Giants of Silence Rocks Europe!

In May, Keynote's aggressive rock band, Giants of Silence, partnered with various ministries in Germany, Switzerland and France for an outreach tour. During the course of the tour, God used them in the lives of college students, high school students and military personnel. The band performed 10 concerts (two of them were worship events) in eight cities. Response cards were not used at each event, but we know that more than 60 people indicated significant spiritual decisions!

Misconceptions about God and Christianity as well as pressures of the culture around them, set the stage for these students to question a lot of things and become disillusioned with life. Jill's story about how God changed her life and helped her overcome depression really made an impact. The band's evanglelistic CD was a popular item as well as a photo postcard containing the gospel.

In Ferney, France the band had the opportunity to work with some "third culture" kids whose parents are diplomats or business men. While some of the students already have a relationship with God, others are searching for a place to belong as they move every couple of years. Many seeds were planted as the band members spent time with the students after the shows.

Band member, Bryan [left], talking after a show.

Keynote partner, Pepe Tolenen provided sound equipment and transportation as well as "moral support" throughout the tour. A recent email from Pepe gives a glimpse into the spiritual climate of Germany; "...I could not believe my eyes when I saw our listeners giving applause after the gospel presentations. I thought, this is NOT Germany when something like this happens!"

We can all relate to the tension between pleasing God and being accepted. "Adam", the teenage son of a concert host in Bamburg, Germany, was dealing with this same issue. He wrote on his comment card, "I want to please God but I also want to be cool around my friends".

Giants of Silence director, Ethan Ehrstine stayed with "Adam's" family. As they were leaving the next morning, Ethan remembered the comments and took time to talk with "Adam" about his struggle to please God and his friends. "Adam" was delighted that the band's guitar player not only took notice of his comment, but took time to talk to him and encourage him to take steps of faith.

Thank you for praying for Giants of Silence during their time overseas. The band members have been home for a couple of weeks and are now busy with helping to run Keynote's Summer Project. The band will tour again beginning in August.

Some of the band members in between shows.