POTTA, India, August 8, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - One of the inspiring occurrences which took place on my recent speaking engagement in India was getting to know another Canadian - singer/songwriter David Macdonald. Although I knew David by reputation - he is the main musician at the annual March for Life in Ottawa every year - I had not until India had a chance to speak with him in person. David is a fascinating man. A pop musician who can do fancy dance moves on stage and rouse a crowd to a frenzy with his musical genius, he is also a deeply spiritual man.
David worked his magic with the thousands of Indian youth. They loved him. All within the huge outdoor, but roofed auditorium rose to their feet with cheers as he was about to perform at his second performance. The immense crowd sang along with his Christian and pro-life lyrics, dancing from their seats, swaying their arms, and filled with joy. "Life is, life is, life is the only choice . . . ," they sang over and over again. (To hear a snippet of the song click here: http://davidmacd.com/music/life_is_the_only_choice.mp3 )
David is back home in Ottawa now and spoke with LifeSiteNews.com about his experiences. "In a small Southern India town of Potta, 60 kilometers from where St. Thomas the Apostle landed in 52 A.D., there is a powerful renewal happening," he said. "I was grateful to witness it as I lead 3500 youth in what turned out to be one of the most profound worship experiences in my life."
In the write-up of my own experiences speaking to the youth in India (see it here: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07080109.html ) I noted how impressed I was by the youth. David was similarly impressed. "These youth were engaged, participating, attentive and extremely authentic in their worship of Christ," he said. "During my high energy songs they were jumping and singing. They also entered into the quiet introspective worship songs and created an atmosphere where I could almost hear the angels singing." He added: "They were very appreciative and always ready to help with anything that needed to be done before and after the show."
The youth he said, "would come up to me during the day and ask questions about how they could enter into a deeper relationship with Christ and how they could spread that message throughout their country".
In a discussion over dinner at the Divine Retreat Centre - a dinner which consisted mostly of rice with a curried gravy of sorts - David informed me of a powerful dream he had. He was led to understand that his music and dance routines are like "flowers around the altar" and the real meat of offering is the testimony of his conversion to God and the Gospel of Life.
That personal testimony of his is a powerful one, a story of rags to riches, then riches to rags as a result of lack of faith and abortion, and finally a restoration to faith and life: from singing in Broadway and Hollywood shows to total loss of voice, depression, drug addiction, to restoration. (Read that testimony on David's website, here: http://davidmacd.com/web_pages/pro-life_testimony.htm)
Of his experience sharing his testimony with the Indian youth David said, "During my testimony you could hear a pin drop." "One circumstance that particularly touched me was when, after hearing my abortion testimony, several youth asked me for advice on how to start a pro life movement in India."
David concluded his reflections on India with these words: "My prayer is that this powerful movement of the Spirit that I witnessed will manifest itself in powerful social reforms in the Country, particularly with respect to reversing the legalization of abortion. I have no doubt that their enthusiasm and faith will spread westward."
See related coverage:
India Pro-Life Leader Explains How West Hurts India with Imposed Population Control
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/aug/06081701.html