Jeremy Camp to give homecoming concert
Tabor College and KJRL 105.7 FM will welcome Christian recording artist Jeremy Camp for the second annual Homecoming concert on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Camp and his band will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. in the Tabor College Chapel-Auditorium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Best known for his songs "I Still Believe" and "Understand" found on his CD titled "Stay," Camp will break away from his fall tour to come and perform his unique brand of rock and progressive pop at Tabor College
"I Still Believe," currently heard on contemporary Christian radio stations, has climbed the polls and has been among the top 10 Christian songs for weeks. 20: The Countdown Magazine, a countdown program of today's most popular songs heard weekly on KJRL, ranked the song at #6 the past two weeks.
Those who know Camp and his music know that song came from a very challenging time in his life.
"About four-and-a-half years ago, I met this woman named Melissa who was, to me, the most amazing woman of God that I had ever met," said Camp in an interview with Tabor College.
During a time of separation, Melissa developed cancer and was hospitalized.
"I went down (to the hospital) to visit her," said Camp, "and she looked up at me and (said), 'If I were to die from this cancer, but one person was to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, it would be worth it.'"
That comment had a profound impact on Camp, who later found himself promising to marry her if she told him she loved him. A week later that happened, and they were engaged shortly after. Yet during their honeymoon, she noticed complications and soon died.
"It took me a season of confusion in my life," said Camp, "but God has restored (me) and he's been faithful. Now I'm able to go share that God is good and God is faithful and he's taken me through this time to glorify his name and encourage other people who have been hurting through different or similar circumstances.
"So the song 'I Still Believe' came from that time. Two weeks later, she passed away (and) I wrote that song, and I was just saying, 'You know, God, no matter what happens in my life, I still believe (in) your faithfulness.' It was a very powerful song in my life."
"I Still Believe" will be featured on the WOW 2004 compilation of the top 30 Christian songs of the year, and "Take My Life" can currently be found on a 2003 album, featuring 34 of the most popular alternative Christian rock songs.
"Stay" is currently at #15 on Nielsen SoundScan, an information system that tracks sales of music throughout the United States and Canada. SoundScan is also the sales source for the Billboard music charts.
Camp will release his second CD in February with BEC Recordings titled "Carried Away: The Worship Project." Because Camp was a worship leader throughout southern California for three years while he attended college, this soon to be released worship album seems to be a natural fit.
"We're really excited about it," he said. "It's just a reflection of songs that have meant a lot to me. It's songs that I love (and) songs that I've grown up with that I've loved to sing."
Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased by calling the Tabor College Alumni Office at 620-947-3121 ext. 1706 or KJRL at 1-877-813-5366. General admission tickets are only $10. Tickets are limited and nonrefundable, so concert-goers are encouraged to purchase their tickets soon.
