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June 2005 Table of Contents
Special Feature
Do Christian Values Belong in Our Culture?
By Dr. Jay Strack
President Student Leadership
University
If your answer is yes, then you would greatly enjoy reading Bob Briner's book, Roaring Lambs. In this book written in the early 1990's, Briner who is an Emmy Award-winning producer has put his finger on a nerve that every Christian should respond to. Are we content to continue to allow Madison Avenue and Hollywood to call the shots for our journalism, plays, movies, television and music? Briner has introduced a term that not only movers and shakers have embraced but all believers who want their life and influence to count and who are very concerned about the mold that this world is attempting to put our students head first into. This term, roaring lambs, is a fascinating concept. Imagine busy Christians in their various work stations and assignments across the nation doing their job with excellence and passion, earning the right to be heard, lifting their voice and using their talents to shape our culture. I think we all agree that it's time for us to put shoe leather on our faith. I must confess that this remarkable book provided me with enough strategic insight that I began to plan and dream of putting together several programs that would not only prepare our emerging young leaders but would put five smooth stones into the slingshot of all passionate followers of Christ. I would encourage every one of you reading this column to order this book. Even though Bob Briner has gone to be with the Lord, his greatest legacy could be a multitude of ministers of music, musicians and technicians, who decide to roar. For example, we're now approaching 20,000 students going through Student Leadership University, not to mention all of the young people who attend the event that Chuck Tilley of Atlanta Fest and I put on at Universal Studios called Rock the Universe that draws tens of thousands of students for two days. I've long noticed young men who are very content in fact even dream of going on the road with a contemporary music group and putting up the lights or rolling up the cable for the sound system. It seems as if I spend half my time grabbing young people figuratively by the lapel and stating, "Don't be the one who rolls up the cord. Use your gifts and pay the price to be the one who design the new computer system that people are rolling up cords for."
Obviously it's not enough to just lament the state of affairs; we must go deeper to the root of the problem. For example, when Francis Schaefer taught some years ago in his classic book How Then Should We Live he was prophetic. In that book, he warns us "If you lose the arts, you lose the culture." He goes on to emphatically state the urgent need for believers, especially young believers, to develop a Christian Worldview. That book was one of the catalysts for the creation of Student Leadership University. I definitely felt led to prepare today's middle and high school students for the future. It is my conviction that the future belongs to those who are prepared. One of our major tenets is that you will be the exact same person you are today five years from now except for the books you read, the people you meet and the places you go.
This is the reason that once students complete the Rules and Tools of Leadership here in Orlando, FL for SLU 101, we take them on to Washington DC for SLU 201, then to London, Oxford, Normandy and Paris for SLU 301, and to Rome for SLU 401. Something deeply moved me as we were taking our students on our back to back trips through Europe. It is impossible to visit the British Museum of Art and the British Museum of History as well as the Louvre, Monet Studios, Rodin Studios, and especially to go to Florence and Rome without coming to the Waterford-crystal clear conclusion that the world's greatest artists and sculptures were greatly influenced and inspired by the faith of Jesus Christ. These artists honored the Creator for over 700 years. Something plainly happened since the 1940's. We now worship the creature more than the Creator. The arts have become profane, perverted, blasphemous, vulgar and just plain silly. Francis Schaefer was correct. I believe the reason for this is because the church has walked off and left the arts to Hollywood and a spiritually corrupt Europe. I've also learned through 30 years of working with students that often those that are very gifted and artistic by nature require special attention, mentoring and training. The public schools discovered this some years ago when they established their Magnet Programs for the arts. Having spoken at scores of these schools across the nation, the majority seem to have another agenda that has to do with lifestyle and all that is involved with it. I know those of you reading this article are absolutely convinced that we must recapture the arts. Having been privileged to be in some of the greatest churches in America, I realize that many of you have committed yourselves to doing things with excellence in presenting "the greatest story ever told". My burden is that we also recapture the education of the arts for our students.
As part of our Student Leadership University training, we have designed what we're calling Creative Outbreak Week. This program is for those who want to be in front of and behind the camera or in front of and behind the curtain. It is our desire to serve you and your creative team and especially help you mentor and train your youth ensemble, youth choir, praise band, student drama and your young techies.
Let me describe our program. At Creative Outbreak Week, students get hands-on instruction from professionals with world-class experience in key disciplines in the arts- including vocal, ensemble, instruments, drama and technical support through master classes all in a Christian environment. Students have up-close and personal conversations with Christian music artists about everything from recording to travel schedule and spiritual challenges. It is our goal to give students access to professionals working in every medium within the leader of family entertainment, Walt Disney World. They will get exposure to quality entertainment, as well as to the people who make those shows happen everyday. From casting to show directors, these people will know how to help your students understand how the industry works from auditions to performances. At Creative Outbreak Week, students will perform at a world-class venue, see behind the scenes of a working site where many of the greats have performed and open for a C.C. Recording Artist. Technical students will have the opportunity to learn with the best staff at a state-of-the-art facility. Full Sail is a world-renowned program specializing in live and recorded sound, video, and lighting. Students will have access to the best in the industry. They will get tips on recording, touring, show directing, arranging and more.
It's not too late to take back the culture. I'm very grateful to Jerry Evans and all of those at J & J Music for their vision to recapture the arts.
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