A g e . o f . F a i t h

website: http://www.ageoffaith.com

"....no matter what you have done wrong in your life, God will always welcome you home with open arms adn wrap His arms around you and give you mercy and rest. God is a God of forgiveness, and we love to preach that to our audience." Jimi Ray, lead vocals for Age of Faith, Release Magazine



"The Truth" will set you free-Just ask Age of Faith's Jimi Ray. After seven years, five albums, countless concerts and notable video and radio airplay success, Age of Faith is more focused than ever on taking their hopeful message to a world in need of the Truth. Age of Faith's latest gray dot recording, "The Truth," brings together guitar oriented, raw pop music with a message of forgiveness and unconditional love. This powerful combination promises to further expand the band's growing audience while still focusing on the problems and questions facing today's youth.

"This album is for the kids we have met on the road," explains Ray. "We have consistently heard kids tell us that they have a hard time finding forgiveness for past mistakes. We've really listened to what they've had to say about their hurts and their guild, and this album is simply our response to them. We want to show that God is truly who He says He is. He is enough for us to live this life. Mistakes will be made by us all, but God forgives."

Ray (lead vocals, guitars) and fellow band members Steve Blair (drums, percussion), Zack Plemmons (bass), and Dave Buchanan (electric lead guitar, harmonica) not only feel that "The Truth" cuts through to issues important to the youth of today, but the members of this North Carolina-based group have also found a real freedom musically. "The current members of the group have played together for two-and-a-half years now, so we're able to carry over that studio sound to our live performances," says Ray. "We don't follow trends-we do what we do and play what comes from us."

Produced by Roscoe Meek (formerly of Geoff Moore & The Distance) and mixed by Ritchie Biggs(Whiteheart, Newsboys), "The Truth" features a number of songs that have a very personal meaning for Age of Faith. "Red Carpet," the project's second single, is one such song. "This song is probably my favorite on 'The Truth,'" says Ray. "It's a modern-day version of the prodigal son. No matter where we go, God is never far away. Through all the disobedience, the running away, trying to hide, our loving Father still welcomes us home with open arms and the feast to match. This song has so much to say about forgiveness and freedom."

Another important song to Ray is "Any Man." "A girl e-mailed me recently who works with a prison ministry," recounts Ray. "She had been talking with an inmate who did not believe that God could ever love him because of the mistakes in his past. She had tried many times to express to him that no matter what he had done; God still cared for him. Finally on day she played 'Any Man' for him, and halfway thorough it, he broke down and was saved."

Age of Faith is undoubtedly flying on the wings of freedom these days. But for Ray, the evolution of his band, and his own heart, took a true journey of faith. Beginning as a duo comprised of Ray and Rick Harwell, Age of Faith was "discovered" by Benson Records executives at a performance in 1990. After signing with Benson, the band released back-to-back albums: 1991's "Age of Faith" and 1992's "Heart of the Young." Following the departure of Harwell from the group in 1993, Ray focused on what had always been a deep passion in his life-praise and worship music. For two years Ray performed and led worship services at camps and retreats, allowing him opportunities to spend quality one-on-one time with kids.

"I got to spend a lot more time with kids than I am able to now," says Ray. "One thing I discovered is that the youth of today are longing for something real-someone who's not perfect, someone with faults and problems. Kids so often get the idea that Christians are perfect, but we're not. As Christians, we have to be transparent and hones about our mistakes while showing that God provides forgiveness for everyone."

A youth-oriented worship album, "Still," came from those years, and the title track from that record was re-recorded for "The Truth." "To this day I get more letters, e-mails and compliments from people about how this simple little song has helped heal many wounds and give people incredible courage," says Ray.

Ultimately, his heart for youth-he holds a degree in religious education (youth ministry) from Gardner-webb College and served for nearly four years as a youth pastor and worship leader at several churches in North Carolina-and a desire to get back to more of an edgy pop sound brought Ray around to a fresh start with Age of Faith. In 1996, Ray assembled a new group of talented musicians with a real desire to impact young people. Age of Faith was reborn.

Age of Faith's first gray dot release, 1996's "Embrace," showcased an all-star line-up of musicians, including Third Days's Mac Powell, as well as production credits including Jeff Tomeii (Collective Soul, Indigo Girls). The acoustic- driven, edgy pop album was met with critical acclaim, and after the single "The Love Of Jesus" spent several weeks in the Top 5 on national Christian Hit Radio charts, it was clear that Age of Faith had returned with unquestionable momentum.

Not only did "The Love of Jesus" bring chart success, but the band suddenly found a more diverse audience attending their concerts as well. "I like having that spectrum of diversity at our concerts," says Ray. "The things we sing and talk about apply to everyone. We all have the ability to leave that past behind us through the love and grace of Jesus Christ."

Continuing the momentum with the highly anticipated release of 1998's "The Truth," new avenues for ministry have opened up for the band. In addition to their regular touring schedule, Age of Faith is the featured performer on the "Rock Your World" youth crusade held all around the country. Led by Bill Scott, host of "ZJAM," a popular Saturday evening radio broadcast for teens, the "Rock Your World" rallies will focus on community youth evangelism.

"Our whole purpose is to proclaim the Gospel clearly through excellence in music, in our live performances and in everything we do," Ray explains. "We simply want to plant seeds in people. If we do a show and no one gets saved, it doesn't mean we didn't do our job. The next band that comes through that town might actually see people receive Christ, but we know that we helped plant seeds. We give people the opportunity to make a decision, but it's a personal choice to take that message to heart."

For Ray, "The Truth" really hit home for him several years ago when he first knew he had found the freedom in Christ that he now longs for others to know. "There comes a time when we must act responsibly," concludes Ray. "We must do more than obey the rules-we must take on the cause of Christ. I knew I had never done that. So I asked to really know God, know what mattered to Him. I knew it was time to grow up, and at that moment I began to experience grace and forgiveness. It was like an anvil had been lifted off my chest."

"Now, that's what we sing about-that God's concern isn't in all of the rules. It's about you. The rules are tools there to protect you, but they're not the end-all. God's destination is in loving you."

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