Nathan Clark George
by Motte Brown on 06/03/2009 at 5:23 PM
Our friend Nathan Clark George performed at my church on Sunday. Which was a real treat. He's in Colorado all summer leading worship at Horn Creek retreat center for the various Christian groups coming through.
Yesterday, I noticed that USAToday.com excerpted from a Christianity Today article featuring Nathan on how the recession is affecting Christian artists. Here's what he had to say:
Nathan Clark George has taken minimization of overhead to an extreme — by living with his family in an RV and by playing smaller churches that can't afford big-name acts.
When they know they can't pay you, thankfulness is way up, because they know you're sacrificing, just like they are. People have been very generous. They have handed me a ham, or they've given me broken guitars, since I've blogged about how I like to fix old guitars."
(Check George's blog where he cheerfully recounts some heart-stopping/wallet-sapping misadventures with their van but keeps making music.) George tells CT:
This recession, along with the general industry collapse, is getting rid of the whole stardom mindset, and that's a great thing. If I never make it big and sell 400,000 copies of my CDs, that's just fine. I don't think the Bible says we need stars. The Bible says we need servants."
Nathan and his family of seven (soon to be eight) have been living in their RV for four years, traveling across the country for gigs in coffee houses and churches. I would think that's taking minimization to the extreme. And probably atypical from other Christian artists, which he acknowledges.
From Nathan's website:
"People in coffee houses appreciate the scripture songs as much as anything else," he says. "I'm just a musician who is willing to go anywhere and sing for anybody. I really don't follow the Christian music scene so I don't know where, or if, I fit in. I just try to be cognizant of where God wants me and try to stay within that framework. Even if it means another year in the RV."
Because the Bible says we need servants, not stars.
1. KESW said the following at 7:39 AM on Jun 4:
Nathan Clark George has come to do concerts at my small church (50 families, MAYBE 200 in the pew Sunday morning) twice now and it's been an awesome experience each time. I own his first two cds and I just have to say to anyone who is reading this post who HASN'T checked out his music, please do! Especially his rendition of the Psalms, and his version of "Not What My Hands Have Done." Our church definitely had a months-long love affair with that hymn after NCG's latest concert. :)
2. Vanessa said the following at 7:42 AM on Jun 4:
This is really interesting to read as I've just had a discussion with a friend about the idea of Christian artists and "ministry". I'm grateful for people like Nathan Clark George and Keith and Kristyn Getty whose goal is to lift up Christ and serve his church- not creat a name for themselves.
I am blessed by their ministry!!
3. obewan said the following at 8:30 AM on Jun 4:
I can think of two famous Christian artists who lived these values.
When I was living in New England, I met in person Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill. On more than one occasion too.
They were known for giving concerts at Vineyard churches with no admission fees for the smallest of audiences. When I heard them play, there were probably only 30-50 people in attendance.
They were known for having their own record labels too, and for shunning the big profiteers in the industry. I think Larry Norman even used a lot of the proceeds from his record sales to support ministry to the drug addicts and homeless people in California.
4. Kimberly Eddy said the following at 11:00 AM on Jun 4:
I had never heard of Nathan Clark George until I read this post, so I looked up his music on iTunes last night, and I am thoroughly enjoying his album "Pull up a Chair". I am so thankful for artists that use their talents to minister.
5. TexasTulip said the following at 10:17 PM on Jun 7:
It's exciting to hear Nathan's name getting around these days. I have worked and volunteered at Horn Creek for a number of years (awesome camp by the way)and have been continually blessed by his heart for the Lord and leading worship.
6. wanazure said the following at 12:10 PM on Jun 8:
It is an encouragement to listen to an artist who genuinely wants to minister with the gift God gave him. His songs, for the most part, have real, worship-filled & Christ-centered lyrics instead of all the seemingly trite & borderline blasphemous songs that comprise popular Christian music today. If you haven’t checked out NCG yet, Franklin Springs Family Media produced a live DVD of one of his "Pull Up a Chair" concerts; you can see a trailer for the film at www.franklinsprings.com. The “Pull Up a Chair” CD has become one of my commute staples; it helps me focus on Christ rather than the person who just cut me off.