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By Lailani Mendoza
ART SPEAKS to people in ways that words can’t. It evokes emotions, conveys truths and compels people to think or act – sometimes without the need for a shared vocabulary, as in the case of photos or
music.
If art were a language, Peter Helms would be considered a native speaker. Helms
has dabbled in different forms of art, and has continued to hone his gifts from
a very young age while growing up in the Netherlands.
Helms attributes the roots of his love for music to his father, who adored
classical music; it was a staple during his childhood, and from there his
musical interests branched out.
Like most teens, he was drawn to rock and roll – so much so that at 17, he became a cast member of Hair, a musical which explored the values of the hippie movement, which included
sexual freedom, nudity and drug use.
It was while participating in this production that Helms met a woman who led him
to Christ. Upon accepting Jesus, Helms quit performing in the play; but he
continued exploring other genres of music that would suit his new
Christ-centred lifestyle.
Rock and roll was frowned upon in Christian circles at the time, said Helms. So
instead, he turned his attention to worship music.
Along with other musicians, Helms began leading worship through Nights of
Praise, “two to three hours of worship where people started to become physically healed
and were freed from demons.”
From less than 100, audiences grew to about 2,000 and even 9,000 people at one
point.
This powerful moving of the Holy Spirit convinced Helms that this was just the
beginning of his ministry through this medium.
After a few years, Helms formed a band called The Recabites, named after a man
called Recab in the Old Testament. The band’s vision is to exalt God, and thus to let him free people from bondage through
their music.
The Recabites have travelled all over Europe, South Africa and North America,
and even to Mongolia.
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“We go wherever we get invited,” said Helms of the band, whose last performance was held in Germany. The band’s members are friends of his, who share his love for music and his vision of
using this medium to share the good news.
Helms’ ministry in the arts isn’t confined to music. He also travels frequently as an itinerant speaker at Bible
schools, YWAM events and house churches. Recently, he spoke to a Korean youth group in Texas.
The arts hold a lot of promise for ministry, Helms noted, and believes this is
something local churches have to cultivate as an avenue for worship and
outreach.
“The arts today is really the voice of the prophetic,” said Helms. “The way that the arts speaks, God uses anything and anyone that’s willing to speak any truth.”
Helms’ latest project is the Faithbuilders School, a mentorship course which he and
his wife Anne-Marie hold annually from their home in Westbank.
The 10-week course allows students to explore creative abilities like dance,
mime and drama, while listening to teachings from guest speakers with
international ministry experience. The program runs September 21 – November 29.
In all of his activities, said Helms, there really is one driving force: “Pointing to Jesus, and giving people hope and courage to rise up in the middle
of the difficulties and challenges.”
Contact: faithbuilders.eu.
September 2009
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