What an amazing concert experience at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida ! Almost 20,000 brothers and sisters in Christ made this the largest church family for a night that I’ve ever been a part of. This was Winter Jam 2019 !
As I walked in to the arena Dan Bremnes was already performing (as part of the preshow). Hollyn officially kicked-off the show at 6 PM, and then after her set was NewSong. They actually created Winter Jam back in the 1990s, and they themselves have been performing together for almost 40 years. They kicked-off their set with “I Am A Christian (And My Name Is Pilgrim)”. I loved this song immediately, and I loved their entire set. They are my kind of band (and older than me too). I’m a new fan of NewSong.
Jen Ledger was up next. She rocked the house with her new spinoff band. She’s been the drummer for Skillet for the past 11 years – since she was 18. Skillet headlined Winter Jam 2018 one year ago this weekend. I was there.
Mandisa was awesome as always. I’ve seen her twice before, and I’m a fan. I sang along to all of her hits. Danny Gokey joined her for “Bleed The Same”, and he was the next artist up. I didn’t realize how many hits he’s had over the past 5 years. He and Mandisa are two of the more successful artists to come out of the “American Idol” franchise; although, mainstream Top 40 radio have largely ignored them. When you sing about our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ your fate is sealed. You won’t get played on mainstream radio. Mainstream television will ignore you too.
After a brief intermission Rend Collective put on a lively Irish set, and everyone was up and dancing. Everyone in the arena turned Irish. (I’m already part Irish.)
Newsboys were the final act of the night, and this was my 3RD Newsboys show in the past 14½ months. I feel like a groupie now. What can I say about Newsboys ? They rocked the house. Nobody was sitting down. Everybody was singing and dancing in the aisles. My Fitbit went crazy during their set. We did church together on this night.
For the 3RD time I saw the original Newsboys perform a crazy psychedelic version of their Christian radio # 1 smash from 25 years ago “Shine”. I had never heard this song until 14½ months ago. I love it.
Shine.
Make ’em wonder whatcha got.
Make ’em wish that they were not.
On the outside looking bored.
Shine.
Let it shine before all men.
Let ’em see good works and then.
Let ’em glorify the Lord.
Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:16 NLT)
All rights reserved (c) 2019 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries
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