Contemporary Christian artist Mark Schultz is taking a detour during his ‘Letters From War’ tour to help out a local non-profit. Welcome House, a local homeless shelter, will receive all proceeds from the concert at the Belle Mehus, October 28th.
Schultz is probably best known for hits such as “Remember Me,” “He’s My Son” and “Letters From War.” He hinted that concert-goers will hear a wide variety of his music.
“This is a special date,” said Schultz. “ I just had a ‘Best of’ record that came out, I will be doing a lot of songs from that. But there is an opportunity, a chance, that I may do some of the songs we are doing on the ‘Letters From War’ Tour. There is also an instrumental record (Renaissance) I just came out with and we may do one or two of those songs in the show. We may share some of the footage from the ‘Letters From War’ tour, so that would be fun.”
Whatever he includes in the sets, the songs will strike a chord. “I write songs based on real life, songs that resonate with people,” said Schultz. “People can listen to them and think, that sounds like me or something I’ve done or someone I know.”
Many people familiar with Schultz’s music will agree. His songs always seem familiar and have a lot of meaning. They are easy to listen and relate to. His latest album, an instrumental, is a departure from his usual style.
“I had never done an instrumental record before,” explained Schultz. “My wife and I went to Europe, I did some concerts over there. I had just finished writing the book, ‘Letters From War’ and we were standing on the beaches of Normandy, and saw where my grandfather had served in World War II. It was a real honor to be there and as we were standing on the beach I started to get these melodies and I thought, ‘gosh, I think I’ve got an instrumental record in me.”
Welcome House is not the first organization to benefit from a Mark Schultz concert. He has a history of doing concerts for causes.
Schultz was adopted when he was two weeks old, and a few summers ago pedaled from California to Maine to raise money for the James Fund that aids widows and orphans. Along the way he would do concerts as fundraisers and raised over a quarter of a million dollars. “It’s always good for me to help organizations that are trying to help other people,” said Schultz. “It just feels right to me.”
Welcome House has seen an increase in people needing their services due to a variety of reasons, including the oil boom and flooding. They recently opened a shelter in Mandan, which is already turning people away.
Purchase concert tickets at Dan’s Supermarkets and the Rainbow Shop.
For more information on Welcome House visit welcome-house.net.