CHRISTIAN BAND MOSAIC TOURS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA
Critically-acclaimed Christian band Mosaic recently toured throughout Central Florida, with an itinerary that included concerts and stops at influential Christian media outlets to share music from its current CD, Teach Us.
Throughout a two-week period, Mosaic performed several concerts in the Central Florida area, sharing both the group’s arrangements of traditional Christmas hymns and songs from Teach Us. The musicians also were guests on Campus Crusade for Christ radio, were featured in the News Chief daily newspaper in Winter Haven, Fla., and shared music with the staffs of Strang Communications, WTGL Good Life 45 Broadcasting, and Campus Crusade for Christ, among other press appearances.
The tour was especially meaningful for Mosaic member Patrick Lockwood who is a native of the central Florida city of Winter Haven.
“It was special for me to get the opportunity to share what God is doing through Mosaic with old friends and family back home. It’s a unique and humbling experience to minister in your hometown, where everybody knew you when you were a rascal, but the Gospel enables us to say ‘Ya, I was and am a rascal, but Jesus Christ has paid my debt – and He’s changing me. And anyone can get in on this,'” Lockwood says.
“I truly felt wonderful about the response of the audiences to God’s Word through music. It’s exciting to think about how lives are being changed in these audiences,” he says. “Even if we never get to see it or hear about it, we know it’s happening because God’s Word never returns void – whether spoken, or sung.”
Photo 1: Mosaic squeezes in time for a photo in the U.S.’s oldest city of St. Augustine, Fla. Pictured (L to R) are Jonathan Taylor Martin, Devon Graves, Emily Martin, Patrick Lockwood and Molly Lockwood.
Photo 2: In the studio with Campus Crusade for Christ Radio host Chris Shenk and producer Matt Bendell are (l-r, back) Patrick Lockwood, Bendell; (l-r, middle) Emily Martin, Molly Lockwood, Shenk; (l-r, front) Devon Graves, Jonathan Taylor Martin.
About Mosaic:
Mosaic released its third CD, Teach Us, October 18, generating comparisons to such musical luminaries as The Civil Wars, Alison Krauss, Avalon and Selah. Influential website ChristianityToday.com declares, “The mix of harmonies is nothing short of sublime, shifting from joyful to pensive to praise-filled, fitting just as comfortably on country radio one minute as a more straight-up CCM station the next.”Mosaic – whose lineup includes Devon Graves, vocals/piano; the husband and wife team of Patrick Lockwood, vocals/acoustic guitar and Molly Lockwood, vocals/piano; and husband and wife Jonathan Taylor Martin, vocals/acoustic guitar and Emily Martin, vocals – originally met as students at Belmont University. Although they hailed from different parts of the country and had distinctly different musical backgrounds and tastes, they realized they shared a common desire to communicate the truth of God’s Word as revealed in the Scriptures.
Their debut CD, a collection of Christmas songs called Until the Son of God Appears, originally recorded as a Christmas present for their parents, led to a month-long Christmas tour. Following the Christmas tour, Mosaic became a full-time ministry in 2009 and released As Long As It Is Day, the band’s first CD of original compositions. They have toured unceasingly since, honing their lush harmonies and refining their songwriting chops, while maintaining their ministry focus to encourage and edify others with the truth of God’s Word.
The band combines lyrical content relying heavily on Scripture with rich, complex harmonies to produce Mosaic’s signature sound.
“We believe that God’s Word empowers prayer, ignites faith, and fuels our worship,” explains Patrick Lockwood. “We exist as this family called Mosaic to be musical missionaries of sorts. We exist to teach the Word of God through our music.”
That mission can be clearly heard with just a cursory listen to any of the songs on Teach Us. “One,” the project’s energetic opener, draws heavily on Ephesians 4:4-6 for its declaration that there is “One hope, one faith, one body, one Spirit of the living God.” The project’s title was derived from the song “Teach Us To Love,” a lovely, peace-filled prayer-song drawn from John 15:13 and 1 John 4:7-11. Mosaic slides easily between genres, evoking a gentle country vibe on “Japheth Song,” light and breezy pop on “Love Will Never Fail,” acoustic folk on “Trust the Lord,” and lilting jazz licks on “Fear the Lord.”
While the musical stylings may be diverse, the band’s sparkling vocals and lyrical integrity create a consistency that unifies the project. Each song on Teach Us flows into the next, creating a seamless, worshipful experience that includes praise and adoration, supplication, worship and benediction.
For more information on Mosaic and Teach Us, visit mosaicworship.com.
About the Author
