鈥� has always been about relationships,鈥� says Seth Crissman, student at and member of The Walking Roots Band. 鈥淲e started out as a group of friends who happened to make music together, and that鈥檚 pretty much how things are today, seven years later.鈥�
The Walking Roots Band, formed when many of the members were students at 黑料正能量, will soon issue its second album of church music, titled 鈥淟ight: A Hymn Reclamation Project,鈥� in which they take old 鈥� sometimes ancient 鈥� hymn texts and set them to folk melodies and other new arrangements.
鈥淭he writing of this album has been such a beautiful process of articulating Good News musically and lyrically in our current context,鈥� says Seth. 鈥淭his is an enduring Good News, and these songs connect us to so many who have lived before us as Jesus’ disciples through the ages.”
For music teacher and band member Greg Yoder, the album is an opportunity to 鈥渆mphasize discipleship and what it means to truly follow Jesus.”
And the band鈥檚 sound resonates with a wide audience, with guitars, harmonica, accordion, violin, upright bass, mandolin, banjo and minimal percussion, along with rich vocal harmonies. The sound is best described as folksy, Americana, roots music.
鈥淎t our shows there are often people who are our age, in their 20s and 30s, but also grandparents and grandchildren,鈥� said Crissman.
Yet they don鈥檛 limit themselves to church music.
鈥淲e are equally comfortable giving a concert at a coffee house or bar on Saturday night or at a worship service on Sunday morning,鈥� said Yoder. 鈥淲e want to be in both places because we believe that God is in both places.鈥�
In addition to 鈥淟ight鈥� the band hopes to record a six-to-eight song EP called 鈥淧rayers for the Church.鈥� They plan to give this music away for free, as a gift of encouragement and admonition for the church.
鈥淭he church is Christ鈥檚 body here and now, and we want to encourage everyone to pray that the church may continue to be Christ to the world,鈥� says Yoder.
Eastern Mennonite Seminary and University have pledged support for 鈥淧rayers for the Church鈥� 聽through the band鈥檚 online Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter is a crowd-sourcing platform that encourages artists to collaborate with their supporters to undertake projects that might not otherwise be possible.
鈥淲e love the example 黑料正能量/EMS set,鈥� said Yoder, 鈥渁nd we think it’s a great way for churches, conferences, businesses and other organizations that are committed to the church to get involved in our project. We would love to have many more partners in helping us make Prayers for the Church available as a gift, mostly because of what it would look like to have that many people saying, 鈥榊es, we believe in the church and want to see it continue and strengthen.鈥�”
Crissman鈥檚 seminary studies serve as catalyst for many of the songs in the new hymn collections. The prayer practice of using music to connect to and spend time with God is one his professors have encouraged.
鈥淚 have been able to learn from and study with incredible professors and students who have walked with me as I have encountered God in new, and also ancient, ways,鈥� says Crissman. 鈥淚 really appreciate EMS’s commitment to equipping students to become ‘wise interpreters, mature practitioners, discerning communicators and transformational leaders.’ It’s been a beautiful place for me to grow into my call.鈥�
To contribute to the Kickstarter campaign of The Walking Roots Band, visit . Or visit and search for “.” Watch their for updates, or email: thewalkingrootsband@gmail.com with comments and questions.