Christian Artists Direct Passion to Charity Work
Rising young Christian artist Christine Evans is already tired of the superficial things. At only 16 years old, Evans is garnering critical acclaim for her voice and songwriting skills and engaging herself in real issues – giving back to peers struggling with teen issues.
Hailing from British Columbia, Canada, Evans has a guitar-pop sound comparable to pop/rock artist Avril Lavigne's – also a Canadian. She has two albums out – the latest called "Push" – and nabbed a nomination for best new group or solo artist at the 2005 Canadian Radio Music Awards.
The pop musician still has a ways to go, she said, but she's already passed the idea of grabbing for fame.
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"The idea of fame was maybe cool when you're 13, but I realize now that there's nothing there," she said in a new release.
Aside from music, Evans is putting her time into helping peers and youth.
Involved in Kids Help Phone and Operation Respect, Evans is socially aware and offers her services to teens who could relate to her latest songs.
"When I first started, I wanted to find a balance between what I love to do with a cause," she said of her giving back to society through charities. "I thought of Kids Help Phone. I thought it was a perfect fit because my songs talk about issues and situations."
Kids Help Phone is a free, anonymous counseling hotline for youth and Operation Respect is a non-profit organization working to assure each child and youth a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning where their academic, social and emotional development can take place free of bullying, ridicule and violence.
Evans is one of many Christian artists passionately involved in charity work.
Multi-Grammy winning Christian rock band Jars of Clay has a new album out – "Good Monsters" – and it's being used a platform to provide clean water for people in Africa. Jars of Clay hopes to raise at least $300,000 through album sales for clean water projects in the African continent. The initiative is part of the band's humanitarian organization called Blood:Water Mission, committed to clean blood and clean water to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to impact the fight against poverty.
Another multi-Grammy aware winner, Steven Curtis Chapman, devotes his passion and money to Shaohannah's Hope – an organization he founded to help families across the nation adopt children from around the world. Chapman and prominent evangelical groups such as Focus on the Family recently launched a new initiative called Voice of the Orphan to raise awareness and encourage Christians to become involved in this issue.
As artists direct their devotion to a place beyond their music, Evans' single "Give It Up" reflects their passion.
"At the end of the day, all of this (fame) will fade ... I want something bigger than my life. Give me the strength to do it right this time. I want something constant through this strife."
