Luminate have been together since 2005 and are ready to release their self-titled debut. First there were two: Sam Hancock and Dusty Jakubik. They met at the Visible School Music and Worship Arts College in Memphis, then decided to form a band together and moved to Tyler, Texas, home to Jakubik. Cody Clark, a friend of his, joined the duo, and eventually Dustin DeLong and Aaron Mathew completed the group.
All five guys have a background in the church and leading worship. Together they have a passion to create music that will “bring hope by example, humility and truth to a generation filled with apathy and confusion.”
Their debut CD, which follows several independent releases, is about love. But, says Hancock, the band’s frontman: “Love isn’t just a word we say to be cool and trendy. It’s an action that demonstrates the love of Christ. After all, Jesus didn’t just talk about love, He lived it through His actions.”
“Spirit of Love” sets the tone for the album and reminds us that God understands everything we’re going through—good and bad. The band says “Shine (Love Is and Action)” is an anthem for love to be more than just a word, to be compassion and vivid action.
Hancock says that “Hear Our Cry” represents a turning point in the band’s early journey. In 2007 they had lost sight of their purpose for being a band in the first place—to glorify and carry out the gospel. “We cried out to God to use us for His glory again. In doing this, we found an intimacy with God that we had forgotten. We recognized that when you acknowledge Christ as being your complete strength and might, He can use you to do great things for His glory.”
This band of brothers (not literally) understands completely what they are called to do, and their passion reflects in their music. “Our common goal is to reach anyone and everyone with the love of Christ, whether they’re in church or clubs,” Hancock explains. “We want to get the point across that everyone who’s a follower of Christ should be active pursing his or her faith and God-given life calling. Any day we can do that well, we feel like we’re accomplishing what we set out to do.”
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