Dan Elson
Dan Elson
UK and Republic of Ireland Territory
Music is just a natural part of who I am and how I express my faith. I grew up in The Salvation Army and had a good musical background in brass playing, singing, and contemporary worship. Presently, I am a member of my corps band and worship team. In my professional life, I am the Outreach Mission Partner for Music and Creative Arts in the UK & Republic of Ireland Territory. My music tastes are varied, as are my playing habits, so I have had experiences being part of jazz bands, rock bands, and choirs. As a singer/songwriter, all these experiences as well as my classical composition training have helped develop my God-given gifts. My prayer is that whatever style of music I write, there will be someone who is brought closer to God when they hear it.
Immeasurably More
I have always been comforted by the idea that God is far more than I can imagine or understand. It’s a good job because, like any one person, my experience of the world, perspective, and skill set is limited. The Bible tells us that, “with God all things are possible.” I wanted to express my desire for the God who does immeasurably more to use me to do more than I can do on my own. A lot of modern worship music out there is reflective or “epic” but there seems to be a move away from joyful, upbeat music. I am on a mission to write songs that are full of the joy of the Lord. I hope that Immeasurably More captured something of that!
You Are My Passion
When I sat down to write You Are My Passion, I was really thinking about what it means to let your faith show to others and how we can express that in language that is easy to understand without getting too tangled up in church-speak. We have the greatest and most important message in all the world, and we should be bursting to let others know. However, in the modern world, people don’t like to be preached at, so how can we pass on our message effectively? I started to think about “living life in all its fullness” from John 10:10, and what that might look like to an onlooker. With such a subject, it was clear that the accompanying music should be joyful and infectious. I hope that I’ve captured that feeling in this song.
God for All
In 2015, The Salvation Army was part of an ecumenical strategy in Cumbria, North West England, named God for All. This missional partnership sought to ensure that, “By 2020, everyone in Cumbria, of all ages and backgrounds, will have an opportunity to discover more of God and God’s purpose in their lives.”
As someone whose work is in Christian outreach, I am often reminded of this strategy and its bold aim. Through this song, I wanted to express something of that desire to see all people touched by the presence of God in their lives, and to inspire action in those who already know that presence to actively engage in telling those around them that the God we worship isn’t just for the church, or for those who consider themselves religious - He is the God for all.
