Sign up for our free newsletter:

Caedmon's Call Image from Provident Music Group

The members of Caedmon's Call will never be accused of living a rock-and-roll lifestyle. Sure, as one of Christian music's top bands, they are familiar with the perks of fame and wealth. But from the beginning (the acoustic rock band's debut album was released in 1997) the members have sought to put their resources and actions where their faith is, supporting charities like Compassion International and frequently visiting the missions field. Now they're helping bring attention to one of India's most forsaken populations.

"We're called as believers to live out the Great Commission, which is a role we don't take lightly no matter how successful the group may seem," vocalist and guitarist Cliff Young says from his Nashville home. "We consider our biggest purpose, even more than playing in a band, is reaching out to our fellow believers just as Christ calls us."

One such project began with the band's 2003 overseas meeting with a ministry called the Dalit Freedom Network. India's 250 million Dalits (meaning "oppressed") are considered "untouchables" in Indian culture. They do not have ready access to clean water, education, and basic human rights. Dalit Freedom Network became the focus of an outreach trip for Caedmon's Call in 2004, and Dalits are an important theme throughout the band's most recent album, Share the Well.

"In modern-day society, it's hard to even believe a caste system can exist," Young says. "But the fact of the matter is, for the past 3,000 years these people have been told they're worthless, and the discrimination has been passed down from generations."

The band members mingle with Indian school children. Image from Provident Music Group

After seeing that treatment firsthand, group members befriended the Dalits they met, even inviting indigenous musicians to play instruments on Share the Well. More than just elevating Dalits' self-esteem, Caedmon's Call also established a Share the Well Foundation.

"We found in getting to know these people just how much they had to offer and how Christ made them in His image and likeness," Young says. "We wanted to provide them with a continued means of support by building them fresh water wells." Initial efforts on the band's 2004 fall tour gained publicity and financial support for these downtrodden people. But in December the Dalits, like many people throughout India, Indonesia, and Thailand, suffered through the tsunami disaster, which took the lives of thousands.

"An event of this magnitude has been devastating and truly caught everyone off-guard, but it's situations like these where we need to step up to the plate as Christians even more," Young says. "We've sent funds to aid in the aftermath, and to partially pay to send medical teams over there. We're doing some tsunami relief concerts, and of course we're encouraging people to pray.

"God works in mysterious ways, and we've heard firsthand accounts of how this tragedy has won over souls for Him, even in a predominately Hindu area," Young says. "It's an incredible area for the gospel to be preached, both to those suffering and to the world at large. They'll see Christians don't just sit back in their nice houses with their bumper stickers and cheesy shirts, but rather that the church truly rolls up its sleeves and changes lives."

Andy Argyrakis is a Chicago-based music writer and concert photographer. For more info about the Dalit Freedom Network, visit www.dalitnetwork.org.

	What did you think of this story?
	Please to give us your feedback.

Read more from 'Today's Culture'

Home  |  People of Faith  |  Stories of Hope  |  Today's Culture
Build Your Faith  |  Laughing Matters  |  Archives  |  Contact Us

				Try an Issue of Today's Christian Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Today's Christian coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Today's Christian as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Subscribe to the Today's Christian Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help