Darkness crept in as the crowds pushed their way closer to the stage. Screams of excitement and shouts of anticipation echoed from long time fans to fresh listeners.

The crowds awaited the band with energy, yet did not need a well-known contemporary Christian music band like Delirious to get excited about worship. Both a concert and a worship service, this musical experience welcomed the older generations of fans as well as the passionate youth.

Light flooded over the darkness in a bright flash of luminous colors at Celebration Church in Clovis on March 23. As the song style changed, so did the environment with varied spotlights, fog and colored light panels behind the band.

The songs started upbeat and fast; hyped up concertgoers jumped in excitement and in worship.

?We jumped around so much I got tired,? Bryce Fonda, ?06, said. ?The concert was full of energy.?

The set transitioned from the upbeat electric guitar solos and fast drum beats to slower worship songs. The majority of the concert consisted of songs from their new CD, the ?Mission Bell.?

?The best thing about the concert was that they let the Spirit lead them,? Bethany Morton, ?06, said. ?They didn?t just play a strict set of songs, but worshipped God.?

The ?Mission Bell? calls listeners to go into the world and be an ?army of light,? to fight for what we believe in and share it with others.

?The most powerful moment in the concert,? Morton said, ?was when Martin Smith, the leader of the band, read a passage from Ezekiel.?

In Ezekiel 37:10, the Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley of dry bones, ?So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.?

The environment was nothing small of spiritual, as the deep songs of Delirious rang out like a bell tolls to remind people of their freedom. When Smith began singing through a megaphone, the call to join together and take action was apparent.

?God?s presence really fell on that place,? Jason Harris, ?07, said. ?Those guys are really anointed in leading people in to the presence of God.?

?It is our time to shine? and ?here I am send me? provide the basis for the motivation that the band hopes to incite among this generation. The concert almost began to feel like a rally to be a catalyst for change.

?It made me excited to be a part of this generation,? Morton said, ?full of passion and motivation to change the world. It inspired me to set myself aside and make a difference.?

The concert seemingly ended as leader Martin Smith raised his guitar in thanks of the overwhelming applause and shouts of approval. The crowd not accepting the nearly two-hour concert chanted for ?ten more years.?

Delirious came back out for three more songs to appease the crowds. Listeners went home satisfied with autographs in hand and an unforgettable and stirring experience in mind.

Delirious last rocked the stages in California ten years ago, and continue to inspire their listeners through a myriad of their classic and spontaneous songs.

After their concert at Celebration Church, Delirious played at Acquire the Fire (ATF) in San Francisco on March 24-25. Though Delirious? California tour has ended, the next ATF event is in San Diego on April 21-22 and will feature Christian bands Grits and Superchic[k].

Wherever Delirious goes, an exciting movement follows. It is a movement to be a part of an army that will shake the world through missions.

For more on Delirious go to www.delirious.co.uk or find information on ATF at www.aquirethefire.com. For more information on events at Celebration Church go to www.celebrationchurch.cc/events.htm