Worship leader Michael Howard releases "Build the House", an original contemporary worship CD created to benefit the rural towns of Saba and Rio Esteban, Honduras, two communities struggling with ever-present poverty.

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SPIRITUAL: Contemporary Christian, SPIRITUAL: Christian Rock



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Music makes people move. It makes them dance and sing. It puts sound to their unvoiced emotions. It rejuvenates and inspires.

But music can also dig wells, purchase cattle and bridge communities.

A new contemporary worship CD titled "Build the House" aims to do just that. A mix of familiar Psalms and inspired originals, the CD will aid two Honduran communities struggling with ever-present poverty.

The album blends rich vocals, guitar, keyboard and percussive rhythms into authentic songs that will inspire praise, prayer and action. All funds raised from CD sales will benefit the rural towns of Saba and Rio Esteban through a mission project by St. Jude Catholic Church in Allen, Texas.

"Build the House" is the culmination of a 2-year creative process. A life-long musician, Michael Howard began developing several of the songs in early 2006 with the idea of creating a benefit music project. Not until the church announced its partnership with the two Honduran communities several months later, did Howard realize a purpose for the project.

"What really struck me is that our pastor said everybody has a gift that they can contribute, whether it's time or resources or prayers," said Howard, the music director at St. Jude. "This was something that musicians or people who like music could contribute."

Produced almost entirely with donated time and talent, "Build the House" demonstrates the power that people have to impact the world and one another. Individual contributions ranging from vocals to artwork enabled the creation of the CD.

Money raised from the CD will combine with funds already raised by St. Jude parishioners and groups, to re-build and relieve the Honduran communities even further. The CD also aims to literally and spiritually build the house of God by building relationships between people, between Christians and between the communities of Saba, Rio Esteban and St. Jude.

The album features a range of musical styles. "Build the House" is a joyful praise and a challenge, while songs such as "I'm Changing" and "Take Me" reflect a desire for personal transformation. Other songs build on the imagery of the Honduras mission. In "Farmer's Prayer," after flooding washes away his crops, a father prays for strength and the ability to continue providing for his family.

Money raised from the CD could be used to meet a variety of needs. It could build chapels, allow for the continuation of a music education program or provide aid for the elderly. Ultimately the projects will be selected by the pastors.

Howard hopes the CD will cause listeners to think about how they can make a difference. "Whether it's in your church or my church, or whether it's in your community or my community, we all need to be acting and doing something," Howard said. "There's a real opportunity for conversion of people's hearts. It's right in front of you all the time and people either see it and do something about it or they ignore it and keep burying it and they just move on."