|
By Peter Biggs
“Our first love is for Canada, and we are
excited about bringing this tour to Canada.”
Starfield lead singer Tim Neufeld was speaking during
a short lull after the excitement of the award-winning Canadian
band’s tour of the United States. Having performed some 50 concerts
to support their latest album, I Will Go, the group had just returned home, to prepare for a major
national tour.
They were also basking in the positive response to the
CD: within 10 hours of its release, the album hit #1 in the Christian
section of iTunes.
April 24 saw them embark on 18 dates across Canada
– followed by further dates in the U.S. and three concerts in the
U.K. They also have a European tour planned.
“In Europe we are playing all the major
festivals,” Neufeld said, “including one in Holland with over
30,000.” September will see the band touring the smaller cities of
Canada and the U.S.
Neufeld, who hails from Winnipeg, observed:
“This is the most ambitious tour we’ve ever embarked on,
bringing more sound and lighting than ever before. But we’ve also
carefully chosen a line-up of friends that will lead to an intimate night
of worship and ministry.”
A Starfield event is definitely not about mere entertainment; the
concerts are uncompromising in their worship emphasis.
“There is an intentionality – to
just do what we do, and trust that the people will be moved by the Holy
Spirit. We believe that he will lead them to a place of brutal honesty
before God – brutal because it’s a hard thing to be vulnerable,
and allow the Holy Spirit to do surgery if needed in our lives,” said
Neufeld.
Along with wanting to see God work within people,
Neufeld believes there is a kind of “coming out” on the part of
some Christians, who are becoming aware of their indifference to the rest
of the planet.
“The majority of the world live on less than a
dollar per day; 30,000 kids die of preventable causes, like starvation
– every day! We have to be shaken.”
Some Starfield concerts encourage World Vision child
sponsorship; others have prayer teams. This spring’s tour partners
with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, with Will Graham speaking.
The roots of faith go deep in the lives of
Neufeld and his bandmates – guitarist (and brother) Jon
Neufeld, drummer Gordie Cochran and bassist Shaun Huberts. All of them grew
up in Christian homes. Cochran graduated from Briercrest College in
Saskatchewan, and Tim Neufeld attended Providence College near Winnipeg.
|
“For me, at age 15, God turned me
around,” Tim continued. “My dad was a worship leader, and I was
influenced by the likes of Kevin Prosch and Brian Doerksen.” Asked
about his commitment to worship music, he said: “I do feel committed
to it, but not exclusively. I don’t have experience doing anything
else!”
Having a solid home base is very important to the
group. Manager Chris Nichols told Options: “I think the most compelling development was the
band’s decision to move back from Nashville to Canada.” Three
members of Starfield now live in Abbotsford, B.C.; the other is in Calgary.
Ironically, because the life of a successful band is
filled with travel and constant change, they are hardly ever home.
“We travel mostly by plane, but have also spent
weeks on a tour bus – living in a 200 square foot room with 11 other
people!” said Neufeld, adding: “The number one place we are
attacked is in our relationships.” Three of the band members,
including Neufeld, are married; their wives often travel with them on tour,
each with a role in the operation.
Spiritually, he said, pastor Dave Hensman – from
his Abbotsford church, The Bridge – “helps keep us accountable
to truth, and calls us on our failings.”
Asked about his sense of what is happening among young
people, Neufeld said: “It’s a time of questioning. This
generation is able to question things, and not need for everything to be
black and white. There’s an honesty in that.”
Consistent with their latest album’s title,
Starfield’s central message focuses on ‘going,’
spiritually. “In North America,” Neufeld said, “that is a
dimension that is missing – the overflow of going out, beyond our
bubble, overcoming the sense we can have of entitlement.”
He described several songs off the CD as expressions
of a prayer to Christ: “We ask you to purify your church – and
let us be worthy to be sent out.”
Amid the accolades and immense challenges of musical
success, Neufeld demonstrated humility. “We are living a dream.
It is exactly what I want to do; I feel very privileged
– humbled. It sometimes feels like a fantasy life for any person
involved in creativity.”
Additional reporting by Kevin Pollard.
Options Spring 2008
|
Spiritually, he said, pastor Dave Hensman – from his Abbotsford church, The Bridge – “helps keep us accountable to truth, and calls us on our failings.”
Dave Hensman of Teamwork Property Management was recently convicted of professional misconduct within the meaning of section 35(1) of the Real Estate Services Act while licensed as managing broker of Teamwork Property Management Ltd and while acting as strata property manager for seven separate strata complexes. His conviction can be read in full by following the link below:
http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcrec/doc/2010/20...
Some Highlights regarding the suit against Dave Hensman of Teamwork Property Management Ltd:
1.(b) contravened section 3-3(1)(a) of the Council Rules by failing to act in the best interests of the Strata Corporation Clients by failing to advise the Strata Corporation Clients that the RBC Dominion Securities investment program he suggested to the Strata Corporation Clients did not meet the requirements of section 95(2) of the Strata Property Act and section 7-9(8) of the Council Rules;
1.(e) On or about January 6, 2009 Dave Hensman contravened section 3-4 of the Council Rules by failing to act with reasonable care and skill by providing incorrect information to the treasurer of one of the Strata Corporation Clients, that the strata corporation Contingency Reserve Fund money had not suffered a loss while invested with RBC Dominion Securities, which was not correct;
There are alot of strata owners out there who losts hundreds of thousands of dollars due to Pastor Dave Hensman!
Spiritually, he said, pastor Dave Hensman from his Abbotsford church, The Bridge helps keep us accountable to truth, and calls us on our failings.
Dave Hensman of Teamwork Property Management was recently convicted of professional misconduct within the meaning of section 35(1) of the Real Estate Services Act while licensed as managing broker of Teamwork Property Management Ltd and while acting as strata property manager for seven separate strata complexes. His conviction can be read in full by following the link below:
http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcrec/doc/2010/20...
Some Highlights regarding the suit against Dave Hensman of Teamwork Property Management Ltd:
1.(b) contravened section 3-3(1)(a) of the Council Rules by failing to act in the best interests of the Strata Corporation Clients by failing to advise the Strata Corporation Clients that the RBC Dominion Securities investment program he suggested to the Strata Corporation Clients did not meet the requirements of section 95(2) of the Strata Property Act and section 7-9(8) of the Council Rules;
1.(e) On or about January 6, 2009 Dave Hensman contravened section 3-4 of the Council Rules by failing to act with reasonable care and skill by providing incorrect information to the treasurer of one of the Strata Corporation Clients, that the strata corporation Contingency Reserve Fund money had not suffered a loss while invested with RBC Dominion Securities, which was not correct;
Hmm, alot of strata owners in British Columbia have lost their contingency funds because of Dave Hensmans so called honesty!