crow's Nest. As usual, the most of those in attendance were St. Peter's Lutheran Secondary College Students who were doing their 5-week stint at Ironbark (an outdoor education
facility). I almost got to meet them and the band around Easter time at the last Australian Gospel Music Festival in Toowoomba, but things didn't work out.
I first contacted Geoff after checking out BrisbaneChristianChat.com,
a website he designed and set up with a friend. I enjoyed exploring it as it's distinctively 'Brisbane' (where I was born and raised). It's also distinctively Christian and has plenty to explore as far as music goes - music interviews and reviews, mp3's of Aussie artists and bands, great links, competitions, etc. I e-mailed Geoff to let him know that I've developed some music resources that I think would make a great website even better. We've been in contact on and off ever since.
In my opinion, Geoff has a unique musical style - I'd call it contemporary folk. He has the God-given ability or gift of putting parts of the Bible and/or his reflections on them to music in a way that is so natural. He shared between songs on our level - in a way that we could relate to. His sharing came across from the perspective of a fellow spiritual traveler - a fellow follower of Christ.
Geoff performed songs from his 'The Sacred Hill' CD - the one exception being 'The Farmyard Animals' song (which involved some of the congregation there that evening). He performed 'Tight Squeeze', 'Treasure In Jars Of Clay' (a personal favourite), 'Walk With You' (a brilliant musical retelling of Psalm 23 from the perspective of Jesus as the Good Shepherd), and 'More Than The World'. Copies of his CD were available for sale during the supper that followed.
Geoff and Renata have a genuine heart for God and ministry. I commend them (and the rest of 6across) to other pastors, youth leaders, chaplains, schools and churches who are open to using contemporary music as a way of sharing the Gospel.
Pastor Frank Rasenberger
St Luke’s Lutheran Church, Crow’s Nest
07 4698 1309 |
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