The Blessing | Aotearoa/NZ
Grant Norsworthy tells us the story behind this NZ-made video (over 1.1 million views on YouTube).
It was the Anglican Bishop of Nelson - Steve Maina - who first suggested that I should produce the virtual choir video from New Zealand for the song "The Blessing". It was 2020. The whole world - including Aotearoa - was suffering the turmoil of COVID-19. Steve and I had both seen the growing number of different "The Blessing" virtual choir videos springing up from different regions around the world.
At a time when people of faith in Jesus could not gather in the same room to sing together worshipfully, we found a way to sing together anyway! Steve (originally from Kenya) and I (originally from Australia) both felt strongly that our home country should join this global choir. New Zealand needed to be part of this hopeful, positive, creative, Biblical response by the Christian Church to the global pandemic.
Long story short, I spent most of my lockdown of 2020 making this with the help of about 200 Kiwi singers, instrumentalists, and technicians.
Beautiful things can happen when Believers sing together. Music can facilitate a deeper connection with God and each other that might not otherwise be possible without music.
That thought inspired me to make "The Blessing | Aotearoa/NZ". That thought also inspires my work today as More Than Music Mentor.
During early May 2024 I was privileged to visit Christchurch and work with the singers, instrumentalists and technicians of St Timothy's and St James (Burnside-Harewood Parish) and St Barnabas (Fendalton Parish). Together, we worked to improve the teams' ability to facilitate deeper connection.
I am ready, willing and able to help any Anglican (or any other) church anywhere. Online, video coaching sessions or in person! Contact me through the websites listed below. Let's begin the conversation and explore how we can help your team be a continuous blessing to your church family.