Monday, December 5, 2011

God Is Bigger Launch Party!




Dear Family and Friends,

I am writing this letter to update you on what God has been doing in and through the ministry and to share the vision God has given us for future endeavors.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. So much has happened in the past three months and it would not have been possible without your sacrificial giving. Your support provided confirmation for us as we moved forward in faith, believing God would continue to confirm our steps all along the way.

We live in a suburb of Boston called Marlborough, and are serving at the First Baptist Church, Sudbury. God has provided paid positions for Ruthie, myself and Michael (bass guitarist). This helps tremendously to meet our living expenses. We not only minister to the people in this church, but a door has also opened on the campus of Framingham State University to minister to college students on Tuesday nights. It's been amazing to see how God prepared the way for us in advance. Since my first contact with this college ministry God has opened up an opportunity to lead worship in December. I am thrilled to lead the students in worship and share about the love of God through Jesus!

We have made several connections already with people that are over whole regions of the Northeast in collegiate ministry, and are very excited about the possibility of being on multiple campuses by the end of the semester, or at least by next semester. The college students are encouraged and excited to know that we are also launching a weekly college service to minister and lead worship. This will provide another opportunity for their friends to hear about the love of God. It has been absolutely amazing and humbling to see how God has gone before us in every way imaginable.

This past August we held our first ever God Is Bigger Conference. This has been a dream forming and taking shape in my heart for over 5 years now, and to see it become a reality was overwhelming. I think one of the main purposes of this first conference was so that God could teach me lessons that I would have never learned otherwise. I jumped in with both feet and God absolutely rocked my world in the process. I trust that God rocked the world of the students in attendance as well. God really taught me what is required to lead this ministry with strength and courage, not withstanding lessons related to marketing and promoting God is Bigger Conferences in the future. It was a time of growth; a time when I was on my face before the Lord. I am so very thankful for the experience, and the Godly counsel he provided along the way.

As far as the conference, we had about 40-50 students who attended. We had 5 different speakers and enjoyed good worship throughout. I have attached testimonies to this so you can hear what God did in the lives a of student and a youth pastor during that time.

I am thrilled to tell you that 2 months after our first conference in Baytown, TX we got a call from a church in Humble, TX wanting us to come hold the God Is Bigger Conference at their church! This is exciting news because this is not just a church “letting” us come, but a church “asking” us to come. I am amazed! God is definitely doing something and definitely opening doors.

Our vision for future ministry opportunities for the God Is Bigger Ministry depends on your prayers and financial support. Please read the list that follows and ask God how he wants you to be involved.

・ God Is Bigger Conferences in Namibia, Africa and here in Boston. (I mention these because significant financial backing is needed).
・ As we consider future conferences, and because we are a worship ministry, we need to upgrade our sound equipment so we can hold concerts or conferences anywhere, regardless of the resources of the venue. (i.e., monitors, digital board, interface, mic stands, mics, etc...).
・ We want to start a weekly service/event that God Is Bigger Ministries would hold for college students. This would be an event every week to spark a passion for Jesus that would spread to their campuses.


I am intentionally ending with the last project we are trying finish because this is, I believe, the most important thing for us to get done in a timely manner. We must get the next Chris Allen Band CD released!! This is so important in moving the ministry forward.

The album is only about halfway completed at this time. By that I mean that all instrumental and lead vocal tracking is finished. The only thing left to record is some background vocals. That takes no time at all once we have the money for it. The initial recording went well. I could not be any more excited about this set of songs! We have stalled in the area of getting the album mixed and mastered. This part of the project does not require more work on our end, it just requires finances that we do not currently have. There will be 11 songs; it will be a full album with each and every song meant to lead people into the presence of God in worship. The album is written to be used in corporate worship settings as in the church. It will take another $400 per song to get them mixed and mastered. That leaves us needing $4,400 to complete the album.

The encouraging part of all of this is that we have already invested in a promotion/marketing group to promote the album to retail stores, radio stations nationwide, iTunes, and promoting the Chris Allen Band to help us get bookings. Tate Music/Publishing Group works very hard at promoting, and we've never had any help in the promotion of our music in the past. We are excited to see what a difference professional marketing and promotion could make if we can get the album completed.

This is the bottom line – We need to raise $5,000. This would provide $4,400 for the recording, and another $600 to make sure we get all the background vocals finished and done well. I am asking each of you to prayerfully consider helping us with this. Again, I feel so passionately about these songs. I believe that when this album is finished it could put us in a position where we could pursue the other visions and dreams that God has put on our hearts. Even more important than that, I have watched as these songs have already ministered to people as we have played them over the past several months. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see how God uses them!!

I believe whole-heartedly in the ministry we are doing for the Kingdom of God. To see a generation unite in worship to express their love for God compels me to write this letter and ask for support. My heart's desire is to see Jesus Christ lifted up and honored through worship. He has put me in this place to follow this calling, to lead the body of Christ in worship.

As we approach the Christmas season please consider the ministry of the Chris Allen Band and God Is Bigger Ministries. What can you give to further the ministry that God has placed in my heart? Your gift is an investment in the Kingdom of God. To give your tax-deductible donation use the envelope enclosed or go online to www.godisbigger356.blogspot.com and click on the donate button. If you cannot help financially, please pray for us as we pursue God’s call and leading in our lives.

Thank you all for your love and support.

Chris Allen
God Is Bigger Ministries

1 comment:

  1. Good luck with the fundraising!

    Thank you so much for the time you spend at Framingham State.

    I want to have that album in my hands by the end of the summer at latest.

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