27th July, 2025: A workshop on Gospel-song writing was held at the Lar de Estudantes, Panjim-Goa for select music-lovers and those gifted with Gospel song-writing. The 3-hour evening workshop held on 27th July and organized by the Crusaders was led by a resource person well known in music circles in Goa for producing Gospel music – Mr Brian Colaco. The preliminary session laid the spiritual foundation for the production of gospel music, noting that the biblical originals of music in the Book of Genesis, began with a person called Lamech, a descendant of Cain. Scriptural insights provided showed how unless the grace of God prevails, music is doomed to ruin.
The resource person then began by describing vividly his own experience of how the Lord lifted him up in his youthful days from feeling a sense of worthlessness, to giving a fresh purpose in life at a retreat through the words in Jeremiah 29:11 – I alone know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. This was followed by a session on learning simple techniques in the music field that lyricists utilize to write Gospel songs that are meaningful and pleasant to the ear. One particular activity that stood out was when the participants were encouraged to put Scripture in song. The techniques taught were quickly put to use and in a few minutes the participants were singing to fresh tunes with Scripture in it. Emphasis was laid on being a person of prayer to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit to pen down lyrics for the glory of God. Those participating expressed the desire to get together again in the near future to take forward the workshop on delving deeper into Gospel-song writing.
