Turning Music Into Ministry

FED BY RAVENS

“A collection of desert songs,” is how Rita describes her new album, Fed By Ravens.  “These are songs born from dry riverbeds, songs of finding little flour and no oil before a miraculous provision.  If God can command a raven to feed a man, how much more is it in His heart to save us?” she explains, alluding to the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17:2-16.  That passage relates how, during a drought, the Lord told Elijah to hide by the Kerith brook, and sent ravens to him twice a day with food.  In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rita sensed the Lord tell her to record another album -- when she was in a “desert season” of her own -- hungry for encouragement and hope.  “They thought I had cancer,” she says of the physical ailments she was experiencing at the time.  Her finances were also a big concern, and her son, Justice, a teen then, was struggling with the many challenges Covid brought, and also the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement as an African-American.  Feeling caught up in all the chaos, Rita said, “Lord, I’m done,” and asked Him, “Why am I still here?”  She sensed He wanted to encourage her and others with the truths of His faithfulness and provision, the themes of Fed By Ravens.  “I want to sing people out of the desert.  There’s always hope!” 

THE GOAL OF WORSHIP  

True worship music, Rita believes, must lead people in to the presence of the Lord, not merely a time of pleasing melodies.  That can be difficult when a person - or a church as a whole - is weary, worn, and downcast by the many cares and crises of our world.  “When God tarries, there’s a tearing of the soul,” she says of the despairing times she’s known in her own life.  Like David throughout the Psalms, though, she says believers can change their perspective on suffering by living out their faith.  “Yet I will lift my voice and praise the Lord,” she says with the Psalmist.   

CHRISTIAN MUSIC TODAY

“I’ve been in this business a long time,” Rita says, “and there’s a lot of craziness in the Christian music industry.  I’m kind of a mother to lots of people in this business, which has become more about awards and royalty checks then worship.  A lot of CCM (contemporary Christian music) artists want to write with me to get out of the box their labels keep them in.”  Rita is also deeply disturbed at seeing some artists in compromising circumstances, justifying sin.  “Does anyone want the holiness of God?” she wonders.  “I want to see people healed.” 

One way Rita has managed to work around the current system is to hire studio musicians with “points” versus cash, sharing with them future profits of a song or album for the lifetime of the record rather than a one-time fee for playing on the project.  That way, she can hire top-notch musicians without a huge outlay of money upfront for the production.  “It’s absolutely a different perspective,” she says, but one that is working. 

REGENT UNIVERSITY NIGHT OF WORSHIP

On Sunday evening, October 27, 6:00pm – 10:00pm in Shaw Chapel, Regent University will hold a Night of Worship featuring this globally known worship leader and songwriter.  Making Christ famous through the art, act, and physical sound of our worship is Rita’s anthem, and her deepest desire is to see this arise in the body of Christ.  Participants are told to anticipate a night of influential and transformational worship open to the local community.  To register for the night of worship, go to:

www.regent.edu/events/regent-night-of-worship-now-presents-rita-springer-oct-27-2024/

For more information on Rita Springer click the LINK! 

CREDITS

Songwriter/ singer, latest album, Fed By Ravens (OUR RECORDS/ The Fuel Music, 2024) / Songwriter since the late 1980’s, starting with Vineyard Music Group / Recording artist since the mid 1990’s / Co-creator of Fragrant Oil, a women’s conference, 2000-2007 / Founder, The DIVE  (deep, innovative, vertical expression) Creative, 2008, a worship school / Worship Leader since 2009 for churches, conferences, and events / Podcast host of Worship is My Weapon, since fall, 2023 / Mom to son, Justice, 20, whom she adopted in 2004 from Jacksonville, FL