Behind the Scenes: A Glimpse of Heaven Concert

The original vision for this concert was to create an event that centered around Dr. Jeremiah's teaching on heaven. And when you study heaven, you can't help but see all the verses on worship and music in heaven. So why not have a concert? 
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 Turning Point has a long history of doing unique things to reach people for Jesus Christ.

Dad has said in his lifetime he wants to do things for the gospel of Jesus that no one else would do. >> Thank you and welcome to this very special night. Don and I welcome you to the Walt Disney Concert Hall where we hope to give you a glimpse of heaven.

Somewhere where the rainbow 
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 >> I don't think I've ever spent two hours like this in my life. >> The heaven series is just a train track right down the core of who Turning Point is. I don't think there's a better topic that we can be creative with to reach people for Jesus Christ. >> A lot of the creative process for this is just putting your preconceived ideas about what the show should be and finding out what's available and asking God to direct you.

The first steps in all of these kind of projects are faith because you're like, "Man, we believe God wants us to do this, but this is crazy. It's expensive. It's in the heart of LA. How are we going to get people to come to this? What kind of artists are we going to be able to attract to do this?"

You step out in faith and say, "Yeah, okay. We're going to commit." And then you let God go to work. >> When Tobin Davis and I sat down and talked about music, we wanted to offer all types of genres. The people that we chose already had songs on heaven, so we didn't have to create anything brand new.

We just asked the people who had recorded amazing songs to join us in this whole pursuit. >> My name is Gregory Fletcher. >> Hi, I'm Tanda Green. >> My name is Jordan Smith. My name is Elijah Luskanov. >> Hi, I'm Danny Jeremiah. >> Hi, I'm Charles Billingsley. I'm Jody McBreer. >> Hi, my name is Jeff Anderson and we're here to be a part of the Glimpse of Heaven concert. >> One thing that there's not short supply of is songs about heaven.

So my thought was like, where do we go to do this justice? A place that's breathtaking and beautiful and exalts the name of Jesus. The Walt Disney Concert Hall was a perfect venue. A lot of times when you walk into create a project, you feel like this is my idea.

This is where I want to go. I find if you're really listening to God, he'll say, "Yes, that's the right direction, but just listen for a while. Just be open for a while because I might bring some other things into the show." For instance, the New Jerusalem song that's in the show by Toronto, that wasn't in the original list. long for the new Jerusalem. >> This event is special to me because it focuses on heaven.

And I love singing songs about heaven. There's a hope there that we need so desperately. I'm grateful to be here to sing those songs of hope. 
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 >> I think as Christians, we have to be reminded this isn't our home. That this is where we are for now. and we're learning lessons and we're growing closer to the Lord and we have a hope in heaven that God has promised us, a home that he's preparing for us that is unlike anything we've ever seen or been a part of.

And I think as the world gets a little crazier, one thing we can count on is the word of God. And he told us that there's a place for us. I can't think of a time in my life when it's been more important to talk about heaven. I was only 5 years old when my father died by suicide.

He had a major brain injury that impacted his personality. Before that, he was this wonderful, loving, godly father, beautiful singing voice. But then um he had this unfortunate accident that changed his life. But for me, knowing that my dad is safely home with Jesus and knowing that one of these days that I'll be reunited with my father, it just makes this evening very special for me.

No matter what you're going through, this is going to change everything. It's always one of the greatest privileges of my life to work with Dr. David Jeremiah. >> Only a handful of songs are so iconic that everyone knows them. I'm particularly excited about this project, A Glimpse of Heaven, because when you think about it, this is the whole point.

This is why Jesus came. This is why we're living for Christ. This is everything. And no matter what's happening in our life right now, this hope of heaven changes everything. Personally, as a musician, it's always been a dream to perform with the LA Philarmonic at an amazing venue just like the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

But more than that, this concert has spiritual meaning. 
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 It really gives me more hope just looking ahead to where I know I'm going because I'm sure of my salvation. And I think having that eternal mindset is super important in the day-to-day life. My name is Jordan Smith. I'm a singer songwriter and I'm so excited to be here in the absolutely beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall here in Downtown LA.

I'm just pinching myself. This is like a dream venue for me. I've always wanted to perform here. When all the clouds darken up the sky, there's a rainbow highway to be found. >> To be here with such an incredible group of artists, so much talent, and someone as distinguished, as incredible as Dr.

Jeremiah himself. >> All considerations of heaven must begin with this promise. It will be greater than our biggest dreams, greater than our biggest desires because of who God is. >> And dreams that you dare to dream, they really do come true. This is a little different as far as a concert because most of the things that we've done is film focused or television focused scripting and actors and all that.

This is much more live event and beyond that having like a concert venue with a full orchestra and choir and then soloist on top of it. It's kind of an all new thing that we haven't done before and that it's that caliber. >> I've had the privilege of interviewing Dr.

J so many different times and I love it. We've done some in San Diego. We've done some in New York. This is different than anything we have ever done before. When I walked into this concert hall, it's spectacular. I had anticipated that it would be moving. I didn't anticipate the depth of how moving it would be.

This is one of those events that can really be life shifting for people. >> There's one particular song in here that just stops for a moment and helps us get a perspective of heaven that's different. I think it's a very personal reminder that in this life here, God is with us every day and then in the moment where we go to be with him that he will bring us home.

Though you are homeless, though you're >> we just wanted to touch everyone in the audience where they most connect to God and just realize that God has us not only in this life but in the life to come. >> Whatever's the matter, whatever. >> Death is something in mourning that it just leaves a permanent scar on all of us.

And the only exhale that we have is the fact that we have that promise of eternity and the fact that we'll see our loved ones again and being reminded that this world is not our home. That we weren't created to be here forever and that we do have a eternal father who wants to spend eternity with us and has prepared a place for us.

And I like the idea of getting a glimpse of heaven and singing about it and remembering that. I think hopefully everybody will get a chance to just kind of go, okay, this is not my home. This is not forever. And if I can just get through this, there's a promise of glory.

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 >> There'll be no more tears. He'll wipe every tear from our eye. There'll be no death. There'll be no mourning. There'll be no pain. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for that now. I mean, it's great to be able to encourage the body of believers who have that hope that one day we will see him face to face and we won't have to deal with the noise of this life anymore.

I don't think we were created to die. I think that God meant for us to spend eternity in paradise with him. And because of sin, we are where we are. That's the reality of the world and the life that we live in. And just singing no more night, no more pain, no more tears, never crying again. >> Just praises to God forever.

That's sorry, but that's something that I'm looking forward to >> eternal hell. My friends, there'll be no more whether it be he returns in the rapture and takes us home or he takes us home in a natural way. Either way, I'm excited about spending eternity with him and not having to deal with that heartache anymore.

And that's what I'm reminded of when I sing that song. We will live in the light. 
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 People make fun of me a lot because I have such silly warm-ups. >> I'll sing my prayers while I'm trying to warm up. God be with us. >> I sing through a straw, >> which helps you get the breath forward.

So, you just kind of like blow on the straw. >> Jesus, help me. >> I definitely have to keep it light. I sometimes do like a version of the hokeyp pokei. Like you shake your arm, you shake your leg, and you just got to get your body loose because your body is your instrument. >> Even as silly as it sounds, God knows my heart.

And he's like, "Okay, I got you." 
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 >> When you're talking about a subject like heaven, it's a pretty emotional thing, right? So, you got to you got to keep your emotions intact while at the same time letting them out. It's a it's a difficult balance to find as a singer, but it's one of the great challenges that I actually enjoy. >> I try to hold on to this world with everything I have, but I feel the way >> I've worked with Dr.

Jeremiah for so many years as his worship pastor at the church there at Chattam Mountain. We've literally traveled around the world together. 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul gives us a glimpse into heaven when he wrote, "I has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him."

There will be a day when the burdens of this place, they will be no more. We'll see Jesus face to face >> to be with Dr. Jeremiah and Sheila and all the other artists and the wonderful music coupled around such a wonderful uh subject of of heaven. Uh, it's a real privilege and honor.

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 >> A day. 
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 >> Hi, my name is Jeff Anderson. I'm one of five vocalists in the music group of Veraritoss, and we're here to be a part of the Glimpse of Heaven concert. I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine. >> Many people know the song I can only imagine.

That song is personal to me. I've lost my father. I've lost cousins. I've lost siblings. to think of the lyrics that says we're surrounded by his glory and the opportunity to be able to just worship the Lord at his feet. 
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 >> Everybody has a different story. Everybody's going through different season in life, but all of us have lost someone.

And I think what's beautiful about it is that you can make it personal. People in our society today really just want to find hope. They want authenticity. They want truth. I think it's just super important that people be encouraged and given a message of hope when it comes to the topic of heaven. >> I can only imagine.

The most complex part of doing an event like this is the coordination of all the different departments and people from front of house to back of house to production. Getting everybody in sync. Today is just getting everything ready. This is setting the table, as I say, for the talent.

Making sure all of the different leads, sound to lights to video to stage, props, set deck, have all of their questions answered. None of this is worth anything that we're doing if we're not pointing people to Jesus and telling the gospel. >> My role as the back of house creative producer is to really just oversee the entire artist experience.

In addition to our orchestra, in addition to our choir, we have more than a dozen individual artists. Anything that happens backstage in the dressing rooms and rehearsals all the way to the point when they get on stage, we're trying to keep them on schedule, keep them on track so that the night of the event, each artist is where they need to be right when they need to be there.

The people who are in the seats here at the concert, who experience it live, as well as the people who will experience this concert digitally or over television in the years to come all over the world, they get to experience a glimpse of heaven. >> In a live situation, you can leave microphones on all the time.

So, let's say Tobin's going to turn around and talk, you can just leave that mic on and it's ready to go. >> Now, all the microphones that they have are just it's a great selection. This one, it's what they call a ribbon microphone. They're using those on all the brass, the trumpets, trombones.

I think even on the French horns, they're using the same mic. And what they're using on all the percussion, they're called condensers. They're electronically charged and extremely sensitive. 
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 On the Tony, they have condensers. The violins are all condensers. There's not really a true stereo mix. It would be more like a rough mix just so there's something on video as a reference.

But the final mix will be coming later where I've got total control of every microphone to start from the beginning and do it all over. >> Many things go into a concert of this size, the music artist for us, a choir, the orchestra, and then the facility. Early on, I was working with Paul Joiner, our executive producer, and we were moving forward with the venue and all the things we needed here.

Turning Point is really a great team to work together and everyone is skilled in their specific areas of what they do best. And so once we could hand off all those pieces, everyone just rose to the challenge and is working together really well. >> I think the variety that's offered takes you on a journey where there's a lot of different pivotal points that you can connect to.

The things of politics, the things of racial backgrounds, all of those things really fade away when we're talking about heaven. where we're talking about God's true love. Heaven is welcomed to all that believe. >> But getting to sing about heaven with all the people I've grown up listening to my whole life is so exciting.

And I think having this concert can help people see how beautiful heaven is. And I think it shows the character of God really well. Especially with people who don't know about Jesus and they want to know more in your heart. There is one day in your house. There is one day in your One thing that we've realized is that programs like this reach a whole world of people that doesn't regularly watch Turning Point.

We've done Broadway shows. We've done film. We believe this concert is another gateway. This will bring a lot of people to Turning Point and be something that people will not only enjoy now, but for many, many years to come. >> Success is about reaching people for Christ. So, we want to produce content that's great across all genres and platforms.

And and whether it's secular or Christian, we want it to be of the highest caliber because we're going to use this in thousands of ways. We're going to reach millions, if not tens of millions of people through our outreach with this series and what we're doing. For me, that all starts with faith.

And we got to step out because if you look at it, no one would ever do it cuz it's big. It's a lot of work. There's no challenges that you can't overcome. But you have to stay faithful to what God's called you to do. 
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