The Gospel Calypso Style

This past Wednesday evening I was scheduled to lead the children at our church's AWANA program in music at the start of the night. For the first song I tried to teach them something new that they could sing in a round. That didn't go too well.

The second song in my program was one that took me about 6 months to write and I'd been practicing for the last couple of months. Let me give you a few details about this song and AWANA before I go any further.

AWANA (an acronym that stands for "Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed) is a midweek children's ministry at my church whose main focus is the memorization of bible verses. The children start off learning simple that mostly have to do with the gospel message.

The song I sang was based on one what's generally the first verse the children learn. It's probably the best known verse universally. I wrote a parody about this verse based on the fact that it's an easy and simple way to share the gospel with others. A parody is a new set of words written to fit with a familiar tune. You know like Weird Al Yankovich used to do.

As you all know I'm a very big Disney fan. Last year for music time at AWANA I used my vent figure, Ruben Nathaniel Young, to sing a parody of the song "I Wanna Be Like You" from Disney's "The Jungle Book." The Jungle Book parody was called "The Bible Is For You." Paula helped me write it.

Well this year I thought I'd write another parody for AWANA using another Disney song. The song was "Under The Sea" and the parody was called "John 3:16. I thought the calypso beat of the Academy Award winning song had enough of a hook to keep the kids interested in the message I'd included in the lyrics.   

Now if you are familiar enough with "Under The Sea" that you can recall the melody in your mind's ear here's the words to "John 3:16"

My friend you must share the gospel
Before it becomes too late
You say to the words of the Bible
your friends just cannot relate

But salvation's plan is simple
A blessing and not a curse.
You give to them the gospel
In only a single verse

John 3:16
John 3:16
Yes it is possible
To preach the gospel
Here's what it means.

If you believe in Jesus Christ
You will receive eternal life
You just can't read it
You must believe it
John 3:16

Now Jesus he came to live here
Among us upon the earth
Conceived of the Holy Spirit
And born of a virgin birth.

He gave up his life on Calvary.
He died for your soul to save.
O're death He won the victory
By coming out of the grave

John 3:16

John 3:16
Yes it is possible
To preach the gospel
Here's what it means.

If you believe in Jesus Christ
You'll receive eternal life
You already know it
Now you must show it
John 3:16

John 3:16
You just can't say
You've got to pray it
Down on your knees

If you believe In Jesus Christ
You get the gift of eternal life
Called by The Spirit
Help them to hear it
John 3:16

The Good News is great
So please do not wait
To share with a friend
You'll be glad in the end
Oh help them today
With the prayer they should pray
So God can save their soul.

Show them where to look
Point them to the book
Help them to choose
To believe the Good News
'Bout why Jesus came
To take all the blame
So to heaven we can go!

(musical interlude)

John 3:16
John 3:16
Yes it is possible
To preach the gospel
Here's what it means.

You must believe in Jesus Christ
He is the way, the truth, the life
You just can't say
You must obey it
John 3:16

They're God's creation
Show them Salvation
John 3:16

Jesus is waiting
Stop hesitating
Don't try to sell them
Simply just tell them
'Bout God's Forgiveness
Just simply start with
John 3:16

The kids seemed to enjoy the song and they really liked the silly string I sprayed toward them at the end of the song. I really like writing and singing parodies for the kids. I won't be doing music for AWANA again until it begins again near the end of the summer. That gives me about 5 months to find a song for my next parody.