From the 60's to today God is raising up generations who engage with the musical styles of the day. Why? Jon Bellamy explains.

In the UK the Jesus Movement was smaller than in the USA, but it did exist, as artists such as Bryn Haworth and Graham Kendrick emerged, and events such as Greenbelt and the Festival of Light. Music labels such as Kingsway and Word UK started to produce and distribute the new Christian music.

Throughout the 90's a new younger generation have emerged, with worship and contemporary pioneers such as Matt Redman and Delirious? and more recently Tim Hughes and others turning young people on to worshipping God - finding a whole new expression and a youthful contemporary voice to express their love for God.

Cross Rhythms was born in 1983 right in the middle of the emerging history of Jesus Music. When it began rock and roll was still thought of by many in the church as 'of the Devil'. Chris Cole, who pioneered this contemporary voice and positioning for Cross Rhythms along with his wife Kerry sees the history of where we have come from and the opportunity for a younger generation of where it can be taken. He states: "There is a Davidic mantle on today's younger generation who are going to be used to bring something in from God which is both very fresh, but also very ancient. The ancient ways will be built upon intimacy and worship and a radical holy discipleship. At Cross Rhythms we have been a bridge between the old and the new and we believe in a real tri-generational reconciliation. This is because although God will use the youth, the world is yet to see again an holistic community of all the generations".

The respected American prophetic voice, Cindy Jacobs echoes this, prophesying in the mid 1990's: "This is the day when I am raising up the generations and restoring the inheritance of the generations. For I am a tri-generational God. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I am at work linking the generations and bringing healing to the brokenness between the generations...This is the beginning of an outpouring upon the Isaac and Jacob generations which will have a double portion of the anointing loosed in the 60's during the Jesus People Movement. This move will be different in that it will not be dysfunctional. It will cause an understanding of the Father heart of God and a cleaving to God as Father. They will not just look to Jesus as their friend but will understand the holiness of God and give respect and honour to their Father. The anointing of compassion will pour out with great tenderness while the fear of the Lord falls upon God's people. Rise up intercessors of God, for the enemy knows of this plan and he is also unleashing a double portion of the strongholds poured out during the 60's - strongholds of drugs, free sex, communes with no hold barred and a denying of absolutes. The youth will become a law unto themselves if God's people do not stand against the tide of filth and ungodliness being poured out against them..."

At Cross Rhythms this history is our history. We are baton carriers from the 60's. By engaging with or supporting Cross Rhythms you're not just engaging with or supporting a ministry, you're part of a global movement.

Cross Rhythms use of contemporary Christian music is unfortunately still pioneering in the UK in the early part of the 21st Century. Generally the response from the churches is that it's great what we're doing but 'we don't like the music'. However the biggest response we receive from those of similar ages outside the church is they 'love the music'. This is all to do with culture. Our church culture is still in general not as progressed as mainstream culture so our attempts to re-engage with people relevantly are few and under-resourced.

At Cross Rhythms we also recognise though that our style of music played on our radio station is very contemporary, even from a mainstream perspective. Why? you may ask. Well we believe that this is part of being pioneering, part of challenging the pervading culture to sit up and take notice and explain with genuine surprise and respect 'this is Christian?!'.

This will be part of the continuing adventure for us at Cross Rhythms. To keep expanding the parameters of involvement and influence in the mainstream music and media arenas.

We also believe that given the freedom and encouragement from church leadership (and arguably in spite of it) that the emerging generations will continue to mature and express the growing discoveries of their faith and the move of God in our nation, through music. In the old testament it was Praise that led the armies into battle and music plays a vital role for the re-emerging church in the west in the 21st century.

For more insight and evidence of an emerging new youth army please read 'Audacious - .Revolution'.