ZAC the musical: from the composer who’s never sold us short
A composer whose music has become part and parcel of church life will next week launch ZAC, his 25th musical (7.30pm, Sat 28 Sep, Bromsgrove Baptist Church).
He will follow it up with a talk at CRE 24 (2pm, Thu 10 Oct) on how musicals can be used in mission and evangelism.
Originally a teacher, Roger Jones is director of Birmingham-based Christian Music Ministries (CMM) and began writing when he composed Jerusalem Joy, a performance around Jesus’ ride on a donkey into Jerusalem. He has become internationally known with his works performed all over the world.
‘The new production will follow the Bible story of Zacchaeus as he transforms from a diminutive, cheating tax collector to a follower of Jesus,’ (pictured above) he explains.
With him at CRE 24 will be Devon Brown, for many years one of CMM’s soloists, He has sung for them in Canada, India and Israel. Roger will also be involved in a teaching workshop,Praise of future past (Wed 9 Oct, 12.30pm) and with Devon will lead the workshop Psalms, hymns and songs (Wed 9 Oct 2.30pm).
On Thursday, again with Devon, he will join Lou and Nathan Fellingham and Lucy Grimble for a session on sung worship and song writing (11am).
This year marks 40 years since Roger left his financially secure teaching job to concentrate on a less secure creative ministry. In 2018 he was awarded the Mary Jones Prize by Bible Society for his musical Greater than Gold (1983) and its contribution to keeping the story of Welsh girl Mary Jones and her Bible alive, worldwide.
In 2019 Roger was recipient of the Thomas Cranmer Award for Worship, presented to him by Archbishop Justin Welby.
• For more information on the worship strand at CRE 24 go to page 17 of the exhibition handbook.
CRE 2025
To book a stand at CRE 25, contact:
James Batterbee
T: 0161 240 4500
E: james@creonline.co.uk
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