Don Moen: Yes, God listens!

Don Moen has made a name in international music for transforming contemporary Christian music and bringing praise-and-worship songs to greater heights of recognition and popularity throughout the world.

For more than 30 years as singer, songwriter and producer, he has captivated hundreds of millions of fans with an awesome array of songs that inspire, uplift and awe and which he performs in a style that interprets closely the words of the Bible, such as God Will Make A Way; Thank You, Lord; God Is Good All The Time; and Give Thanks.

Don is expected to generate another outpouring of faith, hope and love when he returns to Manila and helps  spread God’s message through music during an evening of contemporary Christian songs next Friday, Oct. 17, at the new CCF Center, Frontera Verde, Ortigas Ave., Pasig City (beside Tiendesitas).

The one-night musical presentation is presented by Ovation Productions almost one year after Don’s last local tour that took him to the cities of Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos and Dipolog in Mindanao and which followed his 2012 concert series that covered Metro Manila, Tagbilaran City and Butuan City.

(The Philippine STAR is among the sponsors of God Will Make A Way! Philippine Tour 2014. Ticket prices are P2,000, P1,500, P1,000 and P500, plus applicable service charges, available at the CCF Center, [02] 635-3410 and at Ticketworld outlets [891-9999] and online at www.ticketworld.com.ph.)

Funfare did an exclusive e-mail interview with Don.

How do you think did your Philippine tour last year affect the lives of people that attended? 

“Last year, our tour coincided with the arrival of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), so our first concert had to be rescheduled in the provinces, but the overall impact of the tour was not diminished. More than ever, people needed a message of hope, comfort and encouragement, so our tour was timely for that reason. People needed to come together as a community of believers to be encouraged, and reminded that in spite of the devastation, tragic loss of lives, God had not forgotten them. 

“I will never understand these things, and I know there are many still trying to be healed from the hurt and loss, but I want to remind them in a gentle and loving way that God is working in ways they cannot see, and He will make a way for them.”

How does Gospel music make more effective in bringing God closer to the people, vice-versa? 

“Let me take a moment to help define what I do. It is ‘Gospel Music’ and it is ‘Christian Music’ (both recognizable genres) but a better definition of what I do would be ‘Worship Music’ which I believe helps create an atmosphere that welcomes God’s presence and gives place to His marvelous works, facilitating a conversation between God and man. 

“Psalm 22:3 tells us that ‘God is enthroned upon the praises of His people.’ So, when we worship together, we are creating a throne with our praise, inviting God to take His rightful place among us as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In that atmosphere, anything can happen…people are healed, lives are changed, hearts are lifted up and encouraged. I never get tired of seeing this happen.”

When and how did you first feel the presence of God? 

“I guess the first time I ever felt God’s presence would have been in church as a young boy of 10 or 11. I was blessed to have a pastor during those formative years who became like a second father to me and also to several other young men in the church. My mother took us to church but my father never attended in those years. My pastor took us hunting, fishing and camping, and was interested in our motor scooters, sports teams and school activities. He was so approachable, fun and relaxed that we all wanted to be around him. 

“On Sunday nights after a church service, he would take out his guitar and sing worship songs, then invite us to kneel at the altar for a time of prayer and commitment. Those are the first memories I have of feeling God’s presence in a very real way, which I think played a big role in how I approach worship today.” 

How do you pray (using the conventional prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, etc.) or in your own way, with your own words?

“Praying the The Lord’s Prayer is a great place to start any prayer, but it’s more than just reciting words that we’ve memorized. We can use this prayer as a guideline for all of our prayers and speak to God in our own words. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, I think He was giving us a great example to follow. 

“Start with adoration and praise, invite God to come and rule and reign in our lives, and establish His kingdom in our hearts and lives, so we are a reflection in the marketplace, our churches, schools, and families of what is happening in heaven. We pray for our daily needs, knowing that He will provide what we need for each day. 

“And, of course, asking forgiveness for our sins and forgiving those that have hurt us. We should ask for guidance as we go through each day, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us to make the right decisions, giving us the courage to turn away from sin and evil.

“Finally, we end the prayer as we began, giving all glory to God, for who He is, for what He’s done and for all He’s going to do. That’s a good guideline to begin our own prayers. God isn’t looking for a perfect grammatical masterpiece when we pray. If so, He would have chosen educated people as His disciples.

“But He chose normal people and just like He used stories (parables) when teaching them, He gave them a great template to use when He responded to their question, ‘Teach us to pray.’  One prayer I pray almost every day before I get out of bed, turned into one of my songs. ‘With every beat of my heart, every song that I sing, every prayer that I pray, every offering I bring; with every thought that I have, every word that I say, Be glorified.’”

Do you think it’s more effective to “talk” to God not so much with words but with your heart (no use of words)? 

“If you have words to be able to voice your prayers, then use them. Many times, when I don’t know how to express my prayer with words, I simply say, ‘Lord, have mercy.’ God knows what’s in my heart. The Bible says, He knows what we have need of even before we pray. And the Apostle Paul said we pray with ‘groaning which cannot be uttered.’

“When you’ve lost a loved one, been through a devastating divorce, received a horrible report from the doctor, sometimes you can only cry, and there are no words to express your grief and hurt. In these times, God will always understand your heart.”

How do we know (what is the sign) that God hears our prayer?

“David said in the Psalms, ‘God hears and answers my prayer.’ How did David the Psalmist know this? Many times he cried out to God when people were trying to destroy him. Somehow, God protected him and he lived through each ordeal, although he was running for his life. 

“I want to avoid all the storms of life and pray that God would protect me from all these things, but more often than not, I end up going right into the middle of a storm, crying out for the Lord to save me. God has saved me each time, but in the process, I have been changed.  Prayer changes us. Storms change us.

“What is the sign that God hears and answers our prayers?  Look at the beautiful sunrise and sunset each day. It is a reminder that God is always faithful, and while circumstances don’t always work out exactly like we had prayed, God remains constant, unchanging, and we can trust Him with our prayers and our life. I think the key is to keep praying. Don’t stop. 

“I have been praying for certain prayers to be answered for many years and have not seen the answer, yet I keep praying, knowing that God is working in ways I cannot see, maybe not on my time schedule, but He is working, and I will continue to pray. Faith is a key here. Like the story of the man who was healed by Jesus, he said, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.’ So, keep praying and keep believing!”

What is your idea (“vision”) of heaven?

“The older I get, the more I am aware of Heaven, as I have had close friends and family members pass away, including my mother as I was holding her hand. The Apostle Paul said, ‘To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.’ I believe heaven is a place filled with light and love.

“I’ll never forget the look on my mother’s face as she breathed her last breath. It was as if she’d seen something too wonderful to believe. I asked, ‘Mom, what do you see?’ She just sat right up in bed with her blue eyes wide open and exclaimed, ‘Ohhhhhhhhh!!’ Personally, I believe she saw angels coming to escort her to heaven.

“I have tried to imagine what heaven is like, but I don’t think there is a way we can comprehend what God has prepared for us. The Bible says, ‘Eye has not seen, ear has not heard the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ When Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives where I was standing just two weeks ago, He said, ‘I go to prepare a place for you’…and I don’t think there is any way that we can conceive with our minds what is waiting for us. Total healing, total love, total acceptance. No darkness, only the light of Christ. Why would anyone intentionally walk away from this glorious promise?” 

Please mention your most memorable experience as an evangelist. 

“There are so many, it’s hard to pick out just one. I’ve seen a 13-year-old girl receive her hearing after being deaf from birth during a time of worship. Another choir member received hearing in one of his ears at one of my recordings after being deaf for 20 years.

“One woman came to my concert in Atlanta, Georgia, after the doctors had given her only three weeks to live because of cancerous tumors on her neck. During the concert, her tumors disappeared and she was completely healed. 

“These are all marvelous things, but the most memorable experience, and the greatest miracle is seeing someone choose to surrender their life to Christ, realizing that Christianity is more than a religion and church attendance, it’s a relationship with a living God. These are the moments I cherish.”

How are you like at home?

“It would probably be better to ask my wife or my children that question (ha!) but I’m a pretty private person. People see me on stage and assume that I must be this extrovert, always needing people around me, but I’m pretty laidback at home and quite happy to have quiet days and nights with my family.

“I love taking a walk with my wife Laura, enjoying a cup of coffee together, and cooking for our five children whenever they show up at the house. And of course, there’s my one-year-old granddaughter Stella, who has Grandpa wrapped around her little finger. It doesn’t get much better than that!”

What can we expect from your show in Manila on Oct. 17?

“Unfortunately, we only have one concert in the Philippines on this tour in the middle of a very busy Asian tour. Of course, we’ll try to play as many favorites as possible in the limited time we have, but also share some of the newer songs I’ve been writing. My friend, Lenny LeBlanc, will be with me again this year and it’s always a privilege to share the stage with him. Lenny is one of the most humble guys I know, with the most incredible voice. We work very well together and might incorporate some elements of our show from Singapore where we will be the night before the Manila concert, which is advertised as Songs and Stories, allowing us to share some intimate stories behind some of the songs we have written. 

“I think it will be a great night and it’s always a joy to worship with my Filipino friends, who without a doubt are my biggest fans and supporters around the world! No matter where I go in the world, they are there to support me and I’m looking forward to being with you all, even if it is just for one night! I love you all!”

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