Mobile-Based Band Seraph Releases Sophomore Album and Reaches Out to the Community

Seraph Releases New Music--The band Seraph is releasing their second album "Shout It Out" during their CD release concert on April 18 at First Baptist North Mobile at 7 p.m. They will also be performing on April 25 at "A Night with the Mobile Baybears to Save-A-Life" at the Hank Aaron Stadim at 5:30 p.m. on the Berm. Band members are pictured from left, back row: Anthony Kidd and Joe Langley; center row: Matt Baker, Aaron Turner and Brad Hill; and front: Steven "Scoots" Kelly.

Members of the Mobile-based band Seraph have a reason to “shout it out”—they’re releasing their second album this April with two local concerts benefiting area women’s resource centers.

With an encouraging message of hope, the band’s sophomore record will include songs “that have a message worth shouting about,” said lead singer and acoustic guitarist Brad Hill.

Seraph’s CD release concert is Friday, April 18, at First Baptist North Mobile in Saraland, Ala. It is a celebration of the completion of their album. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and includes songs from their new record. The cost of admittance is a package of baby diapers or wipes which will be donated to the Saraland, Ala., Save-A-Life.

Seraph’s joy in giving and encouraging does not stop with their CD release concert.

On Friday, April 25, the band will perform a pre-game concert at “A Night with the Mobile Baybears to Save-A-Life.” The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. outside the Hank Aaron Stadium on the Berm. A Baybears’ baseball game will follow.

A majority of the band members are alumni or former employees at the University of Mobile, a private Christian university in Mobile, Ala. Seraph members are Hill; Matt Baker, drums; Aaron Turner, bass guitar; Anthony Kidd, keyboard, loops and saxophone; Joe Langely, harmonica, mandolin, vocals and more; and Steven “Scoots” Kelly, electric guitar.

The event coordinator for the evening fundraiser, Kimberly Tatham, described Seraph as “extremely talented, and engaging.”

After working with the band in a previous mission outreach, Tatham, the author of “I Am the Creator,” said, “The band Seraph was wonderful, their hearts and minds were set on the Lord, giving Him all the glory and inviting all of us to join them in singing God’s praises.”

“Seraph’s music added an excitement and joy to our praises and built up our anticipation, setting the stage for the Word of God and His gospel to be proclaimed,” Tatham continued.

The cost of the pre-game concert and baseball game ticket is $8. Proceeds of the ticket sales will benefit five Mobile area Women’s Resource Centers and three Mississippi centers.

Raising money for the centers is important because “the majority of the Pregnancy Care Centers [Save-A-Life] rely on private donations to meet their budgets each year,” said Tatham.

Tickets for “A Night with the Mobile Baybears to Save-A-Life” can be purchased in Mobile at Lifeway Christian Store and Crossroads Books and Gifts; in Lucedale, Miss., at Changed Heart Creations; in Foley, Ala., and Bay Minette, Ala., at Gospel Lighthouse Bible Book Center; in Ocean Springs, Miss., at Noah’s Ark Books and Gifts; and at all Baybears ticket outlets.

The pre-game concert fundraiser is just one way the band is reaching out to others.

From their concerts and to their style of living, Seraph’s main goal is ministry.

“In the future, I hope that you find Seraph is still walking the faith walk,” said Langley. “I’d like to say we have won all kinds of awards, but who knows.”

“We really want to follow God and what he has in store for us,” Hill added.

For now, Seraph members are concentrating on the present, including releasing their newest music.

“Shout It Out” will include “songs of hope and encouragement,” said Hill, a 2003 graduate of the University of Mobile.

One song, “‘Don’t Give Up,’ is about God using people in our lives, like my wife, Paige, to encourage me to keep going. We really wanted to bring to light the fact that God is rooting for us—don’t give up, don’t give in,” Hill said.

Another song “Psalm 91,” was written by Hill and is based on Psalm 91:14-16, and the hope that comes from those verses.

Langley said he and Turner wrote five of the 10 songs on the “Shout It Out” album and Hill wrote the other five.

“We don’t compare notes when we write, and the songs all have the hope theme,” said Langely. “Hope was just really resonating with the band.”

Langley said the band is calling the songs on their band’s new CD “a gumbo.”

“It’s a little bit of everything thrown into the pot,” added Hill, speaking of the eclectic style of the songs.

The album was produced by Don McCollister, who has produced albums for bands and artists such as Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Shawn Mullins and Sister Hazel.

The “Shout It Out” CD can be purchased for $10 at the April 18 release concert or can be preordered on Seraph’s website at www.burningcoalministries.com or www.myspace.com/seraph6.

“It’s definitely going to be worth the Sunday afternoon listen,” said Langley.

He added, “It’s one of those records you listen to from start to finish.”