SPOTLIGHT
Don Moen: Worshipping with
Integrity
By Tim Branson
The 700 Club
CBN.com
For nearly two decades Don Moen has helped shape modern praise
and worship music. Millions around the world have come to know him as a gifted
worship leader and songwriter. Born and raised in northern Minnesota, Don always
had an affinity for music. He studied violin at Oral Roberts University where
he joined a musical group called Living Sound. They traveled around the world
with evangelist Terry Law. For Don it was a training ground for things to come.
DON MOEN: A tour would be 18 months, and we would go to South Africa,
Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia.
TIM BRANSON: They were international tours?
DON MOEN: Correct. They weren't in the States. We just lived in peoples
houses, raised our support.
TIM BRANSON: Did you lead worship during that time, or were you a
utility musician?
DON MOEN: I never led worship. I played violin, trombone, guitar,
and bass guitar, harmonica, banjoyou name it, I played it. Thats
what I did. Forget singing. That was the farthest thing from my mind.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): But after ten years, that would change.
DON
MOEN: Terry Law came to me and said, 'Its just going to be you and
me.' I was petrified. Youre going to put me in front of people and sing?
I dont think so! But he insisted that before he speaks, Dons going
to come up and lead us in some choruses.
TIM BRANSON: Just you and the piano.
DON MOEN: Just me and the piano.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): Despite his misgivings, Don was invited to
sing and lead worship on a project for Michael Colemans fledgling Integrity
Music.
DON MOEN: During that time, Mike had asked me if would I lead worship
on one of these Hosanna music tapes. They were just getting started. That
was Give Thanks in May of '86.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): Give Thanks went Gold, and Don found
himself at the forefront of contemporary praise and worship music.
TIM BRANSON: Did you ever imagine that for yourself?
DON MOEN: No, not in a million years. It was not something I desired.
It was not something I was going after at all, yet God kept pushing me out
there.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): Don is now creative director for Integrity
Music, and he has worked on hundreds of projects worldwide. Hes also
written and recorded numerous songs. Many have become classics. I had the
privilege of playing a couple of those with him. Don gets much of his inspiration
from life itself.
DON MOEN: Im looking for something thats birthed out
of something deep inside of me, and in order to get to that place, you have
to go through serious times. I hate that about it, but a lot of times the
most powerful songs are birthed out the most intense, difficult situations.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): Which is how he came to write one of his
most well known songs: "God Will Make a Way."
DON MOEN: That was written for my wife's sister, Susan, and her husband,
Craig, who lost their 8-year-old son in a car accident. "He works in ways
we cannot see." I know God gave me those words for Susan and Craig that day
because it gave them hope to believe there is a future.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): Over the years, Dons music has earned
numerous awards and accolades, but in his humble manner, he is quick to turn
the attention away from himself.
DON MOEN: He has given me a platform, he has given me influence,
and along with that influence, comes a responsibility to do what Im
called to do, which is to bring people into the presence of God and make the
focus Him and not me.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): Don still travels the world and continues
to record new projects. His latest release, God Will Make a Way, contains
some of his most inspiring work as a songwriter and worship leader.
TIM BRANSON: What happens when we worship God?
DON
MOEN: As we worship Him, we create a throne for the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords, and Hes with us. When Hes with us, guess what He
wants to do? Heal those who are sick, save those who are lost, deliver those
who are oppressed, provide for those who are needy. Those are the things God
loves to do.
TIM BRANSON (reporting): And theres no other place than Gods
presence that Don would rather be.
DON MOEN: I hear Him say, 'This is what I created you for. Its
not about entertainment; its not about you. This is about you bringing
an atmosphere to Gods people.' When I have moments like that, it confirms
Gods call. Theres nothing Id rather do than that.
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