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God’s Love Never Fails
Genesis of a Genre: The Birth of Christian Rock explores the origins of the Christian Rock genre and the history of the group that called themselves Agăpē. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The story is important because it fills a hole in the history of Contemporary Christian Music. As an industry, CCM tends to ignore or discount any musical contributions prior to 1973, and that obscuring of history needed to be challenged. It was also important to note that the music now presented as Christian Rock began with raw edges and pure motives.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
In all, it took 16 months to write the book. The first three months were for contacting the original members of Agape, building a larger contact list, and, from the initial interviews, deciding where the story was going to go. It took the full 3 months to come up with a working outline.
Research was done every day until the project was completed. Every time I spoke to someone new, there was research to be done.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Failure, pain, and joy have molded my writing because they have molded my life. Moving me to be more patient, introspective, and compassionate, I’ve learned to look deeper than surface issues in hopes of discovering the energies at work behind our choices.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Genesis of a Genre: The Birth of Christian Rock?
That insight is found in the final words of the story: God’s love never fails.
Genesis of a Genre: The Birth of Christian Rock
Prayer serves as a bridge for communicating with God, and it’s remarkable how each individual can tailor this communication in a way that resonates with them. Just as there are diverse forms of prayer, there are equally diverse expressions of love. The term “Agape” captures God’s unfaltering love for humanity. This very essence inspired the inception of a Christian rock band named Agape. Their primary mission? To convey God’s boundless love through music. However, navigating the world of alternative music presented its own challenges, impacting their journey to recognition.
Joe Markko masterfully chronicles the band’s odyssey, painting a vivid picture of the hurdles, transformations, and milestones experienced by the band members. Through Genesis of a Genre: The Birth of Christian Rock, readers embark on an enlightening journey, exploring how the teachings of the Bible influenced and molded the lives of the band members.
To curate this narrative, Markko diligently conducted interviews and collated first-hand accounts. A noteworthy feature of the book’s conclusion is the collection of letters from individuals who personally interacted with the Agape members. These letters highlight the transformative power of living by Christian principles. The book provides a comprehensive glimpse into the band’s journey, revealing the societal prejudices they faced, their unwavering commitment to exemplifying God’s teachings, and their adaptive evolution in songwriting.
While the book offers a captivating retelling, it’s essential to acknowledge its nature: a retrospective narrative, and with that comes the potential for historical inconsistencies. Markko is transparent about this, ensuring a genuine representation of the gathered information. The anecdotes—centered on a group of friends growing and maturing together—offer an enriching reading experience.
Genesis of a Genre: The Birth of Christian Rock is more than just a foray into a musical genre; it’s an exploration of friendship, spiritual growth, and the profound propagation of divine love. A must-read for those seeking a heartwarming narrative on faith, music, and unity.
Pages: 230 | ISBN : 9798218235444
LITERARY TITAN 