Bluetree's Aaron Boyd Talks About the Importance of Worship and Justice in this Exclusive Interview

Some worship leaders fly in first class to a thousand seat auditorium mesmerized by the sound of a sea of thunderous applause and dazzled by the blinding lights of a whole block of house lights as they stand there on a smoke filled stage strumming their guitars.  Aaron Boyd, the founder and lead singer of Ireland's Bluetree, on the other hand, is found lying flat in the back of a fish truck as he is being smuggled across a dry river bed into Burma.  Risking his own life to be in Mae La, a refugee camp on the border of Burma and Thailand, Boyd finds himself playing in front of 15,000 refugees who never have had the chance to worship before.  Bluetree isn't your normal worship team.  They are not into playing in the biggest mega church; they are not into the hype and glamour of arena-styled worship.  Rather, their passionate mandate is to bring worship to the most impoverished parts of the world helping the disadvantaged and the poor find the God who truly loves them through Christ Jesus. 

We are so honored to be able to catch up with Bluetree's Aaron Boyd for this exclusive Hallels interview.

Hallels:  Aaron thank you so much for your time in doing this interview.  Can you explain to our readers the significance of your band's name "Bluetree"?

It comes from the picture of standing looking at a forest and you see a bright blue tree smack bang in middle. Hopefully that tree would stand out. It's not green. As Christians we are called to be salt and light in this world. To make a difference. Be a Bluetree!

Hallels:  I believe you have a deep passion for both worship and justice.  How would you define both worship and justice?  And how are they related?

Yes, worship and justice is a massive part of what I do. Worship is our everyday lives. Everything we do is an act of worship to God. Our jobs, our relationships, our hobbies and pastimes... we can do it all for His glory.

 Justice is loving our neighbors. This world is a small place these days. So whether people are on our doorstep or across the world, they are our neighbors. We are the hands and feet of Christ. We are called to reach out and love.

Hallels:  How do you think churches (and us as Christians) can strike the balance between worship and justice?

Isaiah had a vision of God. He was in the presence of God seeing angels and feeling unworthy. He was made clean. One could say he was over-dosing on the presence of God. lol But when God said, "who will go and look after my people," Isaiah's response was "here am I, send me."

 Our lives should walk that balance. Being in our churches, but being sent.

Hallels:  Tell us about some of the projects you are doing with the poor and oppressed?

I work with Ratanak International (http://ratanak.org), World Orphans (http://www.worldorphans.org) and Christian Freedom International (http://www.christianfreedom.org). All of these organizations are doing incredible stuff across the globe. From rescuing children out of sex slavery, rehabilitation, providing medical care, trauma counseling, food delivery, Bibles, aid, the whole spectrum. I've been out to Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and Haiti helping and seeing people's lives changed for the better. For the Kingdom. It's a complete honor and a privilege. I'm truly blessed to be able to serve with them.

Hallels:  One of the songs you have written (for the Passion Conference and Chris Tomlin) is "God of This City."  How did the song come about? Have you recorded this song yourself?

Yes, I have recorded that song. It was my first ever single. I wrote "God of This City" in an area filled with brothels while I was on a mission trip to Thailand. It was a special moment when I began to sing out over that seaside city. In the midst of abuse and hedonism, God still has a greater plan for everyone's life. Greater things.

Hallels:  Let's talk about your new album 'Worship and Justice."  Is there a song on the record that was birthed out of your work with the poor and marginalized?

Yes and no. None of the songs are lyrically centered around slavery or abuse, but what I'm trying to do is pose the point that when we encounter Christ, our natural response is to Go. To go into all the world. Loving people And introducing them to the one true risen king, Jesus Christ.

Hallels:  What do you want your listeners to take home with them after hearing your new album?

My prayer is that listeners grab a hold of these songs and sing them as a sound track of victory and truth over their own lives. Whatever the season we can still lift an anthem of praise. Believing for breakthrough and freedom. Please Lord let it be.

 

 

Tags : bluetree bluetree interview aaron boyd aaron boyd interview bluetree worship and justice bluetree news bluetree new album