Howard Center Presents...Moriah Peters

"Brave" tour brings Christian artist to Andrews campus

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Moriah Peters will be performing at the Howard Performing Arts Center as part of a tour for her studio album “Brave." Peters’ music is described as “anthemic and melodic,” with powerful vocals that deliver her lyrics. She advocates for living our Christian lives boldly and proudly, a strong message for receptive listeners. Her first release, “I Choose Jesus,” came out in 2012, when Peters was still only 19. Now 24, Peters is touring the country and singing songs from her second album, released in 2014.

The central theme of her new album is taken from its title: the idea of bravery. This was the kernel of inspiration for Peters. As she wrote the album’s songs over the course of two years, she continuously looked inside herself in order to understand and face her own fears. She explains, “this is the soundtrack to the battles I fight in my own life.”

One battle that Peters faced was when she was hospitalized on tour after falling ill.

“The doctors initially believed that I might have leukemia,” Peters stated, “and that scared me in a way I’d never been scared before.” The doctors’ later diagnosis, however, was an unknown virus. “I learned a valuable lesson during those moments when I didn’t have strength to speak,” commented Peters. “Life can’t be taken for granted, no matter what your age. I also understood that fear and faith often come in a package. Choosing faith is an act of bravery. It’s a decision. I left my emotions to God. That’s the essence of ‘Brave.’”

Peters also wanted to make sure her album reflects the experiences of her listeners, so that her music goes beyond herself.

“So many of the people I talk to are a lot like me,” she says. “They are fearful, doubtful about lots of things. I wanted to write a song that personified fear so that we could see it and speak to it, to let it know that it would not control us.”

Another common experience amongst young believers is persecution for their beliefs. For these people, Peters wrote songs that encourages them to persevere, despite the opposition.

“I know that the persecution I experience pales in comparison with what others face around the world,” Peters admits, “but I will never forget the moments of ‘social persecution’ I felt in my high school from teachers and students who vehemently disagreed with my faith. They were defining times for me. I learned to love those who rejected my faith while never backing down in what I knew was true.”

The album’s first single, “You Carry Me,” takes inspiration from the poem “Footprints in the Sand.” In it, Peters reminds people that getting through difficult times requires looking to God.

“I want others to know that sometimes trials are often just about focus,” she said. “When I feel like I’m sinking and all alone, I know my focus isn’t on God anymore.”

“Brave” is Peters’ call for this generation to be courageous, and to change the world. With the kind of faith Peters has in God, no one should have anything to fear.

Moriah Peters’ concert will begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, in the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. General admission is $20. Andrews University students and faculty may call the box office for a discount: 269-471-3560.

Related Links

• Learn more about Moriah Peters
• Download Moriah's albums (iTunes & Amazon)
• Moriah Peters on YouTube
• Full list of upcoming events: Howard Performing Arts Center