Musician Allan Scott is no stranger to the Central Susquehanna Valley.
He has performed at a number of local churches and revival events in the region — the next scheduled for tonight at Port Ann Wesleyan, just west of the village of Penns Creek.
“I think people really resonate with his first-person account of being totally depressed with his life choices, his addiction to drugs, his slippery slope compromise with alcohol and all that took him to a place in life where he never wanted to go,” said Paul Sheets, pastor of Port Ann Wesleyan. “His story of finding hope when he came to a personal relationship with Jesus and the power of a life changed through his full surrender to Christ is something most anyone can find inspiration from.”
Reaching those who are struggling is a priority for Scott and his band.
“A lot of our songs are written out of a place of encouragement towards others who are struggling. Our message is that God is able and He’s faithful to be able to turn any circumstance around,” Scott said. “We hope to leave people feeling encouraged, full of faith and capable of finishing what He started.”
It is a personal quest for Scott after a series of miscues in life left him struggling like he never thought possible.
“My story comes from a background of drug addiction. I was messing a lot of things up in my life, and it didn’t seem like there was any way out,” Scott said. “But our God is bigger. His grace is greater than our mistakes. That is a theme you’ll find throughout our songs and performance.”
The group plans to play a number of its original songs, but will also share a few popular contemporary Christian songs that people hear regularly on the radio, Scott said. They also will take time to share a message.
“We will do an organic time of leading worship that takes about as much time as our music ministry,” he said. “We want people to like our music, but more importantly, we want people to really understand the truth about God’s goodness.”
Scott has started an additional ministry that takes his rags-to-riches in Christ message to those who are especially struggling — in state penitentiaries.
“In 2015, we started visiting a large number of penitentiaries, rehabs, homeless shelters and similar places where people are really hurting,” he said. “We recently did an event in Virginia where sheriffs brought a bunch of inmates into a church. There were K9 units surrounding the place. They were all there in handcuffs, and it was amazing to see the sheriffs take them off as we shared our ministry and the afternoon with them.
“These people were hardened by life and some of the consequences of the decisions they had made. Over the course of the concert, they stated to break down. They started to cry. Their hearts started to soften to the message as they began to see hope for their situations. It really impacted us as a band, and is something we are really passionate about.”
The concert starts at 5 p.m. at the church’s outdoor pavilion. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. The event is free, although a love offering will be lifted for the band and its ministry. For more information, call 570-837-3188.
