Planetshakers perform U-Church semester finale
Australian worship group Planetshakers shook the Conn Center during the fall semester’s last U-Church on Nov. 18.
The band, part of movement that originated with a conference and now includes a church with multi-national branches and a college, is known for popular worship songs, such as “Nothing Is Impossible” and “The Anthem.” The concert was a benefit event for the family of Josh Owens, a Lee student still hospitalized after a car accident three months ago.
After students watched a short clip about Josh’s current condition, Walt Mauldin, vice president of administration, invited students and visitors to give an offering for Josh’s family.
Planetshakers worship leader, Joth Hunt, prayed for Josh’s healing after signing “The Anthem,” a song about Jesus’ victory.
We thank you for the victory, Jesus: the victory you have won for Josh,
The concert was the last stop of a tour for the group; although, according to Hunt, they only go on tour for three weeks at a time.
Conn Center media technician, Matt Stigile, eagerly anticipated Planetshakers’ lights and sound performance.
“The tech crew put more time in this one than any other U-Church so far [this year],” Stigile said before the show. “The band, lights [and] media will all be amazing!”
Planetshakers encouraged audience participation and included a freestyle rap and a dance-off between the right and left sides of the crowd.
Intercultural studies freshman Julia Jewitt appreciated Planetshakers for their global influence.
As a student with a heart for the nations, it was breathtaking to be able to see a worship team not only … shaking generations in the nation of Australia but shaking all generations for Christ throughout all nations.
The group has performed in many countries, recently including many Asian nations, including Malaysia and Singapore. Planetshakers will lead worship in December before 200,000 people in Indonesia, according to Hunt.
Although Planetshakers plays across the world and holds annual conferences, their first conference in America will be held in San Diego on Jan. 17-19, 2013 — just two days after the release of their 25th album, “Limitless”
Hunt calls this new release their “most exciting album” yet.
“[Limitless] has got such a … solid theme about it,” Hunt said. “It’s exciting to go out and declare that our God is limitless.”
Chelsi Nikkerud, who sang female vocals during the concert along with Planetshakers co-founder, Sam Evans, said that those who come to Planetshakers’ conferences have a “life-changing encounter” with God.
“It’s not just about having a good experience, but it is actually receiving an encounter that empowers you to go back to your local church, … empowering your church and your worship,” Nikkerud said.
Many Planetshakers’ songs emphasize a theme of having faith in God to do the impossible.
“We want to present God and allow God to do whatever he wants to do,” Hunt said. “God is all-powerful.”
Next semester’s U-Church line-up includes The City Harmoinic, Jonathan Ernestly Etienne and the return of Gungor. For more information about U-Church, follow @LeeUChurch on Twitter.