Martin Howes lives in Bournemouth, listens to jazz music and thinks that the Average White Band's "Pick Up The Pieces" is one of the greatest tracks ever recorded. He is also a leading figure in the Christian club scene.

Martin Howes

"I've been deejaying for the past four years. I used to work for a youth organisation that put on raves every other week in a disused village hall. Now I have my own club called Bliss which is part of a church in the Pioneer network. I'm the leader of the club ministry team and we have our own club once a month.

"I also deejay at the New Wine festivals and this year I'm playing at Soul Survivor for the whole week. I also did The Warehouse in Guildford recently and that went really well. And I've been one of the DJ's at Abundant since it began."

If there's a better CV in Christian DJ circles, I have yet to see it. And yet, like so many of his peers, Martin does not play much that's released by the Christian labels. Even at Soul Survivor, an event featuring live shows by WWMT and 65dBA, Martin will be playing secular house and garage.

"I use vinyl and there isn't yet much Christian stuff available on vinyl. That's something I hope to get involved with in the near future. I want to record on vinyl some dance records that will hit the secular world with a Christian viewpoint.

As someone who is currently experimenting in using his decks to lead worship at his church, how does Martin see the whole dance worship movement evolving?

"I love the church but it's always been behind the world. It's gonna take time to turn Christian leaders' heads to this but I want to see dance music used in worship in a church setting. One of the things God is doing amongst young people at the moment is redeeming their culture and giving them permission to use what they're into to worship him. I believe God is saying, 'When you come to worship me, you don't have to leave what you love but you can bring what you love to me!'"