I’m John Stiles. I hope you’ll give me just a few minutes of your time to let me tell you about an important project I’m working on called We Are The Children.

In the fall of 2011 twin tragedies struck the town of Oakdale, Minnesota where I live and work as a Lutheran pastor. Two murder-suicides, involving children from the same school occurred just two weeks apart.

It’s going to take some time and some real commitment to families to bring healing to this community. That work has already begun through the efforts of teachers, parents, school administrators, counselors and local businesses who have held benefits for the families.

And, it’s been on my heart to do something to show the children of this community that there’s a reason to hope. There really are people who care and are there for them.

So, I put together a handful of songs that I’ve written over the years, made up a laundry list of my favorite artists, found Kendall Johnson, a member of my church who has a recording studio, and set off to follow this dream – to produce an album of uplifting music and dedicate the proceeds to families in need.

When I was kid, back in the 80’s (yes, complete with the white jeans and the blow-dried hair!) there was a song written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson: We Are The World. It was a benefit for famine relief in Africa. But the line that stayed with me all those years, and was the inspiration for this project is “There comes a time when you heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one…”

Over the past 20 years I’ve met a lot of a great musicians and this album is one way to introduce them to you. So far, we have a dynamite group of artists on board, including Kendall Johnson, Sam Butler, Dan Neale, Taylor Hamilton, Robbie Seagraves, Glenn Berg-Moberg, Jorie Mallinger, Peyton Sorensen, David (Agape) Scherer, Lauren Redpath, Pat Rygg, Anna Fehring, Rod Stiles,  Dale Stiles, the Head Start preschool kids, Progressive Baptist Church choir, Pippi Ardennia, Anne Cernohous-Borchardt, and the indie band, We All Have Hooks For Hands.  I’m inviting them to donate a song, or even record with us to help support the spirit of this project. Some I’ve met and know personally. Others, I’ve admired from a distance. I’ve even written a handful of songs myself, which we’ll feature on the album. The point is to create some uplifting music. This album is steeped in the Gospel, but not too preachy.

I believe there is so much worth living for and these songs are just the beginning. I hope this project moves you to give of yourself, to inspire others to hope, and to create a more peace-filled world. These kids are more than just “our children.” We are the children.

All proceeds from album sales (after production costs) will go to support victims of domestic violence and to support Building Bridges, a local after school initiative that provides tutoring and activities for children in need.

Thank you for listening and remember: It’s true, we make a brighter day, just you and me!