The Spirit moves

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

Charismatic, Spirit filled and Spirit empowered Grammy Award Winning and Multi Platinum artist Michael. W. Smith was in Sri Lanka to kick of his five nation tour in Colombo. Arriving on time for his press briefing, last Thursday, he put everyone at ease by going up to them and talking to them. He seemed to emanate confidence and boldness. The bible does talk about these Men of God, blessed with the fruits of the spirit – love, peace, joy and kindness. Michael, blessed with the gift of music, wowed a Sri Lanka audience last week, when he performed live – An Evening of Worship with Michael. W. Smith , where Michael shared the gospel message through music. The concert was organized by the Christian Arts Foundation.

Michael W Smith. Picture by Sarath Peiris

Michael and his merry band of friends performed contemporary praise and worship music during the concert at Havelock Sports Club Grounds last Friday “ It is good to be in your country . This is an adventure, every time you go somewhere you have never been before. I also believe that I am not here by mistake. I think God is in this somehow. I’m here to do more than a concert. Hopefully tomorrow night we will experience god in a fresh way. I’ve been called to the Nations. I feel energized, I’ve never felt better in my life and I actually love playing outside of America more than I do at home. (Don’t tell anyone I said that !) it is good to be in your country, everyone is so wonderful. I feel it will be a great night- tomorrow night,” said Michael.

During his 30 year career as a recording artist, Michael has released 24 albums, which has gathered multiple honors including an American Music Award, three Grammy Awards out of 13 nominations and 44 GMA Dove Awards Michael divulged that a long time ago he wanted to be a pop artist. That he wanted to talk about his faith. A big Elton John Fan, as a 16 year old teenager he was writing pop songs. “So I got this wild idea: ‘why can’t I write pop songs and talk about my faith?’

I’m very grateful to what Christian music has done for me. I’m just doing what I was called to do. I was invited to come to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans are very gracious and I’m very grateful. So thank you for taking such good care of us! We are invited around the world and we pray for those offers. I have a really good team around me. In the last ten years I have had a lot of favor and it is definitely not deserved. I deserved death but got life because of what Jesus did for me. It travel around the world and play for thousands of people and it is mystery to me. But I don’t think it is a mistake. So I take advantage of those opportunities. All the places we’ve been around the world whether it be Amsterdam or Romania or Latvia,we want to deposit something in every country we go to. So the same thing will happen tomorrow.

I have the greatest band in the whole world! We love to play! One thing I’m big on every night is I’m big on the Grace of God. The goodness of God. So to me it is about proclaiming the goodness of God. He is good today and he will be good tomorrow. I try to paint that picture with the word I say and with the songs I say. You have to walk in a place of forgiveness and know that you are loved no matter what you’ve done.”

Michael was ten years old when he became a believer. “It was very real to me. It just hit me: ‘oh my gosh he really is who he said he was (Jesus)’. So that began my journey. When I was a teenager for four years I wandered in the wilderness. I wouldn’t be here today if not for the prayers of my parents. Because I was doing bad stupid things like drugs. But mom and dad never stopped loving me. The conversion at ten was very real and sincere. The number one name of the devil is that he is a great deceiver, I got deceived and I’m very fortunate to be alive. The key to living a blameless life is who do you surround yourself with? Who are your friends ?

I’ve got the most amazing wife. We’ve got five beautiful kids and seven grandchildren. I’ve got great people surrounding me that keep me accountable. All our kids have turned out amazing, if your kids are good you are good, if your kids are not good you are not good. Not that they did everything right. They went through their teenage years like all of us did and all the temptations that go with it. But they are all amazing kids. Watching them getting married and watching them have kids, it is just mind boggling. It is a beautiful chapter for us.”