In November, leading Christian music group Casting Crowns was given the opportunity to perform for troops in the AOR.  Lead singer Mark Hall said the trip grew from hearing from troops’ families at US concerts who were encouraged by their music.

The band’s popular songs include Until the Whole World Hears and Praise You in the Storm — a song that speaks of glorifying God even in an unexplainable hardship.  Hall notes that these songs “hit close to home” for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, making the worship a “little deeper.”

The group played to a packed facility in an “undisclosed location.”  Said Hall,

We got to hear some things like, ‘hey, I was at a really, really low point, and this has really kind of given me a new look at my deployment here.  And I think I can, I’m gonna make it through this time,’ and that’s why we’re here, man. Just to lift people up and share Jesus with folks.  It’s been awesome.

One of the servicemembers interviewed said,

God’s word can reach anywhere, no matter where you are.

At some point some well-meaning soul will probably complain about an unabashedly evangelical Christian group using government resources to provide free concerts to military servicemembers in a war zone, much like some complained about Rock the Fort.  They may fail to realize the military supports a wide variety of morale-boosting events for all troops, and no one is obligated to attend.  (In fact, this argument was in full play when a Soldier complained of profanity in a USO tour last year.)

Apparently some think the government should silence Casting Crown’s Voice of Truth while openly supporting Kid Rock‘s Rock n Roll Jesus.

DoD video available here.