A North Carolina folk duo is preparing to come to Chelmsford, Essex to share the gospel through music.
Songs of the Folk (aka classically trained married couple Andrew and Lauren Cason), discovered that music opened doors for them into people’s lives to share the Good News of Christ – often to the most marginalised in society or those harder to reach.
After exploring the idea of using music for mission as ‘musicianaries’, their pastor introduced them to World Witness (the mission board of the Associate Presbyterian Church in the US) – which led them to Chelmsford.
In November 2021, Andrew (AT) and Laura visited England and performed gigs at Gloucester and Chelmsford Presbyterian Churches, selling out of CDs at the first performance.
They are being sent to Chelmsford Presbyterian and, from there, they will help other churches to use music in their outreach work. Pastor Darren Moore said: ‘Some of it will be event based. They do concerts with “talky bits” between songs, some of these are very small scale – someone’s house or garden. Or they can use music to augment an outreach event.’
The aim of events will, he said, be ‘relationship building, with music being the spark – the way in’.
AT said: ‘In subtle, yet tangible ways, our songs exhibit the struggle of life we all face in a fallen world, yet also the joy of life found in Christ’s saving work and God’s eternal love.’
They expect to arrive in England early next year.
He added: ‘We’re feeling optimistic as a couple … The challenge right now lies in the support-raising and the logistics of moving to England. But, we stand firm in the belief that God has brought us to this opportunity and He will make it happen!’
