It was a hot and humid spring night - the kind of night that begs for air conditioning – yet why were people lining up outside an old building that was constructed long before air conditioning was invented? Because the building was the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and the people were coming to hear GRAMMY® award-winning and multi-Platinum selling artists, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman, in one of the final dates of “The United Tour.”
Even with the combination of being a female and a professional writer, there are times when words elude me. This was one of those times. Wow! Fun! Awesome! Moving! seem like worn-out old phrases, but that’s all that came to mind when I look back over the evening.
The love between the artists and the hometown crowd was obvious when the two walked on stage, waving at friends and family, and then got everyone focused with a set of worship songs including “Blessed Be Your Name” and “How Great is Our God” with Michael on the keyboards and Steven on an acoustic guitar. The friendship between these two performers was palpable, as they performed several more of their popular songs. Then Smith left the stage, leaving Chapman to his solo set.
After introducing the band, including son Caleb on the guitar (Chapman's other son, Will Franklin, joined them on stage to play the drums for one song later in the evening), Chapman took a moment to address what was clearly on everyone’s mind; the heartbreak that had befallen the Chapman family nearly one year ago, when 5 year old Maria Sue was killed in a tragic accident. Chapman thanked everyone for their prayers, love, and support and gave a brief, albeit powerfully moving, update on his family and how this last year has led them into a new walk with the Lord. “All the songs I wrote and sang, everything I have said about the Lord, has now taken on a new and deeper meaning, a new degree of mystery.” He pointed to his dependence upon the truth of God’s Word and proclaimed, “My future with Maria is greater than my past with her.” Watching Chapman sing, “Yours,” “Miracle of this Moment” and the “Cinderella” This Moment” was like standing on holy ground, a declaration of trust during the darkest moments, and a realization that hope is simply rejoicing in advance. As if to back up his words, he was joined onstage by his BFF, singer/songwriter Geoff Moore, for a boisterous rendition of “Live Out Loud.”
Michael W. returned to the stage where he and Steven Curtis exchanged a typical masculine ribbing of each other’s age while honoring each other with a tribute of their greatest hits. Smith led off with “The Great Adventure” and Chapman responded with “Go West Young Man.” Michael answered back with “For the Sake of the Call” and Steven followed with “Place in This World.” It was hilarious! Before Steven left the stage, Michael presented him with the Presidential Service Award, a special award from President Bush, for Steven and his wife Mary Beth’s service to the cause of adoption.
When Smith had his time on stage, he played his ‘Blast from the past’ a montage of his classic hits from several of his albums including I 2 Eye, Go West Young Man, and the stunning instrumental project Freedom. Anyone attending a Michael W. Smith concert expects to hear, “Friends,” and Michael did not disappoint last night. He finished with several songs from his newest worship project, “A New Hallelujah.” There was “Mighty to Save,” “Here I Am to Worship,” “Above All,” and “Healing Rain” before Steven and Geoff joined him back on stage for a corporate rendition of Smith’s classic, “Agnus Dei.”
When The United Tour concert ended after three hours, the crowd of people in the Ryman lingered, greeting and talking to each other about what the evening had meant to them. This didn’t seem out of place, considering the spirit of the concert and the fact that the Ryman was originally The Union Gospel Tabernacle, a place of ministry and worship.
Chapman’s adoption foundation, Show Hope (formerly Shaohannah’s Hope) and Smith’s long-time ministry partner, Compassion International will benefit from The United Tour.
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