We Love Award nominated hip-hop artist Derek Minor is enjoying success at radio with his new single "Change the World." The tune features guest artist Hollyn, and is from Minor's current album Reflection that released last fall. About the album, Minor explains, "The overall message of this record is you really are made for greatness. You're not the sum of your mistakes. We are all imperfect. You were made to be greater than you probably realize." 

You can check out Derek's set of upbeat songs on The Rock & Worship Roadshow Tour this Spring. I've read all throughout Scripture about God's heart for the orphan and the widow, and how He desires for us to care for the least of these. This energetic song inspires me to think about how in some small way, each of us as followers of Jesus can change the world. I had the chance to speak with Derek about "Change the World."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

The song "Change the World" and concept for this album started and was birthed from my history growing up in rural Tennessee. I grew up with several types of adversity, political and racial, that type of thing. One thing about Tennessee is that we are passionate. When it comes to what we believe, we stand up for it. That's why we are called the "Volunteer State." When you have a bunch of people who believe different things, that's a lot of passion around. 

Fast-forward to today, this song is also partly inspired by my first visit to Haiti in 2015 with the non-profit organization Hands & Feet Project. They provide family-style housing and sustainable solutions for orphans in Haiti. Upon landing in Port-au-Prince, I was immediately overwhelmed by the country's poverty and seeing all of this suffering. It was the first time I had been somewhere out of the United States. That really rocked my world. I got to meet my Haitian brothers and sisters and saw the passion and hope that they had. 

I started thinking about what I'm doing with my life. Sometimes in America, we get so focused on not getting a promotion or getting discouraged about something like that, or man, my album didn't sell, and I wanted it to sell. We live in such decadence. When you walk two miles to a well to get water, it really gave me perspective to ask what I'm doing with my life. I went back home, and I started writing this song. 

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

1 Corinthians 13:1 (VOICE): "What if I speak in the most elegant languages of people or in the exotic languages of the heavenly messengers, but I live without love? Well then, anything I say is like the clanging of brass or a crashing cymbal."

Matthew 5:14 (VOICE): "And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden."

Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG): "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Matthew 25:40 (NIV): The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me."

1 John 3:18 (VOICE): "My little children, don't just talk about love as an idea or a theory. Make it your true way of life, and live in the pattern of gracious love."

1 John 4:21 (NIV): "And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."

James 1:27 (NIV): "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."
 
What is the takeaway message?

I want to see our world come together. We are all brothers and sisters. If the Bible is true, that God made us in His image and He created us all, then the things we fight over and are passionate about are irrelevant. What's most important is that I love my brothers and sisters with a full heart. 

I'm reminded of how Paul was talking about how if eating meat is offending our brother, I won't eat it. There's nothing wrong with eating meat, but sometimes in our culture we feel like we need to get on social media and tell others what they are doing wrong. Sometimes we just have to love our brothers where they are at. He talks about the stronger brother loving the weaker brother. At the end of the day, if my political views trump my love for my brother, then I've missed it. See what I'm saying? If I hold my views above the love for people, I've missed it. That's the whole idea for this song.

I wrote this song as an anthem, hopefully for people to create change. I think in today's climate around the world, we have forgotten that our differences are beautiful. That God made each of us unique, and that makes our world a better place. I think "Change the World" speaks to that yearning inside all of us to be heard and accepted with love.

Lyrics:
I bet you just want to let your light shine
It feels like you been waiting for the right time
This is your moment, moment, moment
It's time to change the world

We are the brightest
We won't succumb to the darkness
The Lord knows when the light rise
You know He's calling
Crying out from the mountain
Telling us to come home right now
You're my brother
We don't have to fight anymore
Oh brother
None of us win in this war

Beautiful people don't you know your made in His image
The image of greatness
Why don't we see His reflection inside one another
And all of our faces

I bet you just want to let your light shine
It feels like you been waiting for the right time
This is your moment, moment, moment, moment
This is your moment, moment, moment
It's time to change the world

What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
You know there is no time to waste but to get up
I know you're made for more
Oh yeah you're made for more
Even when our hope is lost never let up
You're my brother
What are we fighting for?

Beautiful people don't you know your made in his image
The image of greatness
Why don't we see His reflection inside one another
And all of our faces

I bet you just want to let your light shine
It feels like you been waiting for the right time
This is your moment, moment, moment, moment
This is your moment, moment, moment
It's time to change the world

It is commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:16 to "let your light shine" so that others may praise God based on seeing the power of His life in us. Sometimes we forget to give Jesus credit for our freedom and accomplishments. We need to celebrate that freedom with our hands reaching out to others in Christ, to show His light in us and let Him shine in us. Personally, I am moved knowing that Jesus is shining in me for all to see and believe.

The children's song "This little light of mine" gives the word picture to not hide our light "under a bushel." That's a wonderful testimony to the Truth of God's Word, which consistently tells us to be unafraid, to be bold and to not be ashamed of the Gospel. This song is a great way to express that joy, thankfulness and dedication to God that we should all have as followers of Jesus.
 
While listening to this song, I am challenged to practice "letting our light shine so that others may praise our Father in Heaven." That's how we can show God in us to others. Also, look for God in the "least of these" as Jesus tells us: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me." 

In Mark 16:15, Jesus commands: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." There are no conditions or exceptions in that command. It's more of a lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as Christians. That's our destiny: to preach the Gospel, love God and love one another. As the hymn sings, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." Derek and Hollyn really say that well with this song, especially in the chorus, which is a great takeaway-- "I bet you just want to let your light shine, it feels like you been waiting for the right time, this is your moment, moment, moment, It's time to change the world." Amen to that!

Watch the music video below.