Rather than filling a stadium with thousands of screaming fans, George Canyon is eager to greet area residents face-to-face at a worship concert at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday.
Canyon, a Canadian country musician, will take the audience on a historical journey with songs, testimonies and lessons he’s learned throughout his life.
He will play worship songs like “Amazing Grace” as well as his well-known tunes such as “Just Like You.”
Canyon, who has performed similar worship concerts across North America for the past five years, says while it’s not a big concert, it is “still me, I’m the same guy.”
“It’s not a normal concert. I’m there and I’m welcoming people,” said Canyon. “It’s not about me, it’s about Him. This is giving testimony to what God has done in my life.
“It’s a different concert, but it’s where my heart is for sure. It’s a very relaxed concert. I’m not in charge, so there is no pressure on me. I’m just being faithful.”
St. Ann’s doors will be open to those of all ages who are believers or non-believers.
“Id’ say about 50 to 75 per cent of people who come to the worship concerts are non-believers or who have been away from the church for a long time,” Canyon said.
“But there are no rules, there’s no hoops to jump through, it’s just to experience God’s love and fellowship.”
Canyon says he hopes the worship concert leaves people with a few messages, but the most important is that of “God’s love for all of us.”
“We get in His way by judging others…and what we’re forgetting is that He made us all as individuals. He loves us. We’re His children.”
Canyon says following every worship concert he performs, people come up to him to express their gratitude.
“It makes an impact every time,” said the
musician.
“They say [they] never realized or thought about it that way. Sometime’s it’s just that light bulb moment. It happens for me time to time.”
Growing up in a Christian home, Canyon attended church but never expected to be touring North America doing worship concerts.
“I just never thought of it,” he said. “But I threw away my bucket list because of the things He has done for me and the places He has taken me. I’m open to whatever He has planned for me.”
Canyon says he remembers begging and pleading for record deals and other things in life, but learned a valuable lesson in it all.
“Just to be grateful for every day,” he said. “Everyone aspires to be a better person, a better songwriter, singer, husband or dad…but I don’t fret about it anymore. I’m grateful to take that big breath of air every morning and enjoy the day.”
Enjoying his time in the Flin Flon area, Canyon says he was able to schedule the worship concert while vacationing in the area.
“But it’s not about doing a show, it’s about spreading God’s love,” he said. “That’s all it’s about.”
