| Title: Interview with The Gathering Band |
| Words: Page # |
Page 1 of 2
The Gathering Band, formed out of the Elim youth movement, Serious4God, are well-known for their dynamic live performances and passionate, powerful music with its uncompromising Christian message. Their debut album, Rise Up, enjoyed critical acclaim and their new album, Redeemed From Emptiness, out now, is a beautiful Christian worship album that clearly demonstrates their penchant for song writing and love for the Lord. In this interview, we speak to Tim Sanders of The Gathering Band, to find out more about the band, what they’re up to and their plans for the future.
SB: Tell us a bit about the band.
TS: We're a collection of musicians and singers from Elim churches across the
SB: How long have you been a band? Introduce band members and what they do.
TS: We really came from (and still are) the house band at Elim’s national youth conference The Gathering; an annual weekend of worship and teaching.
As the event grew from its beginning in 2004 the band itself developed and established its own sound through the songs we were writing and the wide cultural spread of musicians involved.
The band at the conference can consist of rappers, percussionists, wall of drummers, dj’s etc. and when we tour outside of The Gathering events we use a smaller team of people from the larger collective.
Ryan – Lead singer & Guitars
Tim - Lead singer & Guitars
Mike – Lead Guitar
Colin – Bass
Tom – Drums
Matt – Sax & Synth
Andy - Keys
SB: Why are you called The Gathering Band?
TS: The name as with the band itself was established from the event (The Gathering) and continues to support and serve it. The word ‘gathering’ speaks of a coming together and a uniting which is definitely our heart in drawing people together in praise.
SB: Redeemed From Emptiness is the name of your new album. What was the inspiration behind it?
TS: I think the album came about when we found ourselves with a whole load of songs God had been breathing into us throughout the year through times of worship, devotionals and conversations etc.
The songs we’d written were from and for our home churches and by the time we went into the studio to record, many of them had been ‘road tested’ in home group meetings, youth gatherings and family services.
Local churches are a constant source of inspiration. There’s just something amazing about the week in week out journeying together of God’s people in so many shapes and sizes… it’s messy at times like any family but it’s always real and living. God is using local gatherings to be His hands and feet serving our communities with the gospel of Jesus.
Although we’ve played the songs out at larger gatherings it’s our heart that they are used to serve and strengthen the local churches we can reach.
SB: What does ‘Redeemed From Emptiness’ mean to you?
TS: Job 33 says: He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.' – in another translation it reads ‘you’ve redeemed my soul from the pit of emptiness’ I love this passage it just really sums up what we’ve been saved from (a life of emptiness and nothingness).
We often talk about being saved, rescued redeemed etc. but there’s a real power in testifying what the power of the cross has saved us from and good to be reminded that we are flawed and need the grace of a saviour.
View more images from The Gathering Band
RSS Feeds