A new congregational music album was sparked by a letter legendary American Bible scholar, Don Carson, wrote to a dying friend.
That friend was former Moore College lecturer, Bruce Smith, father of well known Sydney Anglican musician Rob Smith.
Rob has now teamed up with Carson to produce the CD.
"After dad died I wrote back to Don, thanking him," says Rob, "and sent him a few of my CDs."
About 18 months ago Don Carson was in Sydney and asked Rob if he would write and produce a CD with him. After listening to Rob's CDs, Don had decided to make a congregational music CD that sounded like Rob's work.
Most of the correspondence was done by email with Rob posting a demo of the songs to Don's home in Chicago. And Rob admits that he found it a little scary editing back and simplifying Don's words.
"He has been very trusting of me and deferential [of my musical judgment," says Rob. "He is an inspiring and very caring person. He is enormously focused and at the same time very pastoral. It is an amazing combination."
This album, titled For the Love of God, will be Rob's 10th stretching across rock to congregational music.
"We tried to make this one more contemporary while retaining the orchestral features of Don's earlier CD," Rob says. "All songs are congregational hymns which, self-consciously from Don's part, are quite weighty from a theological point of view."
"Your mainstream Sydney Anglican family service will feel very comfortable singing these songs," Rob says. "We worked very hard to deliver singable congregational songs with real biblical substance."
However Rob is quick to add that the CD should appeal to anyone who likes to listen to Christian music at home
"I made a CD to minister to people as they listen to it," he says.
Other writers on this project are English Anglican minister, Steve James, and EMU's Philip Percival.
The CD will be available by the end of November through EMU music in Australia and Christway in the US and UK. All the usual enhanced ministry features are included, such as sheet music and PDFs of the lyrics which can be used to make overheads or PowerPoint slides.
In one of his last acts of service for the congregation at St Clement's Mosman, Rob used some of the parish's best singers on the CD.
Rob has now left his part-time ministry position at St Clement's to take up a new role with Phillip Jensen's Ministry Training and Development team.
"I will be working part-time helping to support and mentor the 150 ordination candidates, who are at Moore College," explains Rob, who also remains a part-time lecturer at Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC).
Rob says the biggest challenge of his new position will be helping churches have the flexibility "so people with particular kinds of gifts can serve us with those gifts'.
"We want to diversify the range of ministry roles rather than having ministry narrowly defined," he said. "Becoming a deacon no longer means you have to become a priest and rector. I will be working with people to help them pursue their dreams for ministry rather than force them into our slots."
The concept of flexibility in ministry is one that Rob understands from first hand experience. His musical passions - including his ongoing membership of secular rock band The Innocents - have taken him to some strange places. Most recently he played gigs in venues across Japan where he had some very unique opportunities for one-on-one ministry.
"I will be going back to do shows in Japan next year," says Rob. "The guy who promotes my rock music in Japan also really likes my Christian music, although I'm not sure he really understands it!"
