Pop Singer Offers Solution to Knife Culture

London, United Kingdom, July 25, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Exactly 20 years ago pop singer Yazz had her first number one dance track “The only way is up.” She had been a catwalk model and had, fairly quickly, risen to a kind of fame that others merely dream about. Yazz was recently back in the U. K. for concerts and she reflected that “before violence was so gang related or drug related and usually out of poorer areas.” She remembers working in Soho and dodging “drug addicts, prostitutes and pimps.” Her own life took a downturn when she realised that everything like fame and riches were empty prizes from a business that felt like they owned you. It was in 1996 that she was recovering from a breakdown and agoraphobia. While lying on her bed she randomly picked up a Bible and began reading it. A peace began to come over her that she had never experienced before. It gave her a totally new perspective on life and its purpose. She eventually moved to Spain to be with her husband and daughter. It is here that, today, she works in a local Christian church and a charity that reaches out to alcoholics and drug addicts. Regarding Britain’s new knife culture Yazz stated that “these knifing attacks seem to be just unsolicited - just anger and rage in youth.” When asked about the solution the singer said, “I see the potential for Christian music to reach into the hearts of these young people. But the music has to get out there and it has to be made in a way that relates to them and yet is not compromising the Gospel of Christ. It must not be entertainment because the youth culture is entertained to the max. They have everything and they’re out of control. The power of Christian media is essential to reaching their hearts. When you become a Christian you are given the potential to see spiritually. Therefore, we have to see these youth as Jesus sees them. He sees them with the potential to be who He wants them to be. Without that spiritual insight you just see the suffering and the fear and the anger. I pray that music will be a part of the manifestation of anti-violence in this country.”

The complete interview with Yazz is the first programme in a new film and TV series currently being produced called “Principles of Praise.” Harvest Fields Commissioning International and its film and TV production arm, OLI Productions, is headlining key singers, songwriters and praise and worship leaders of this generation for the series. It follows on the success of the organisation’s DVD and TV series “Principles of Leadership” which features interviews with leaders such as New York Times best-selling author Joyce Meyers, international evangelist and author Dr. Luis Palau, best-selling author Brother Andrew (“God’s Smuggler”), best-selling author Jackie Pullinger OBE (“Chasing the Dragon”) and The “Vicar of Baghdad” Canon Andrew White.

Harvest Fields Commissioning International is a U.K. Registered Charity with the purpose of assisting in raising up and encouraging churches and leaders in 42 countries and on all 5 continents for work in churches, charities and other humanitarian assistance groups. Its websites are at: http://www.agapelive.net and http://www.hfci.net.

For further information or high-res photos:
Press Department info@agapelive.net info@hfci.net

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