The newest project from Vineyard is a good one. 1000 Generations is a great CD for the younger worshiper. Worship leaders include Martin and Jen Reardon, Meghan Coffee, and Billy Somerville. Check it out today at http://www.usa.vmg.com

History of VSN Atlanta

Vineyard Sunday Night (VSN) began in 1997 as a little dream between friends. I was interning at the Atlanta Vineyard in the worship department, and my friend Andy Tarbutton led the youth ministry. Like the Levites of the Old Testament, we loved being at the church and helping make it work. Andy sometimes didn't go home- I would find him in the same clothes he had been wearing for three days. When finished with our tasks for the day, we would worship together. I wasn't much of a guitarist at the time, and Andy would sing so passionately that he kind of forgot about staying in tune. It was during these times that we began to dream up an idea for a new service at the Atlanta Vineyard. If we could do passionate worship (maybe even in tune), AND have teaching that was casual but with lots of substance, AND present the whole thing in an artsy vibe with candles and coffee and stuff... wow! We started getting excited about the idea.

At this same time the "youth church phenomenon" was occurring in the UK. Meetings like “Cutting Edge” and “Soul Survivor” were getting a lot of press. Andy ordered the Delirious albums from England and we listened to them hungrily. Reading the articles and listening to the worship music from these "experiments" confirmed what we wanted to do here in Atlanta. It was time to take the next step.

The leadership of the Atlanta Vineyard was characteristically gracious and generous in supporting our idea. They helped us take the first steps toward making it a reality. I began recruiting a worship band, and Andy, a gifted speaker, started preparing messages. Our first meeting was October 12, 1997.

The years since then have been quite an adventure. Soon after we began, Andy got married and moved to Indiana. I booked speakers for almost a year until I could convince another friend of mine to be interim pastor for a while. VSN was struggling. Our attendance had dropped down to about 50, our volunteers weren't too happy with us and it was looking like it might be time to hang it up for good. But in the midst of the struggles, the leadership of the Atlanta Vineyard continued to offer encouragement. We had to believe this was God's idea to begin with, and He would sustain it.

It was during this time that Meghan (Quinn at the time) and Marty and Jen Reardon began coming to VSN. Their gifting for worship was obvious, and they were able to help me with the responsibilities of that ministry. I love the fact that these amazing people came to us in that not-so-glamorous season, when serving at VSN was kind of like being in the trenches with bullets whizzing overhead. I developed a trust and respect for them that has only grown stronger over the years.

The Lord had something else special in mind for us, and his name was Kris McDaniel. Kris and his wife Karyn were returning from a year of youth ministry in England. Although I had been emailing him about our struggling ministry, I didn't know that God had been speaking to Kris about VSN ever since he had visited the year before. He was stirred and inspired by the potential of our community, and couldn't wait to come back to Atlanta and get involved. Kris served on VSN staff for only a short time before he was ordained and appointed the brave new leader of VSN.

Today there is so much peace here--at last we feel like we have sunk our teeth into God's purpose for us. People are finding their way into the Kingdom of God and moving ahead with joy and freedom. Worship continues to inspire us and provoke change in our hearts. The Word is being preached, and real Christian community is being built.

This album represents one phase of a long and wonderful journey. If you're ever in the Atlanta area, come join us some Sunday night!

--Billy Somerville, December 2001

Songlist Includes:

01. ALL OF MY LOVE
02. HALLELUJAH (SHOUT TO THE EARTH)
03. ISN'T THIS THE WAY YOU ARE
04. ONE DAY
05. YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL
06. YOUR BLOOD SAYS EVERYTHING
07. BE STILL
08. FALL INTO YOU
09. OH LORD MOST HIGH
10. TIME AFTER TIME
11. TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS