Blog: Undercover at Soul Survivor Momentum
LTTM sent our very own music reviewer extraordinaire Jono into deepest darkest Somerset, South West England, on a special mission to report from inside a campsite known only as Shepton Mallet. Would he succeed in blending in with the other campers at this popular gathering of youths? Would his tent collapse on him in the middle of the night? Would he manage to grow a beard? Would his trusty iPhone have any signal in this remote corner of the world?
Yes LTTM readers... Jono goes undercover at Soul Survivor Momentum 2011.
Friday - 4pm
Festival time is always a crazy time. You pack your car full of different kinds of clothes because you don't know what the weather might do. Then you fill the car with as much food as possible. We arrived at Soul survivor Momentum with excitement, but also more than a little worry. I'm not the best at putting up tents, so I worried how we were going to put it up with hardly any instructions to help us. But to be fair, I think we did a good job, even if it was a little stressful. Before the first main meeting began we decided to sit in the sun and just relax for a little while.
Friday - 11:30pm
What a busy afternoon. We headed to the main meeting which was led by Beth Croft who played some songs from the new albums from Tim Hughes, Matt Redman and Hillsong United. Danielle Strickland spoke very powerfully. After a quick cup of coffee we then headed to see two members of the band Rend Collective Experiment who brilliantly led everyone closer to God.
After a long first day at Soul Survivor Momentum, there's nothing nicer than jumping into your half deflating air bed. Good night!
Saturday - 6pm
No 3G connection here. Phone battery running low... must find... recharging point...
Sunday - 10pm
Phone now charged. Over the last few days we have had Tim Hughes leading us in times of worship during the main meetings. He has been playing many of the song from his new album 'Love Shine Through', including the incredible 'Counting On Your Name' which has been going down really well with everyone. He also did the song 'Spirit Break Out' which is on the new Worship Central live album. All the new songs are sounding amazing and people are taking to them straight away.
The full Rend Collective Experiment band have been amazing together, playing their new songs including their superb new version of the classic song 'Be Thou My Vision'. The late night worship sessions have all been completely packed out.
Monday - 4:15pm
Last night we went to the Cafe Uno venue to dance the night away with jazz funk music from resident band Our Dad. Great vibes, the perfect end to the day.
Tim Hughes led this morning's worship, with a bible study from Andy Croft who talked about the life of Paul. It was such a good talk, that guy can really speak. We spent the day then playing cards and relaxing in the sun. In the evening we headed back to the big top to praise God with the fabulous Beth Croft leading worship. I again went to see the Rend Collective lads singing into the night with more new songs from their forthcoming album.
Tuesday - 10:30am
Charged my phone up again, third time this week. Crazy.
Tuesday - 2pm
Today started much earlier, with the morning meeting starting at ten due us all having communion together. Thankfully to encourage everyone out of their tents, Little Jon made us all fried bread and bacon. Getting up at ten doesn't sound too early, but getting up early and going to bed late takes its toll on you. This morning's service has worship from Tom Field. One of the standout songs this morning was 'Praise Overflows', one of his own songs. Ken Costa was preaching, talking about how our view of God will determine how we live. What followed was a time of healing, with God healing many people physically. God is amazing
Tuesday - 11.30pm
We are just heading over the Severn Bridge back into Wales in a convoy of about 4 cars. It was great to spend this festival with 10 really great people, it brought us closer together as friends. Late nights and early mornings bring out the worst in people, so doing this for 5 days really tests your friendship and I'm glad to say we're all good enough friends to stop a bit of sleepiness effect that. I wouldn't have wanted to be camping with any other people.
The last night of worship, led by Tim Hughes, was all about praise with all the up beat songs of declaration to God coming out. From 'Happy Day' to 'Dance Dance' to 'Spirit Break Out', which starts slowly but blows you away midway through the song. We ended the main meeting with 'Amazing Grace', just 5,000 people singing out how amazing God is and that is the whole point of Momentum. It's a place for 20-somethings and 30-somethings to come together, no hype, no thoughts of how 'worship' should be done. It's a safe place with 5,000 people experiencing and receiving a fresh wave of God's love.
I am now back in Wales heading down the M4 past the Celtic Manor where the Ryder Cup golf tournament was held last year, where such celebrations were had when Europe won that gold cup. But nothing compares to the celebration that was had in that field tonight for something much bigger than a cup. As much as I love golf, God deserves our praise so much more, no matter how we are feeling, because He is with us every step of the way.
...and for the record, yes, Jono came home from Soul Survivor Momentum with his heart filled with worship, weary, not-quite-as-clean-as-he-arrived, and sporting some kind of beard.
