Bringing Word and Music Together Against Poverty

I am very honoured and excited to be invited to the Mobilization to End Poverty in April. This is a time in history when the music and the word have to come together for full impact as God gathers a new army that don't just raise their hands in praise but raise them in anger at the injustice of poverty and oppression.

Yesterday marked the release of the CompassionArt album, a collection of songs from some of the most well known worship leaders in the world that highlights the need for action and the belief that the church CAN do it.

Here in India, it is one thing to serve the needs of these mothers and children in the streets. But something else, something long-term, needs to be done to help them escape their life of oppression.

So, the Prem Kiran transformation has been built about a three hour drive outside the city where these families can start again and be restored to a more 'normal' life, learning a domestic trade, growing food produce, and bringing their kids up in a safer environment.

This was my first visit there, so I was really excited. We left our hotel at 5.30 a.m. and headed out of the city.

On arrival we were showed all the kids' new bedrooms, new meeting room, sewing machines, and an amazing bit of land for everyone to play on.

We promised to give a percentage of each sale of our last record to this transformation centre, and it was amazing to see the fruit of that money with our own eyes. We were amazed to see that we had built a medical centre and were given the privilege of opening it in front of all the mums and kids. I have not done anything like this before, and I'm so grateful to all the Delirious? fans around the world that have made this possible.

When we join the dots between art and poverty, it helps breathe life into the poorest communities, restoring hope and igniting justice. This music has literally saved lives, and again I feel happy to be alive.

Martin Smith is the lead singer of Delirious? His newest project is CompassionArt.