:: 'Other Articles' Index ::
Other Articles sub-menu - :: Book Reviews :: :: Media Articles ::
Music Review: Take a whiff! - Rescued: Aroma Live ::
Youth evangelism that doesn’t smell like old socks… LOREN BECROFT – Perspective’s token young person – takes a look at a different CD
Source: Perspective Vo9 No1 © Perspective 2001
Publisher: Aroma
Reviewer: Loren Becroft
As a teenager living in a small country town I didn’t know much about the “Christian music” scene. My only exposure to any type of Christian music, besides the hymns we used to sing at church, was through cassettes of the late Harry Secomb, Joni, Evie and Pat Boone that my Mum listened to quite a bit. Beyond that I didn’t know much. Since moving to Brisbane I have been exposed to a variety of styles of Christian music including pop, rock, metal, ska, rap, and reggae, just to name a few. Some of these styles were done well with a clear gospel focus but others were just bands trying to be “cool” while mentioning Jesus every so often.
A couple of years ago I was introduced to the music of Aroma, though I must admit that I wasn’t very enthusiastic about what they were doing. All I knew about Aroma at that stage was that they visited high schools around Australia telling the students about Jesus. I thought that that was pretty cool, remembering how desperately the people I went through high school with needed to hear the Gospel – it was the mid 90s, the sex-alcohol culture was rampant in my high school and drugs were starting to become a big thing, no one studied because no one really cared, the main attraction was pig shooting and that’s all that mattered in life – but I was quite dubious. I wasn’t keen about Aroma because the Christian bands that had visited my high school when I was a teenager looked and sounded like they had just stepped out of the 1970s. They were not cool. They definitely did not reach us where we were at. I remained a bit skeptical about Aroma until recently when I received their latest CD, Rescued. I put it in my CD player, as I usually do with CDs, and listened to what came out. My skepticism about the ministry of Aroma was completely demolished as I began to mosh along to their funky tunes.
So, who are Aroma? And what is so different about what they do? Well, I thought it would be helpful to hear about Aroma from someone who knows them. Who better than Steve Morrison, Aroma’s Manager and bass player, to give us some of the story behind Aroma as well as some information about their latest album.
Loren: Hi, Steve. I guess that, for some people, this article is the first time they’ve heard of Aroma. Could you give us a brief introduction to the band, its purpose and what you guys have done so far?
Steve: Hi Loren. Aroma formed when Jason McPhail and myself wanted to proclaim Jesus to teenagers in Australia. We have a shared passion for seeing the gospel going through the many doors available in this country. Aroma has mostly focussed on high schools. We would normally play some music in a seminar setting giving introductions to the songs, a talk about Jesus and then having a question time or small groups. The (very loud) music that we play doesn’t save anyone; it’s the gospel that is the power of God for salvation. We don’t assume that people can hear our lyrics so we try to make sure that the message about Jesus comes through what we say.
Because most of our work is itinerate, it’s vital that we work closely with a church. Aroma’s preaching is most effective when it’s part of an ongoing youth ministry already existing in an area. Since going full time in 1998 Aroma has done many tours all over Australia. We have told over 100,000 teenagers about Jesus, which is very exciting. Equally exciting has been meeting people all over Australia who are dedicating their lives to serving our Lord. We have released three CD’s, The Man, Party and our latest, Rescued.
Loren: So, Aroma has been doing live concerts for high schools, beach missions and conventions for a while. From listening to Rescued, it’s basically a recording of a live performance, with music, a talk and stuff like that. Why did Aroma decide to do this particular style of CD?
Steve: In December last year we stopped our full time touring schedule. Jason and I thought that further theological study was needed for a sustained long-term ministry. We thought that the gospel could still be proclaimed through our work to teenagers by providing a tool that could go further than the band ever could. By releasing a CD that proclaimed the gospel clearly, teenagers would be able to hear about Jesus in their bedrooms, on the bus, at their youth group, on their computer or anywhere they can take a CD. We also included Aroma’s first video clip on the CD ROM along with testimonies from the band and links to getting Bibles or in touch with a youth group.
Loren: Rescued is a different style of CD in that it’s recorded live and is designed to be an evangelistic tool. How do people use the CD as a tool for evangelism?
Steve: The best way is to give the CD as a gift to a friend. Tell them to put the CD in their computer and hear about Jesus. A good way to get the friend to listen to the CD is to tell them that you paid money for the CD and that you got it specifically for them. That way you’re telling your friend that your friendship is special and that you care about them.
For a Youth Minister or youth leader the CD would be a useful tool for unbelievers or new members. Maybe as a gift for all new youth group members, give them a CD and a Bible showing them the verses that we expound on the CD. Alternatively, use the CD to promote a special youth group week and then have Jason or myself come and speak at youth group one night. I’m Sydney based and Jason is in Wollongong so this might be hard for some!
*L:* Thanks Steve.
After listening to Rescued I was really encouraged by how focused the members of Aroma are on the gospel. The gospel is central to everything that this band does and it is shown in the lyrics of their songs (even though they’re hard to understand on the CD, you can read them on the CD ROM or the web site), what they say and their whole attitude in ministering the gospel to teenagers.
Even though the evangelistic bands that I experienced in high school faithfully proclaimed the gospel wherever they went, Aroma seeks to do something a little different: Aroma seeks to reach teenagers where they’re at. Their music is funky, they look cool and they get alongside the teenagers—this is a style of evangelism to youth that definitely doesn’t “smell like old socks!” The ministry of Aroma is faithful to the Bible while being relevant to the people they’re trying to reach.
From listening to Rescued, visiting the Aroma web site and chatting with Steve, I’ve been really encouraged to use Rescued as an evangelistic tool within youth ministry and I’d encourage others to do the same.
The guys in Aroma know, I know and you probably know that “we’re saved because we trust that Jesus will save us. God says that ‘He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves.’ (Col. 1:13) Jesus is King and is still coming back but we’ve already been rescued.” (Aroma—Rescued 2001) Do you know someone who needs to be Rescued?
If you’d like more information about Aroma, including their latest gigs, visit their web site: www.aroma.org.au Aroma merchandise is available from Matthias Media (www.matthiasmedia.com.au).
_ At the time of writing, Loren Becroft was a part the Ann Street Presbyterian Church, Brisbane and was the “token” young person on the Perspective team._
:: 'Other Articles' Index ::
Other Articles sub-menu - :: Book Reviews :: :: Media Articles ::