Ron Moore is a musician and singer who grew up in a Protestant missionary family. He has made 14 albums, gotten air time on over 100 radio stations, and even had his own cable TV show. He is credited with having coined the term Contemporary Christian Music back when that style was more commonly called Jesus Music or Jesus Rock. These days, he is a fulltime musician and the programming director for The Ark - an Orthodox Internet Radio Station on the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN). In this interview with Orthodox Biz, Ron talks about his life in music, his finding Orthodoxy, and what can be termed the growing scene of contemporary music with an Orthodox perspective.

OB: You have a long history in Christian Music, can tell us about your background?

Ron: I grew up on the mission field in Korea with Methodist missionary parents. Both Mom and Dad were musical with Mom playing second violin in the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, and Dad having toured the world in a vocal quartet. I played my first professional show at age 16, played in folk and rock bands, came back to the States and toured the U.S with my brother Bill, then went on solo and toured the world. I have made 14 albums, had airplay on over 100 stations nationally, produced and engineered for many others including a Billboard Magazine Critics Choice Album of the Year. I produced and hosted a national cable video show for 5 years called Off The Wall that was a cross between Wayne's World basement production and MTV. I also produced and shot TV commercials.

People who keep track of these things credit me with the first Christian Music Video Album, the first Christian Direct to Disc Album, and coining the name “Contemporary Christian Music” when I was a record reviewer for Harmony Magazine in the early days of the genre when it was called Jesus Music, or Jesus Rock.

Although I named Contemporary Christian Music, I have successfully stayed on the fringes of it, feeling that music as art should be universal, and not limited to one particular audience, particularly for a Christian who is an artist. I play general market venues like universities and clubs, as well as churches, retreats and conventions.

When Jesus told parables, that story telling is art, is universal, communicates powerfully deep theological and practical truth, and is not limited to one small group. In Christian music there is a danger of using our own vernacular to reach our own small group with the message that was meant to save the world. That was clear to me in the contemporary Christian music industry, and my albums and concerts are always aimed at nonbelievers as well as believers in the hope that the seeking might find the Savior. That is why the big Christian record companies were not knocking on my door with a contract, although I sold as many albums as some of their artists and my albums often got superlative reviews.

It's like a sunset. Are they Christian art or universal art conveying deep truth? An atheist may only see the beautiful colors. Many of us see the handiwork of the Master. The atheist has an opportunity to objectively find faith in that sunset in ways that something blatantly Christian might not touch.

Handel's Messiah is done by the University of Michigan every Christmas with full orchestra and choirs because it is great universal art. It is also fully Christian and even Scripture. Orthodox Iconography, and even architecture often draw people to the faith.

I am also not afraid to mention moral and political issues like abortion in my songs and concerts which my former manager told me would keep me from getting signed to a Christan label. Too bad.

I have done music professionally full or part time since high school. I have also been a youth director part time with 6 different church positions including one Pan Orthodox position for four Orthodox Churches at once.

I live in North Carolina now with my wife and two of my five children (three are off to college and work), leading and going on mission trips (OCMC and OCF), and music and speaking programs around the world. Lately I have been helping out locally with Habitat for Humanity. I also represent World Vision at my concerts.

Sample Ron Moore's Musical Style:

OB: How has converting to Orthodoxy impacted your career?

Ron: First of all, it connected me with the ancient and true Christian faith in a fullness and richness that I had never known. I believe a 3 year old can be just as profound theologically as a seminary professor, but it certainly helps to have good resources to draw on. As a Protestant I would make up my own interpretations of Scripture, teaching from that perspective as a youth director, and in my concerts. “Sola Scriptura” may be a nice idea at first, but it is scary to think that in our Protestant world, my interpretations were on an equal level with anyone else. No wonder we have so many denominations!

Now, teaching and songwriting come from a tested and true Church perspective where we don't have to make it all up, and go off on our own. I am still a “babe in the woods” but I am learning from the Orthodox Church and the Early Church Fathers deep and practical truths that hopefully come across now in my writing and speaking.

When I first changed to Orthodoxy (I avoid the word “convert” as it can imply a judgment on non orthodox believers as possibly not being Christians) my Protestant concert sponsors liked the depth that was coming through in the speaking. Then as we would chat after concerts and at retreats, my becoming Orthodox would come out, and despite my best attempts to explain it, I often felt put out of the familiar umbrella of Evangelical Protestantism, and some of those regular contacts faded away. Others have developed a keen interest, and a few have found the Orthodox Faith along the way.

I thought, “Well no problem, I will start doing more Orthodox concerts and retreats.” Ha Ha Ha Ha! (See with what bold, large letters I write!) I then discovered that Orthodox Churches don't have many outreach concerts for the community, and few even have a youth group, let alone a budget that can bring in a resource person for a retreat. This is changing, thank God. We have had some great outreach concerts coinciding with Vespers or other liturgical events that a nonbeliever or non Orthodox might venture in to get a taste of Orthodoxy. Several OCF events are now including music and coffeehouse outreaches. What's exciting, is that this is a neutral space event that people can learn about Orthodoxy, in some cases learn it even exists, and get to know more about the Faith. Once people know Orthodoxy exists, and test it, there is a gravity of Truth that draws the open hearted seeker in.

OB: Tell us about The Ark. How did it come to be, how did you join the team, and what did you do first?

Ron: The history of how The Ark came to be is better answered by Father Chris Metropoulos who heads up OCN.

When I heard there was an Orthodox Internet radio station playing a mix including contemporary music by Orthodox, I was more than excited. However, when I listened to it, I was disappointed to hear a huge eclectic variety of everything from heavily ethnic and operatic traditional music to the latest pop praise and worship catalog from CCM Radio. I emailed in, introduced myself and asked if I could make suggestions or help. As OCN got to know me, they soon asked me to take over and revamp the play list, and I became program director for the music of The Ark.

Starting with the contemporary catalog, more Orthodox artists were added, and some solid artistic and theologically sound non Orthodox songs too. With the traditional liturgical catalog, the non English, heavily ethnic and operatic works were weeded out, and replaced with more Western voices, (Eikona and works from some monasteries), mostly in English.

Asking many people for opinions, it became clear that the pop praise and worship catalog of CCM Radio was bothering more Orthodox than not. Having personally come through that genre, as a charismatic Protestant with a guitar, I too felt that the worship we have found in the Ancient Faith transcends what we had, and we decided it best to take most of the pop praise and worship out of the play list.

More music has been added, along with speaking programs from OCN, short sayings of the Church Fathers, and more.

Since then, the listener numbers have been jumping up exponentially, and we are hearing from all over the world of new listeners daily.

Listen to Ron Moore sing, The Sun is Up:

OB: How do you select music to play on the Ark, and what kind of mix are you going for?

We are going for a mix that is helpful to spiritual growth in Christ for Orthodox Christians and seekers alike. Our target audience is Western, and contemporary, and we strive to encourage the timeless message of the Gospel in the every day lives of people who are surrounded with secular art and media.

For contemporary, the music should be crafted artistically well, produced and recorded well. We make exceptions for exceptional music. The message should not conflict with living an Orthodox Christian life.

In the traditional liturgical catalog, we listen for quality of performance, quality of sound recording, and with an ear to what a Western listener might be drawn to, whether they are Orthodox or not. We remember our own first experiences of encountering the worship of the Orthodox Church, and try to help non Orthodox have a blessed experience in this wonderful aspect of the Faith, both spiritually of course, as well as in style and sound. For Orthodox, we find liturgical pieces that bring a depth and reminder of our faith that fit beautifully with our continuing “work of the people” liturgy of living the Christian life daily at home and at work. Selections are usually not much longer than the contemporary songs, but being liturgy, sometimes they are longer.

OB: Who are some of the more prominent performers you feature on The Ark?

Ron: In the traditional, our main artists are Eikona – made up of wives of priests, and we are playing *Ncense – made up of sons of priests. We also have choirs from monasteries, various parishes and St. Vladimir's seminary.

In the contemporary, we play Orthodox artists Father Peter Jon Gillquist, Father Justin Matthews, Eric John Shanburn, Small Town Heroes, Jimmy Santis, Chris Hillman (of the Byrds), my music, and much more. Non Orthodox include songs from Bruce Cockburn, David Wilcox, Emmy Lou Harris, Innocence Mission, Pierce Pettis, Sufjan Stevens and more.

OB: I notice now that you are advertising for concerts with Ark. Tell us more about that.

Many of our artists on The Ark do concerts, speaking, conventions, festivals and the like.
Some are part time and some full time like me. It seems natural that as The Ark reaches more people, that some of these artists could be brought in by Churches or businesses for a community outreach concert after Vespers, or as the music for a Church Festival as the entertainment with some bits of message, or a Journey To Orthodoxy moment.

There have been some music festivals featuring Orthodox artists, (we have nicknamed them “Orthopaloozas”) and more are on the way. These are a great way to invite the community to find a taste of Orthodoxy by hearing from some who have made the journey, and who are also great musicians.

Listen to Ron Moore sing Window on the Wall:

About Ron Moore

Ron Moore is a world traveled performer, singer/songwriter, speaker and comedian. His recordings have received airplay on over 100 stations nationnally. With a refreshing worldwide view that comes from growing up as a missionary kid in Korea, Ron has traveled with his concerts from Romania to Korea, and from Canada to Equador.

With outstanding vocals, guitar and humor, Ron's performances are unique in their appeal to a wide range of audiences, from adults to youth and children.

Ron and his wife joined the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1995 after studying the Church for over a year. "We were impressed with the genuine faith of so many Orthodox, the reverent worship, and the unbroken connection to the original Early Christian Church."

Ron has a heart for outreach and missions. He led two OCMC mission trips to Romania, and been on one to Korea.

Ron is one of a handfull of Orthodox Christians using contemporary music as a bridge, and an outreach to nonbelievers, and nonorthodox.

From general market venues and Christian festivals like ICHTHUS to church concerts, retreats, and banquets, Ron is able to bring an extraordinary package of entertainment, or insightful and thought- provoking biblical messages using songs, humor, and speaking.

To contact Ron for concerts or speaking, or if you are an Orthodox artist with music to share on The Ark, please click here.

To shop Ramos Records for Ron's latest album, click here!

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 [Interview with Ron Moore - Orthodox Christian Musician]

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