CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP)–The lights dimmed as the familiar intro to “Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord” began. Screams from nearly 1,200 high school and college students filled the air as Sonicflood ran energetically onto the stage beginning their first-ever missions-oriented tour. The packed Lightsey Chapel Auditorium at Charleston (S.C.) Southern University Aug. 27 was the first of 58 tour venues in 23 states and Canada.
The band performed crowd favorites such as “I Want to Know You” and “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” as well as songs from their latest album, “This Generation.” During each song, videos played on two large screens near the round stage, showing people groups from all over the world and young missionaries on the field.
“We want you to go out into the world and proclaim Jesus Christ,” said Rick Heil, lead singer of Sonicflood. “I want you to go out of here with a heart breaking for Jesus.”
Between songs, videos featured student and short-term “journeymen” missionaries encouraging others to go on mission with God. One video interspersed representations of key moments in Jesus’ life — performing miracles, playing with children and His crucifixion — with footage of young missionaries on the field around the world.
There was an emotional air in the auditorium as Heil spoke about his miraculous healing from Crohn’s disease, from which he had suffered for many years.
“I just laid down all my bitterness and anger with the disease, and at that point I felt peace,” Heil said. “When I went to the doctor (after this), there was not one sign of Crohn’s disease in my body.
“He’s the Healer of the soul, the Great Physician and the Healer of the world,” Heil exclaimed, as the crowd erupted with applause and screams.
From this, the band went into the hymn “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.”
Heil interviewed Kathy Weaver, International Mission Board missionary to Peru, on stage about her job in Peru. She encouraged college students to spend a summer or a semester of school on the international field as a missionary.
“If you are a believer, you have a call on your life to serve Jesus,” Weaver said. “You just have to be willing. God will make you able.”
Bass guitarist Grant Norsworthy said he realized his mission calling to music years ago. He said believers need to act on their relationships with Christ.
“(We) need to be disciples before (we) can make disciples,” said Norsworthy, who also provides background vocals for the band.
With missions booths located in the lobby of the auditorium, the event provided many opportunities for students to get involved with mission work in China, Peru, South Asia and West Africa.
“I have never been to a country where God did not get there first,” Mike Lopez told the crowd. Lopez serves as director of student mobilization for the International Mission Board. “God’s guidance is like a flashlight. God shines it on the ground and we just have to follow the light one step at a time.”
Approximately 40 people stood when Lopez asked people to commit to go on an overseas mission trip within the next year. As he spoke to the crowd about committing their lives to missions service, more than 20 students lined the left side of the auditorium to speak with counselors about going overseas.
Between Sonicflood’s music and Lopez’s missions invitation, Grayson Little from Seacoast Church, Summerville, S.C., said he realized God was calling him to international missions.
“I felt like he (Lopez) was speaking right to me,” said Little, who says the Lord has been calling him to the international field for awhile. “I think (God’s) calling me to go to Kenya.”
Little was among 10 youths who filled out a commitment card for missions. The IMB and the student mobilization office in South Carolina plan to follow up with these students.
“This was the biggest turnout I have ever seen for a concert here,” said Clark Carter, campus minister at Charleston Southern. “We’ve had other big names (play here), but it was never anything like this.”
With the closing of the upbeat encore “Lord of the Dance,” students filed out of the auditorium, many jumping up and down with excitement, exclaiming things such as “That was so cool,” “I loved it,” “That was awesome,” and “I love Sonicflood.”
Chad Stillwell, associate director of student mobilization for South Carolina, shared in the students’ excitement.
“This was the best missions mobilizing experience I have ever seen,” he said. “The crowd and the videos were incredible!”
The band has since played in Texas, with concerts in Waco, Aug.29 and Stephenville, Aug. 30. Other Texas stops include Abilene, Aug. 31; Lubbock, Sept. 1; and Canyon, Sept. 2.
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Sonicflood’s new CD, “Glimpse,” is scheduled to be released Oct. 31 and can be pre-ordered at the band’s Web site or at any of their concerts.
To purchase tickets, learn more about Sonicflood and see a complete listing of upcoming tour venues, check out the band’s Web site at Sonicflood.com. To learn how you can get involved in missions, go to thetask.org.
