Reviews

ccma: You have written the lyrics to most of the songs in “等...” They seemed very personal. Could you walk us through the process of writing these songs?

Anthony: I have learned from my background in theatre that when you write you always start from something personal. You should begin with a feeling, and express it with words rather than concocting words together to derive a feeling. A writer always deals with certain degree of universal truths, but the personal experiences make it come alive and allow someone to identify with what you wrote. "Wait..." captures my experiences since "Love Journeys", and in many ways it is an extension or continuation of that album. The album "Love Journeys" was produced when Isabella and I had not received a clear vision of our direction, while "Wait..." came after we were certain of our path.

A: This album took two years to complete, partly because I wasn’t sure in the beginning whether this project would fulfill the ministry goals of jnX. jnX is a non-profit organization focused on worship training, and operates under a limited budget. Record production does not directly relate to worship, plus I have to be careful how I spend the money that God has given to jnX. So, for the past 2 years I have been asking God whether or not to proceed, and God answered me by giving me theme after theme to write about.

ccma: I was very fond of Track 4 不捨不棄. Where did it come from, and what is it speaking of?

A: 不捨不棄was written from our experiences where we were in heavy debt, in fact we were in 6-figure debt, yet God did not forsake us. Instead he led us through each step of the way bringing our debt from 6 figures down to 5 figures. I hope that this song would shed a light of hope to those that are also facing trials and difficulties.

CCMA: Brothers and sisters can visit your web site to read about your testimony, but could you share with us briefly here how this happened?

A: Around 1990, we heard God call us to travel from country to country, nation to nation, island to island to build worship training centers. We waited and waited, but nothing happened. So, we took matters into our own hands by starting a business hoping that we can earn enough money to fund this ministry. It was a novel, but naive idea. As it turned out, we were cheated by our business partners causing us to owe a lot of money to our clients. We were technically not required to pay them, but our conscience was unsettled. We took out loans from our credit cards to pay back our clients, and spent the past years paying for those loans. Many people have suggested filing for bankruptcy, including some brothers and sisters. However, after prayers and discussions with my pastor, Isabella and I felt that wasn't God's intention. We have to be responsible for what we have done. Around 1998 God amazingly confirmed once again the vision to go out. We prayed - my wife and I - that from that point forward we will not look at our finances, and go wherever we are called to go. 不捨不棄speaks deeply to that experience. When we go through the lowest valleys of life, God is there with us. The lyrics to this track was written in just one day on the day after I arrived at Hong Kong to work on this project with Peter. I hope that this track would encourage brothers and sisters that they can be victorious in the Lord when they go through life's struggles.

CCMA: Another favorite track of mine is風中的花. This song although isn't grand or overly dramatic, the lyrics and the music together convey a victorious feeling.

A: This song speaks to contentment. I have been going through rounds of discussion with Peter Kam on the type of songs for this topic and one night he called me, and said that he had thought about this song in the context of my experiences, and he saw an image of me as a flower blown by the winds swaying back and forth yet resilient to the forces. The image conveyed no wants, and that is the definition of contentment. However, this image lends itself more to a slower tempo song rather than the upbeat song that I had in mind originally. So, I told him that it is fine. I will not stand in the way of God’s inspiration. In fact, I used that image in the first line of the chorus, which also resulted as the title of the track.

CCMA: Why out of all the songs on this album you picked等... as the title? It reminds me of Danny Chan's famous hit long ago.

I started to sing it, and Anthony quickly joined in until we both were holding our stomach laughing. Do you remember that song? Sorry, you don’t have to answer that. I don’t want you to give away your age.

A: I think that has been a lesson for me in starting this ministry. It is because we didn't wait that we got ourselves into serious debt. But, at the same time, God used those experiences to refine our characters, to prepare our hearts, and to equip us to do this work. The fact of the matter is that when you go about God's work without waiting for his proper timing, you don't get the blessings. God's timing is the best. You can busily use your own methods to plan and to execute, but in the end you will arrive at the same spot. God's timing seemingly is slower, is always better. Moses waited 40 years before leading the Israelites. Paul waited 15 years before the first missionary journey. I originally wanted the title "wait...I am willing", but Isabella felt that this title gave away the punch line. So we removed the end, and it has a ring to it now.

A: In addition to our debt situation, the title also speaks of this project as a whole. This project started in 2001 August when I met Peter in CAS Hong Kong. He asked me if we could collaborate on an album. It was an intriguing idea, and I welcomed it very much, but I wasn't sure if I had the finances to do it. So I put it in prayer, and waited. I met him again at CM2002, and we had more discussions on the project. It is after that meeting that God began providing ideas for the project. Demos were exchanged and ideas kept popping up for various songs, and finally we decided to get it all together in 2003 over a three-week period.

The Peter that Anthony was referring to is none other than Peter Kam the famous Hong Kong producer. Incidentally, Peter was one of the founders of CCMA who wrote and produced many early CCMA records.

A: Isabella has been so supportive during those weeks. She made special meals for me to keep my voice in shape. We knocked out in addition to the 8 songs in "等..." 2 versions of “Dedicate My All”. So, we are talking about 10 songs in total in three weeks time.

CCMA: There is a song that you interpreted for Peter. Tell me about the experience with that.

A: 我要向山舉目is a very special song for Peter. I was compelled to do a good job for him. I actually recorded 2 versions of it while in Hong Kong, but I wasn't satisfied with my interpretation. The song is very challenging, because the arrangement is kind of classical, but it has a little bit of Broadway flavor and at the same time a little POP. The first 2 versions sounded stiff. I needed time to process the words and the music. It wasn’t until I returned to the US did I record it again. It is a classic Cantonese CM song. I really appreciate the opportunity to be able to interpret it again for Peter. This song demonstrates Peter’s talent! It is a seemingly easy song, but in fact it has complex changes. Very well written!

CCMA: Could you tell us a little about jnX. What is your vision, and where do see God taking jnX?

Anthony looked up to the ceiling and raised his hands in exclamation.

A: God, please tell me!!

Laughter filled the room…

A: Put it this way, God clearly told us through 4 different servants that my wife and I would build training centers around the world. We have been able to do that in several places already. The responses of the brothers and sisters that we came in contact with in those places have been tremendous. It is extremely humbling to realize that God is willing to use us. We know very clearly that this is not Anthony’s ministry, nor is it Isabella’s ministry. Our experiences kept affirming that this is God’s ministry.

A: The ministry started with just Isabella and I, but as the number of supporters grew, and as more people are involved, we felt it was time to incorporate the ministry. We named the ministry jnX, which was derived from Psalms 100:1, which says that we shall make a joyful noise to the Lord. jnX stands for joyful noise Xpress. The play on the word express was to indicate that the head of this ministry is none other then Christ himself.

A: Furthermore, although we are not ordained pastors, but God placed a pastor's heart in us. We hope that we can pastor those that serve with us in jnX to greater realize the path that God has put in their lives. When they move on, we can bless them knowing that they can do greater things for God. jnX's vision is really to partner with local churches or para-churches to do God's work. We really want to bless local churches.

CCMA: Having traveled around the world, you have seen much with the current Worship movement. Can you tell us a little about what you are seeing?

A: The contemporary worship movement has been around for quite some time now. It started with the American churches, and the Chinese churches have been catching on. However, there are some churches that still use traditional worship, and there are some that are struggling to create a blend between traditional and contemporary. In fact, I was recently in Wisconsin leading a world mission conference attended by primarily Americans, and they too are facing the same issues. No matter where we go, we see churches struggling with this blend of worship style. There is one observation in regards to some of these struggling churches. In this transitioning process, they are focused on adopting a new style or format, and have missed the point of what worship is all about. If we grasp from the scripture what life worship is, then we will see that style becomes secondary. The latest hippest music in combination with a knock out band does not equal to a worship revival in a church. The worship movement is about going back to the heart of worship; it is being intimate with Jesus; passionately worshiping God.

CCMA: For Chinese churches that are struggling with this transition process, how can we overcome this issue?

A: I think sometimes we can't distinguish preferences from the needs and backgrounds of the flock. Leaders growing up in the 70s can not use that era to relate to kids growing up in the 90s, and neither can the 70s work with some one who's gone through the 50s. Sometimes worship leaders spent so much efforts planning and designing the worship set, but did not get any response from the congregation. They wonder why. Well, first of all, if the congregation did not experience a revival and renewal in a life of worship, they may not understand what the worship leader is doing at all. Second of all, the worship set may be insensitive to the cultural background of the congregation. A pastor said something that really enlightened me once. He asked if music is a universal language. The answer is a big no. It is a very unique and personal language. A song may be loved by one individual, but not by another. Everyone grew up in a cultural context, and the music that you prefer reflects that background. A God loving congregation may not be responding because they don't understand the musical language that is being conveyed. The bottom line is that worship revival or renewal is not adding the drum set, or adding a guitar, but it is the transformation of life. Let me share with you an experience. We recently led worship in a Church in Sacramento, and having some knowledge of the congregation we used three hymns and no fast songs at all. When we were done, the pastor was coming up in tears. He made an altar call and several people responded and accepted the Lord.

Isabella: In fact I watched from the back during worship and saw the congregation being very still and quiet. A lot of them had their heads bowed as they worshipped in tears. <Isabella joined in on the discussion with us at this point.>

A: We have to leave space for the congregation. In corporate worship, we have to leave space for personal worship. You know there is a difference between spiritual high and worship. You can be in an emotionally charged atmosphere, but come away without being intimate with God at all. Good musicians have to watch out. We can create “worshipful” moments by manipulating the atmosphere using musical techniques. We can create these really loud moments, and immediately contrast it with soft strings in the background. Have people really been transformed? Have they really been touched by God's spirit?

I: I recall giving a workshop in worship in Hong Kong, and at the end we led a worship set. Those that attended wished that the worship time could have been longer. Many of them were in tears. They said they really felt that they were embraced by God. That is the role of the worship team, to bring people into God’s presence.

A: Exactly, worship is not for our enjoyment, but it is for God's enjoyment. Worship doesn't end when the meeting stops, but it continues or should I say begins when we live our daily lives.

CCMA: Anthony, I am a terrible singer. Give me a quick fix!

A: There is no quick fix! Be natural. Listen to a variety of singers, and be broad in your music selection, both stylistically and language wise. Stay relaxed psychologically. Focus on the lyrics, and how you would say it. The way you say it is the way you will sing it.

CCMA: What is installed for you both in the coming months?

A: Ahh...So much. Let's start with this month. We will be traveling back to Hong Kong to finish the Mandarin version of "Wait..." We are planning a new worship album with original materials. Continue to work with Pulse. Pulse is now part of jnX. They have a worshipful heart and a heart to serve. It is such a joy to work with them. We will be traveling to Malaysia in November, and from there we will be going to India. We committed to go there for five years, and this is the fifth. At the end of this year, they will establish a worship resource center for the whole region. It is so interesting. I am an average Chinese musician, but Isabella and I went to India out of obedience. We don't know what the impact is, but we know that there is an impact. Some of the people we trained early on are now taking leadership role.

I: In addition to going abroad, we are also doing a lot of training locally. The goal of jnX is to serve the local churches. We want to understand their needs and tailor the training to best meet those needs. That's the uniqueness of jnX's ministry. We won’t give you a formula, and there is no formula that fits all.

CCMA: Isabella, unlike Anthony, you serve in the background. Tell us some of the struggles being in that area.

I: It is hard to be in the background. You do a lot in that position, but you are not always recognized for your efforts. I remember once after a concert someone came up to me and asked if I was part of the worship team. When I told him that I was responsible for Power Point slides, he just walked away. Being in that position has taught me about faithfulness and obedience. In turn I was able to show others that are serving in that position as well. Not everyone involved in worship is on stage in the worship team musically. There needs to be people that are in the background getting things together such as preparing slides, doing the sound and lights, etc. None the less, we are a team working together regardless of your position.

A: Absolutely. That is an excellent example of a life of worship. I remind myself each time when I end a worship service, my song has just begun.