Matt Thien

In June, local Christian-contemporary singer-songwriter and naval flight officer Matt Thien had an opportunity to do something that he's always wanted to do. He joined The Beech Foundation's mission team as they journeyed to Nakuru, Kenya.
For two weeks, each member contributed their gifts and talents to the residents they met.

"At first I wasn't sure what I would be able to offer there. I like using cameras and meeting people, so I thought about doing a documentary of the trip." However, Thien quickly changed his plans as he realized the depth of the project. And then it dawned on him.

Although, ike most performers, Thien has a "day job" -- he's a naval flight officer on sea tour and teaches NROTC at Morehouse College when he's on shore tour -- writing, singing and performing music has been a large part of his life.

As he prepared to go with the mission team, Thien continued to sense that this was the direction God was pulling him and that God would inspire him to write 10 songs in 10 days. The songs, which Thien describes as peaceful, acoustic pop, would feature the beauty of the people in Nakuru and invite listeners to support them.

Jeff Beech, one of Thien's mentors, said, "Many people thought that this was more than ambitious. But we know that with God all things are possible."

Support from friends like Beech allowed Thien the chance to begin his challenge. While in Nakuru, he was able to meet the people there and listen closely to their needs.

The result is a project that does more than entertain. Thien has been working with a producer to record the songs on an enhanced CD. Thien has committed 100 percent of the proceeds to go directly back to the ministries in Nakuru that God used to inspire the music. The Beech Foundation has arranged to match every dollar raised and double it. A great deal of the production has already been donated.

In addition, Thien will perform his long awaited project, "Ten Songs in Ten Days." The free, open air concert will take place in Jeff and Greta Beech's pasture in South Rockdale on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Connected to all of the current media, Thien has been drawing quite a gathering. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are all linked to Matt and his music ministry.

Thien has been sharing his vision on local stations. Within the last month, he has appeared on Atlanta Live Channel 57 and radio station Star 94 FM. The concert is dedicated to raising $12,000 needed to see the project complete its first phase.

The family friendly, free outdoor show will be held at The Beech's House located at 2461 O'Neal Road, Conyers, GA 30094. Thien said that everyone is encouraged to bring blankets and chairs. If the weather doesn't cooperate, the concert will be held at Smyrna Presbyterian Church's Tabernacle at 2920 Ga. Highway 212. More details may be found at www.mattthien.com - The Rockdale News

Banding together with local church youth groups, contemporary Christian musician Matt Thien and the Beech Foundation are bringing "living water" to the lives of people in Nakuru, Kenya.

They’ll be putting on a benefit concert, along with artist Andy Hunt, next Saturday, May 15, 6 p.m., at the Olde Town Pavilion to raise money for a mission trip to help build a safe water supply for the residents of Dump City in Nakuru.

The link between Nakuru and Conyers began back in 2004 when local Jeff Beech and his foundation partnered with local churches as well as a few dozen churches across the country and six churches in Kenya and other non-profits to form the Tumaini Mission Center, which now encompasses schools, an orphanage and clinic. Fast forward to March of 2008 when Discipleship Now, a county-wide weekend youth rally, was taking place and snow interfered with Saturday’s scheduled delivery of inflatables and paintball activities. They had already planned to contribute money to Dry Tears, a student organization that donates funds to build wells in areas without clean water. Money initially budgeted for their entertainment together with love offerings from area churches and contacts and matching funds from Beech resulted with a well built in Nakuru.

Through a confluence of events, a special needs school there has a well that pumps 12,000 liters of water per hour, providing enough for the whole community. Previously, they received water twice a week from a drainage ditch pipe that was mostly contaminated, causing much unnecessary illness. A focus of next month’s mission trip is building water tanks in nearby Dump City to store some of the excess water for residents.

Dump City is exactly what it sounds like — a make-shift city on top of a garbage dump inhabited by those without hope for a better future, mostly refugees. Mark Walker, youth pastor at Rockdale Baptist Church, saw it first hand in January. "It’s not a place human beings need to live. They’re using trash to survive…it’s the worst living conditions I’ve ever seen," he said.

"The school is able to sell the extra water for medicines and other supplies. The well has brought life to this small town in Kenya all because God had a big plan and made it snow in another small town in March on the other side of the world," said Walker.

Brenna Beech, a Heritage High junior and Kenya mission veteran, witnessed the huge difference water — something most Westerners take for granted — made in lives there. "My spirit was hurt to see these kids with snot and flies stuck to them in the worst conditions possible. The year after the well was put in, the kids had clean sheets, a garden and were able to brush their teeth…it was an amazing transformation," said Beech. She’s excited to share her "second home" with three friends joining her for their first time this year.

In addition to putting in the tanks for Dump City, the multi-generational mission team will host a soccer camp and a few pre-med students will work in a maternity clinic during the trip next month. Jeff Beech encourages team members to use their God-given talents while in Kenya.

Enter Matt Thien, a Navy flight officer and musician who joined the trip last year when he attended Smyrna Presbyterian, before he was relocated to Virginia Beach. He was called to write and record "10 Days 10 Songs" to document his Kenyan journey. Last year’s group was involved in planting over 100 trees.

"I got really excited, because a tree gives us so much," he said. "I jotted down a few phrases that immediately came to me, ‘Because of you I have air to breathe, Because of you I have food to eat, a place to shade alone covers me.’ Then I started feeling God urge me in a direction of thinking that, ‘Hey, God gives me these things too in a spiritual sense; air, food, rest, shade. I started getting really excited about a song that would no doubt be about a tree, but every line would also parallel exactly what Jesus gives us too," said Thien.

His CD "drops" next week with 100 percent of profits, plus matching funds from the Beech Foundation, going to the Tumaini mission. His soulful, acoustic pop and rock songs are also available on iTunes, and he’s performing in the benefit concert May 15 at 6 p.m. at The Olde Town Pavilion.

Tickets for the event are $10 and are available at Kaiteur Coffee and at the concert. For more information visit www.mattthien.com. - The Rockdale News

Banding together with local church youth groups, contemporary Christian musician Matt Thien and the Beech Foundation put on a benefit concert, along with artist Andy Hunt, this past Saturday, at the Olde Town Pavilion to raise money for a mission trip to help build a safe water supply for the residents of Dump City in Nakuru, Kenya. - The Rockdale News

Singer/songwriter Matt Thien writes great catchy songs with a common thread of hope. His upcoming new album, "10 Songs 10 Days Africa", was written during his travels in Kenya and is intended to help raise money to provide food, clean water, shelter, and education to over 100 orphans and staff at the Tumaini Mission Center in Nakuru, Kenya. - Saving The Set List

Matt Thien and his wife Christie live in Conyers, GA, with their two young children, Baylee and Brayden. A Naval flight officer, Matt also has established himself as an independent musician becoming involved in writing, composing, recording, and all things encompassing music business for the last 2-and-a-half years. His passion for music has taken a humanitarian focus as his most recent CD project 10 Songs 10 Days Africa was established to benefit the Tumaini Mission Center in Nakuru, Kenya, home to over 100 orphans. Matt spoke with us regarding the inspiration for his project and how the gospel has influenced his view of humanitarian aid and orphan care.
This project was inspired by a mission trip to Kenya. Describe how that trip touched your life and gave you the inspiration for 10 Songs 10 Days Africa.
A friend approached me earlier this year saying she had experienced a dream where I was in Kenya playing my guitar and doing a concert for some of the Kenyan people. The description of that dream really stuck with me and I decided that I would pursue a mission trip to Kenya.
An organization called The Beech Foundation organizes bi-annual mission trips to Kenya to work with several churches and missions in the area of Nakuru. I joined one of their trips in June of this year and wanted to use my talent as a musician to somehow become involved in supporting these brothers and sisters in Christ. The trip would last ten days in Kenya so I prayed that God would grant me the creative ability to write 10 songs in the 10 days while I was there, hence the title “10 Songs 10 Days Africa.”
While in Kenya, I become particularly drawn to the Tumaini Mission Center. Tumaini means “hope” and the people there possessed a commitment to God and contentment that I found lacking in myself. Spending time with the staff and orphans at the mission really affected me and my time there, coupled with the Kenyan landscape, inspired the 10 songs.
My vision was always to create some residual income for people that need it. This CD project will go on, Lord willing, and will continue to provide support for the orphans and staff at the mission center.
What is the main message of this project?
The main message of this project is to help others realize that they can use their gifts to help their brothers and sisters in Christ. Galatians 6:10 states, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” When someone asks me why I am not just involved with something locally, I describe how the Kenyan people that I met exemplified an unpredictable contentment, compassion, and deep love for God that I had never experienced before or seen in others around me. It touched me and I felt that these were the people I needed to help — my brothers and sisters in Christ!
How do you think the gospel should influence the decision to pursue orphan care?
I believe that the gospel is a living, breathing thing that should most heavily influence our lives, as believers. When you reflect on the ministry Jesus had while on this earth, he had such a compassion and love for the people he encountered, regardless of race, language, socioeconomic status, health, etc., he did not exclude anyone from his message — from his care. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” The mission houses over 100 orphans and, based on James 1:27, I feel drawn to reach out to them.
What do you believe to be the implications of orphan care in the local church?
When you look at the gospel and take into consideration the global orphan crisis, investment in this cause is considered an investment in the advancement of the kingdom of God. I believe the local church, being part of a global church, is unified when we pursue the wellbeing of those that God holds dear — orphans (James 1:27).
What has been the response to your project, thus far?
There has been an unbelievable response from both friends and strangers alike. Everybody I’ve spoken to has wanted to be involved and come on board with this project in some way. Companies and businesses have invested time and money for the production of the CD, individuals with particular talents have come forward to offer their services to promote the project, and the church community here in Conyers Georgia is seeing this project is about the kingdom of God, rather than a local musician.
Each of us, as a member of the body of Christ, has a part in completing the body. This project has shown me that I’m not the whole body but merely one part. I need to pray for and rely on others who are gifted in different ways to come along side me and bring this project to fruition. This project has been a great example of what the body of Christ is capable of. In our local church, there has already been a desire to help more extensively through fundraising for the Tumaini Mission Center
The income from the CD project is going directly to the Tumaini Mission Center and is being matched dime for dime by the Beech Foundation (www.thebeechfoundation.org), which has established a relationship of trust with the churches and missions in Nakuru, Kenya. They have been both a financial and prayer bridge to the Kenyan people. God has already been so good to provide for us extensively along the journey of the project.
What would be your encouragement to others who want to come along side and use talents that they have to help orphans or missions around the world?
Get off the couch and get involved! Use the gifts that God has given you! For me, this whole project stems from a desire to get out there and use the gifts that God has given me to advance his kingdom. There are projects out there where people need you, if you are willing to put yourself out there and seek the need. We’ve been given talents and gifts to be used for this purpose.
10 Songs 10 Days Africa is available on December 1, 2009, and is now available for pre-order. Visit www.mattthien.com and the Beech Foundation’s website www.thebeechfoundation.org to learn about the CD project. Any donations should be made through the Beech Foundation. - Nightlight Christian Adoptions

A good friend and fellow Atlanta musician just announced this press release regarding a very cool trip he is taking to Africa:

Atlanta Based Singer/Songwriter Heads to Africa to Write 10 Songs in 10 Days

ATLANTA, GA — A newcomer to the Atlanta music scene, Matt Thien, announced today he will travel to Kenya, Africa to write 10 songs in 10 days in hopes of inspiring others to be creative when it comes to overall awareness of global issues.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all” said Julie Anderson, Journalist for Rockdale Citizen, “We here at The Citizen have been following Matt’s journey from the beginning. He has always done crazy stuff like this when it comes to awareness and service. He has the biggest heart for people I’ve ever seen.”

The 10 songs 10 days campaign will start on June 8, 2009 in Nakuru Kenya and the video will be rolling, Matt said. “I want to capture every moment of the writing process, from the 2am half awake ideas to the inspirations seen throughout the local villages. I really want to come back with something special to share with the world.”

The concept of 10 songs in 10 days is being partially sponsored by The Beech Foundation but funding for the actual recording and production of the 10 songs is still in sponsorship mode explained Matt. “I would love to see the Atlanta community come together and get beside me on this project. Each song will cost about $500 to get recorded and produced.” Song sponsorships are tax deductible and can be made through http://www.TheBeechFoundation.org

Full details of 10 songs 10 days Africa can be viewed at http://www.MattThien.com/press.html

Matt Thien specializes in Peaceful Acoustic POP music. He has recorded with Grammy Award Winning Producer Mitch Dane and has collaborated with some of the best musical talent Atlanta and Nashville have to offer. He has been on local Atlanta television and has been featured in newspaper and online articles for his music in conjunction with his mission of changing the world one peaceful song at a time. His music is available for purchase on iTunes and his biographical information is available at http://www.MattThien.com - Kokopelli Times