Reviewed by Peter Dilley

Recorded live at the annual Jesus Culture Encounter Conference in Redding, California, the house band are an unequivocally passionate team of young contemporary worship leaders. Guitarist Chris Quilala opens with the title cut, but the energetic Kim Walker and Melissa How also have lead vocal slots, both separately and together with Chris, in a set that includes Matt Redman's "King Of Glory", "Happy Day" by Tim Hughes, "I Exalt Thee" and the epic, power-driven "You Won't Relent" (music tracks are identical on CD and DVD). However, taking the DVD additional features into consideration, how people respond to Jesus Culture Music may depend more upon whether they subscribe to their underlying ethos than upon the band's zeal for worshipping God through the music itself. Interview footage includes an outline by Jesus Culture's Banning Leibsher of this revivalist, signs and wonders-based ministry, with its strong emphasis on prophecy, healings and visions. This is reinforced in comments by Kim and Melissa, about their experiences of powerful visions of Christ - Melissa describes seeing Jesus as a dancing, love and peace sign-gesturing hippy. With unsubstantiated claims being made in revivalist ministries elsewhere, and cracks appearing too, there might be reason to ponder whether Jesus Culture's high profile focus on supernatural experiences and encounters should all be taken completely at face value.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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