Two Dove Award-winning Christian music stars are reuniting to help raise money for the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs. John Michael Talbot, an internationally known Catholic musician, and contemporary Christian artist Michael Card, perhaps best known for penning the song “El Shaddai,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Eureka Springs City Auditorium.
Talbot has a deep connection to the area and said the concert is a way to help his neighbors. Talbot founded a Catholic community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at the Little Portion Hermitage, in nearby Berryville more than 30 years ago.
“I am very happy to be able to help my neighbors and the wonderful work they do at the Great Passion Play and doubly blessed to be able to minister with my friend Michael Card,” Talbot said. “I pray many come out for the worthy cause.”
Last year, operators of the Great Passion Play said the play would be closing after a 46-year run because of debt but a last-minute fundraising push by Randall Christy, president of The Gospel Station Network of Ada, Okla., helped keep the play in operation.
For Talbot, the concert is a chance to perform again with Card. The two men released an album, Brother to Brother, in 1996. The release was a mix of songs from both musicians.
“He picked five favorites of mine and I picked five favorites of his. That’s what we ended up doing and we had a blast doing that record,” Talbot said.
Talbot’s musical career began at the age of 15 when he joined his brother Terry in the folk-rock band Mason Proffit. He transitioned to Christian music in 1976 and has since released dozens of albums.
Talbot and Card have followed similar paths since their album collaboration, each singing and recording albums as well as teaching and writing. Talbot has released 53 albums and written 24 books. His latest, The Jesus Prayer, will be released by InterVarsity Press in September. Card has also been prolific in music and books, releasing more than 31 albums and 24 books.
The two men come from different theological backgrounds but Talbot said music is their common language.
“He’s evangelical and I’m a Catholic but we’re not trying to make a theological statement. We’re just brothers in Christ,” he said. “We get together as friends and I think that’s a great pattern for interfaith relations. People don’t always have to argue their point of view. Just enjoy each other’s company.”
Talbot said the concert will be a mixture of music and songs from both men. They’ll perform solo and together.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said. “Not only will we make music and do ministry, but most people don’t know that Mike and I are pretty much cut-ups, so we’ll have a lot of fun. Who knows, I might pull my banjo out.”
Tickets are $20 and $25 and can be bought at greatpassionplay.org or by calling (800) 882-7529. Some seating sections have sold out. The Eureka Springs City Auditorium is at 36 S. Main St.
Religion, Pages 12 on 08/03/2013