Litnet

Rock music erupted from Stellenbosch’s town hall on Sunday morning. It was not the typical Maroon5 or Nickelback kind, but gospel rock by the Shofar Band, who launched their new CD, We Won’t be Afraid.

The antique building came alive with Shofar members and lovers of Christian music streaming in to hear the band string their violins and smash the drums in the name of worship.

“I am excited about the launch because I heard the band rehearsing earlier,” said Jakobus Booysen, a student pastor at Shofar who was working at the CD stall.

The Shofar team was determined to make the morning an epic one. The ushers stood at the doors with welcome signs and beamed at everyone walking through the hall.

Some volunteers stood guard at doors, while others dashed in and out of the venue.

The stage was ornamented with a crown with shining lights in it. Richard Wade, a musician and head of worship, said it resembled the King of Glory, Jesus.

At 9 am James Pringle, a lead vocalist, announced that they would start in a few minutes so that people can find parking as this was not the usual Sunday service venue.

The crowd sat in great anticipation and others wriggled in their seats waiting for the show to start. The show was opened in prayer and a reading of the Bible. The message was that we are not afraid because we put our trust in God.

The audience rose to their feet when the upbeat cover song was performed. As the music continued, swaying and shouting followed for the next hour. The audience did not have a problem because of not knowing some of the lyrics, because two screens on the sides of the stage displayed the words.

Some lifted their hands, some swayed them from side to side, while others put them together. A few people jumped up and down with their eyes closed.

Young and old expressed themselves as they pleased. Including Pastor Sias le Roux, who jumped around in the front row, carefree like a kid with a new toy.

Nobody looked around. People were lost in their own worlds, own dance moves and singing.

All this was to worship God through the band’s music.

The heat made it uncomfortable for some to worship in the poorly ventilated hall. However, most were mesmerised by the music and they did not mind the dripping sweat or the not-so-fresh odours. After three songs exhaustion overtook some people and they sat down. A lady took a nap on the chairs.

Not all the songs were unknown to the audience and these are the ones the crowd moved and screamed to the most.

“We won’t be afraid because the battle is the Lord’s and not ours,” explained Pringle, who also heads up the music department.

This was not a typical CD launch, as it was intertwined with Sunday service elements. Pastor Fred May took to the stage and ministered to the audience and echoed the message of being fearless.

Two hours of music and church service were a hit with the crowd.

“I loved the launch. It was exceptional and the songs represent God’s heart,” said Frans-Johan Pienaar, a BCom financial management student. His favourite song was “Hiding place” because of the awesome quality of the production and the cover.

Christie Burger, an engineering masters student, enjoyed the content of the songs as they were based on the Bible.

“The song ‘All rise’ stood out for me and it stirred something inside me and I am not sure what,” says Burger.

Andeline Wieland from Namibia came to Stellenbosch for the launch and says she knows the musicians personally and is amazed to see how God is using their talents. “I was just blown away,” she said.

“It is my first time at Shofar and I thought the band was incredible and I really felt at home,” sais Victoria Thomas from Paarl.

Shofar Band is derived from the church’s worship team. Shofar is a local church in Stellenbosch and has other branches in the country. The band will launch their latest offering in the other branches in the coming months.

The CD is available on iTunes and will be in CUM bookstores later this year. A copy of the CD currently sells for a R100.

Win one Shofar CD by sending an email to wen@litnet.co.za before 12 May 2014. The title of your email should be "Shofar CD".

The winner of the CD is Trienie Mahne. Congratulations, Trienie!

This contribution was produced as part of a collaboration between LitNet and the University of Stellenbosch's Department of Journalism in 2014.

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