Nov 19, 2015 By Teghan Simonton 3 min read

In October of 2014, Christian musician Chris Tomlin released the album “Love Ran Red” and then went on tour to promote the new material. Tomlin concluded his tour on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Several Waynesburg University students attended the concert to enjoy music by Tomlin and the opening band, Rend Collective.

“I knew some of his songs,but I actually didn’t know that many; but a lot of my friends were going, so I was really excited,” said Sadie Breon, a freshman nursing major who attended the concert. 

Tomlin is a well-known musician in the Christian/Worship genre, having sold nearly 30 million albums. Since beginning his career, he has performed multiple hit songs that he has either written or co-written; won a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2012; and won 19 GMA Dove Awards from 2005 to 2015.

“The first Christian song I’d ever heard was Chris Tomlin and I learned how to sign it,” said freshman digital design major Kyla Wolper. “I wasn’t raised in a church, so when I came in one of the first things I did was learn how to sign “Holy is the Lord” by Chris Tomlin. And we sang it [on Saturday], so I was signing it as he was singing it; it was the coolest thing ever.”

Opening for Tomlin was the band Rend Collective, a Christian experimental worship band from Bangor in Northern Ireland.

“I adore Rend Collective,” said Wolper. “I work at a wilderness camp over the summer and one of the big songs that everyone loves is “Build Your Kingdom Here,” which is the song that most people know by Rend Collective, so that was really cool to experience that live.”

The concert provided an opportunity for students and audience members to come together in fellowship. 

“I thought it was interesting to have a shared experience,” said Megan Cook, a freshman electronic media major. “You’re surrounded by not only your friends, but other Christians too.”

Reflecting on the atmosphere of the event, Breon said, “I went to [a concert] before, many years ago. This one just felt more, like, alive. Everyone felt more connected. It was a really good feeling.”

One thing that sets Tomlin apart from others is his tendency to engage each specific audience in his shows.

“He brought a choir from Pittsburgh. Like every single time he does a show, he brings a choir from that city, which is awesome,” said Wolper.

Commenting on her favorite part of the show, Breon said, “I think ‘God’s Great Dance Floor’ was a lot of fun because people got up on the stage with him. And we were also the last night of the tour, so they wanted to make it a fun, special night.”

Students appreciated the chance to participate in this faith-based activity.

“It can be hard to integrate faith,” said Wolper. “I feel like a lot of things – we’ve gotten involved with church, Young Life, Upper Room, stuff like that – it’s all on a Sunday. So it can be hard to have that ‘beyond Sunday’ basis of faith. So if we do things like this, you get more of a chance to see God more than one day a week.” 

For many students in attendance, the concert was a unique opportunity to explore and express their faith with others.

“I think it’s a way that people can have fun, and music is a different way to worship.”