CHUCK GIRARD- Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and Worship Leader
A Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.'
A Pioneer of Contemporary Christian Music, Member and Co-Founder of the CCM group 'LOVE SONG.'
Full immersion ocean water baptism by the sea
Arguably the longest title in CCM history.
In my mind, this was always a sequel to “Little Country Church," which spoke of the changing times in the church in the early 70’s as huge numbers of hippies began to get born again at Calvary Chapel and other churches.
“Straight People," as we viewed them, had a great challenge in the mandate to embrace the weird, unwashed with the love of Jesus. Many were rightfully suspicious of these converts who claimed to be changed on the inside, but stayed the same on the outside. They passed the test admirably, and we all felt very accepted and loved.
A dilemma facing Pastor Chuck Smith was how to baptize the massive amounts of converts, literally hundreds per week at Calvary Chapel alone. Well, 'God’s Baptismal' seemed like a logical choice, and the summer baptisms at the beach at Corona Del Mar, CA, became a staple for a few years. I felt that the joy, enthusiasm and innocence of those events needed to be ”chronicled in song," and thus the writing of this tune.
I employed a kind of Caribbean, 'Blue Bayou' type feel for the rhythm of the song. Seemed to me to make it more “beach-y”.
Chuck
In my mind, this was always a sequel to “Little Country Church," which spoke of the changing times in the church in the early 70’s as huge numbers of hippies began to get born again at Calvary Chapel and other churches.
“Straight People," as we viewed them, had a great challenge in the mandate to embrace the weird, unwashed with the love of Jesus. Many were rightfully suspicious of these converts who claimed to be changed on the inside, but stayed the same on the outside. They passed the test admirably, and we all felt very accepted and loved.
A dilemma facing Pastor Chuck Smith was how to baptize the massive amounts of converts, literally hundreds per week at Calvary Chapel alone. Well, 'God’s Baptismal' seemed like a logical choice, and the summer baptisms at the beach at Corona Del Mar, CA, became a staple for a few years. I felt that the joy, enthusiasm and innocence of those events needed to be ”chronicled in song," and thus the writing of this tune.
I employed a kind of Caribbean, 'Blue Bayou' type feel for the rhythm of the song. Seemed to me to make it more “beach-y”.
Chuck