The Refuge, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
When I suspend judgment and allow the best intentions of the people to be heard through the collective songwriting process, a power far greater than âIâ takes hold.
A song has the potential to open up ones heart to love, so often concealed within the âbusyâ world in which we live.
To honor is to listen.  This is what I try to do when I sit down with a guitar, laptop computer, magic markers, and large sheets of flip chart paper and ask a room full of people whatâs on their mind.  As they speak, I let go of judgment, and write down everything they say.  After they speak, I read back everything I wrote down and ask, âDid I get it right?â  If they say, âYes!â we move onto the next person. Within a short period of time we have the thoughts of everyone in the room written down on one large document, which we collectively distill into a song.
I’ve written over a thousand songs with people of many faiths, cultures, and complexions from around the world and close to home using this process.
Last week in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota I worked with those who live and work in a âfaith-basedâ homeless shelter called The Refuge.
Out of which, a song was born.  These are some of their thoughts, followed by their song entitled, We Are The Refuge.
âThe Refuge serves 30,000 meals a year. We feed guys from jails, guys from the streets. We have Thursday through Saturday night suppers.â
âWe deal with anything and everything. Those who are at the end of their rope and in need of help.â
âPeople come in and we give them bread. We give them a place to stay.â
âWe have a Compassion House. We deal with women on the back end of domestics. Hurting and needing help.â
âThose (who struggle) mentally and (with) alcohol and meth. You name it and we deal with it. We help them look for a job, (give them) transitional housing. We help them get on their right foot.â
âTheyâve pointed me in a positive direction. Theyâve given me a vision to grow in fellowship, as Christians. To get my life moving forward once and for all through Jesus, so guys like me donât stumble or fall.
“(We) can always come back. (We) have friends here.âÂ
âIâve been through treatment twice. I grew up in a Christian home. Trying to reconnect and reunite (with) my faith.”
âThe book of Job is my favorite. Job didnât feel like he should be punished the way he was. He couldnât understand why he was punished. He came out a stronger person of faith and wealthier because of it. God can show us power through hard times and good times.â
âHe has a purpose. He has a plan. He is the reason for why we stand.â
âWe have hope in the future.”
“Feed the hungry.â
Weâre The RefugeÂ
Vision to grow in fellowship with Jesus
So guys like me donât stumble or fall
We are here for a reason
Each of us we have been called
Weâre âThe Refugeâ from the storm
Through Christ Jesus weâre reborn
We are tested by Godâs wisdom
We are tested by Godâs love
Through each trial we grow stronger
Through the strength from God above
Weâre âThe Refugeâ from the storm
Through Christ Jesus weâre reborn
We believe in Godâs power
We believe God has a plan
Each of us we have a purpose
God is the reason for why we stand
Weâre âThe Refugeâ from the storm
Through Christ Jesus weâre reborn
There are times when we are homeless
There are times we need a bed
There are times we are hungry
Upon Godâs word I lay my head
Weâre âThe Refugeâ from the storm
Through Christ Jesus weâre reborn
We are children of Godâs nation
We are the hope of days to come
In the power of Godâs glory
We are the light of Godâs love
Weâre âThe Refugeâ from the storm
Through Christ Jesus weâre reborn
Music by Larry Long
Words by Larry Long with Christian Thorson, Chad Dakota,
Aleisa Jopp, Lynette Price, Charlie Walker
Copyright Larry Long Publishing 2014 / BMI