“1 IN 4 WOMEN AND 1 IN 9 MEN IN THE U.S. ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES.” – CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey 2005

“1 in 3 TEENS REPORT KNOWING A FRIEND OR PEER WHO HAS BEEN HIT, PUNCHED, SLAPPED, CHOKED OR PHYSICALLY HURT BY HIS/HER PARTNER.”
— Teenage Research Unlimited.

“CHILDREN WHO WITNESS VIOLENCE AT HOME ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT OR SUFFER VIOLENCE WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS.” –The Domestic Abuse Project

Far more of the people in our community are victims or perpetrators of domestic violence than we think. This project will help kids get tutoring, support families in need, and connect people with potentially life-saving / life-changing training in addressing violence in the home.  Toward that end, there are two places we are planning to direct the proceeds for this album:

1) Building Bridges: This community based effort has brought together people from local schools, law enforcement, churches, apartment managers, and Washington County guardian ad leitem program… all with a common purpose to promote the well being of children and support families in the Oakdale area.  Click here for local news stories about Building Bridges and the recent activities they have provided, including after school tutoring. 1/2 the proceeds after production will help fund Building Bridges this first year of publication.

2) Families affected by domestic violence.   I am in contact, through the school, with the families struck by tragedy in Oakdale last fall.  1/2 the proceeds will go toward them this first year.

Other Resources: The Lutheran Community Foundation is providing free training for congregations who wish to learn more about how their church can address domestic violence.  By partnering with the ELCA’s Justice for Women, they are providing training for congregational teams who are interested in addressing domestic and sexual violence. The goal of the training is to prepare clergy and lay leaders to intervene in and prevent family violence and to create safe congregations.

For more information or to register your congregation for this training, please go to www.thelcf.org and scroll down to Safe and Healthy Training to find the link to the application.

The Lutheran Community Foundation is also sponsoring a series of monthly Faith Trust Institute training webinars that address issues surrounding domestic violence, focusing on safe and healthy individuals and congregations. For more information on these free webinars, visit www.faithtrustinstitute.org/training.

Other links:
www.domesticabuseproject.com

www.breakthecycle.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
www.thehotline.org

Here are some pictures from our session with Sam Butler and Dan Neale.

Sam and I met at the Martin Luther King Holiday Breakfast a couple months ago and we got to chatting about music. After hearing that he’d played in other Lutheran churches in the Twin Cities, I mentioned this project to him. We had coffee a few days later and he agreed to be on the record with a friend of his, Dan Neale.

I learned that Sam has toured with the Bilnd Boys of Alabama, as well as The Gospel at Colonus (a gospel version of Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus at Colonus).

Sam brought a friend along, Dan Neale, who (unbeknownst to me) is one of the Twin Cities’ MVGP (most valuable guitar pickers!) having performed with the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, as well as appearing regularly on A Prairie Home Companion.

Well, Dan shows up in his cowboy boots and bolo, and him and Sam open up their guitar cases and they just pulled a whole lot of magic out of thin air! The song, “In My Heart” had been recorded earlier by Sam & the Blind Boys, but this time with Dan’s slide guitar and Sam’s soulful vocals, it was like being transported to a front porch down south, sippin on sweet tea… or were we in the front pew at church? No matter, you’re sure to enjoy their contribution to this album.  I know I did.

And, while I haven’t yet heard the track, I’m told they also graciously laid down some sweet rhythms for our take on Billy Preston’s You Are So Beautiful (a song we wanted to use as a prayer of faithful devotion). What a blessing each person has been to this project!

Picture credits: Jim Denham Photography

ALBUM COVER ARTWORK:

One image of “hope” I keep coming back to is this classic photo of a child who has just been given a new pair of shoes from the Red Cross. It was reportedly taken in Austria, 1945 by Gerald Waller, and was published by LIFE magazine. Looking at the sheer joy on his face takes on more meaning after seeing the shoes he’s currently wearing.

This project is about bringing hope and light to kids in need. In the Bible, Jesus is described as follows: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).  Kids are stronger than we think, and they’ll find their way through it all. But we don’t walk through that darkness alone.

Many THANKS to Sue Korf (logos) and Rick Thiher (cover art) for providing the artwork for this project!  You guys have been GREAT to work with!

Thanks to our many supporters! Without you this wouldn’t be possible!

Bronze
Sharon Dornberg

Silver
Jim Ostrander
Duane Olson
Matthew Stiles
Beverly Saniti
Mary Waters
Karen Moberg
Megersa Kumbi

Diamond
Jason Glaser
Scott Glaser
Mike & Debbi Dieter
Jim & Mary Nelson
Shari Budach
Nicole Gade
Tom & Marie Grezek
David & Nancy McCord
Julie Johnson
Rod & Claire Stiles
Laurie Hayes

Gold
Rick & Kathy White
Jacque & Dee Nelson
Gerald & Gerladine Nelson

Platinum
James Hedin

Pat Rygg and Anna Fehring are sisters who have sung at our church.  They sang “A Love Never Known” in worship last year, and Pat did it for a funeral that same week.  When this love (of God) “comes to call us home,” the song’s prayer is that we would “say ‘I do’ and follow You.”  After their song, I just threw out the possibility of them backing me on the chorus for our cover song: “We Are The Children” as it’s a bit out of my range for singing.  It was totally impromptu, and they just pulled some divine sounds from out of nowhere (by the Spirit, of course) and I couldn’t be happier with the results!  “Better record it now,” Anna said, “before we forget it.”  Pat is a member of Holy Cross and we are blessed to have them both as a part of this project!

Picture credits: Jim Denham Photography

Some thoughts on song selection…  So, how does one create an album to benefit victims of domestic violence?  What songs are appropriate for such a heavy topic?

As a Lutheran pastor, I come to the task of making music steeped in a tradition of hymns, and with an appreciation for songs from other places.  Growing up, my parents always took us to church; but they also played in a band at nightclubs and wedding dances on the weekends.

So, when I set out to gather songs for this album I wanted first to imagine the songs that inspired me to keep the faith – songs that introduced me to a God who would not fail me in time of need.  I also kept an ear open to what some call “secular” music (the music of the masses), looking for ‘Jesus in disguise.’  Finally, while songs that uplift and motivate are important to me, there is also a need to lament – to sing from that place where depression and despair await.

It’s a tough subject to address: domestic violence.  I do not intend to put a happy face over the pain people experience in oppressive situations.  There’s nothing lovely or beautiful about abuse, especially among family members.  To simply tell people to cheer up is reckless at best and heaps more abuse on those hurting, at worst.  In the church, we call this the theology of glory – of not being able to call a thing what it is.

In the song, “We Are The World,” it has always troubled me, that line: “We’re saving our own lives…”  If that’s true, who needs Jesus?  The songs on this album pay tribute to Christ as our savior and source of all joy.  And yet, there is a choice we’re making each time we encounter suffering.

If worship attendance is any indicator this time of year, we love our Easter more than our Good Friday.  But we know the resurrection is meaningless without the story of Jesus’ humiliation, suffering and death on the cross.  Just to know that God has ‘been there’ and has overcome the world, is enough.  We make a brighter day for others, only because the Spirit has burst into our lives with the life-changing power to do so.

Listen for that lament in the longing in the song: In My Heart.  You can hear it in the song, Who Knows Where The Time Goes, when “all your fickle friends are leaving.”  And it’s there in the cover song: We Are The Children, asking:

Who’s crying
Who’s dying
Who’s loving
Who’s up above
When there are
Children crying
Children dying
Our children
We are the children
Now

But listen also, in these songs, for hope to carry on, for the light that shines in the darkness, for that place where we all belong.

Here are some samples of songs & demos on the album:

“Holy Spirit” by John Stiles

“Dawn Again” by Kendall Johnson and Submission

“In My Heart” by Sam Butler & Dan Neale

“27” by We All Have Hooks For Hands

“We Are The World” by the Washington County Head Start Kids

My brother, Dale, has still got it! We had a ball recording the bass riffs for the album (and still have 4 songs to go, bro!).  Dale has played guitar and bass for years.  There’s nothing like jamming with him (and anyone else who happens to be there) on the 4th of July or whenever we can get together.  His signature sounds are on several songs here, though I’m partial to his riffs on “Lovely Day” and “One Spirit.”  Love ya, Dale!

Plus, a huge THANK YOU to our first donations on the GoFundMe page! As this project has been from the start – we couldn’t do it without YOU! Thank you to everyone who is helping make this possible!

Picture credits: Jim Denham Photography

Thank for visiting the We Are The Children Project, a collaboration of Twin Cities artists and musicians recording a gospel album to end domestic violence through uplifting music!  Have a look around this blog to learn more about the project. Listen to music here. 

NOTE: the online fundraisers are now closed.  Thanks to all those who supported this project from the start!  If you would like learn more or make a contribution contact John Stiles (pastorjohn@flcbrainerd.com).

Thank you for caring.

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