As the world watches the state of Texas struggling with the storms and flooding of Hurricane Harvey, the spotlight on relief efforts has been a source of hope of inspiration to many, including singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin. In an interview this week with Reel Faith, the writer of songs such as “Good Good Father” and “How Great Is Our God” said that while the images of devastation in his home state have left his family “heartbroken,” the response to the aftermath has been “amazing.”
“The people who are helping out and the communities coming together, that has always been an amazing thing about Texas,” he said. “Texans are so proud and we get a bad rap, but we’ve seen so many out helping and we’re going to see more of that in the weeks and months ahead.”
Tomlin, who has taken a summer break in between legs of his Good, Good Father Tour, is gearing up for next week’s Rock the Universe Christian music festival taking place at Universal Studios Orlando. The two-day event, which will also feature Lauren Daigle, Casting Crowns, for KING & COUNTRY, Kari Jobe and more, offers an opportunity for worship music to reach beyond the typical Christian concert going audience.
“The theme park experience brings in so many different people,” he explained. “There are a lot of people hearing our music for the very fist time.”
New listeners will add to an already diverse audience who enjoys Tomlin’s music. In a typical concert, multiple generations and backgrounds are represented, all brought together by contemporary worship songs that are also mainstays in modern church worship services.
“Usually an artist has one target audience, but for me it’s been pretty widespread,” he said. “I think that speaks to the music in the church. I try to give people a voice to sing to God. I think in that way it really crosses a lot of lines of ages.”
When Tomlin released his 2001 national debut, The Noise We Make, he entered into a much different Christian music scene, one less populated with worship songs than pop and rock tracks. As worship music grew in popularity, some speculated it, like other genres before it, would wane. In 2017, the category continues to explode and Tomlin doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“It’s going to continue to be a force,” he said. “There’s something different that happens when I’m a part of this music singing these songs. Styles will come and go and change, but the Spirit is eternal. This music is eternal and the act of worship is eternal. Worshiping God is never going away, unless the Scripture is wrong.”
On Friday, Sept. 8, Tomlin will step onstage at Rock the Universe to once again represent a movement of worship that is “something bigger than yourself.” It will be his latest grand adventure at one of the world’s most popular theme parks, an experience he will share with his wife and two excited daughters who “have been talking about it for a month.”
Daddy Tomlin will be working overtime, playing at a much later hour than normal.
“I play so late, I play around 11 pm this year,” he said. “I always wonder, ‘Is anyone going to stick around?’ But they do. It’s incredible.”
For more information on Rock the Universe or to purchase tickets, click here.
Watch Tomlin’s video of “Good, Good Father” below:
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