Band shares songs of salvation around the world

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The contemporary Christian group No Other Name desires to reach the far corners of the world with its music and message so they can lift up the name of Jesus.

The group—made up of the brother-sister duo of Sam and Laura Allen, along with their friend Chad Smith—bases its name on Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

While sharing songs of salvation around the world, No Other Name helps raise awareness for missions organizations such as the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. 

During their concerts, band members tell about their mission trips to Brazil, India and Nicaragua. They also encourage audience members to join in sharing Christ's love with the nations.

"We not only have a time of worship and praising God, but we hope to inspire people to get involved in missions—either going on a trip, supporting financially or through prayer," Sam Allen said. "We also encourage them to get involved in a local church and become the hands and feet of Jesus by serving their community."

Because they want to make a global impact for Christ, the International Mission Board recently selected "Let it Start With Me," from the band's debut album, The Other Side, as the theme for this year's missions campaign. 

The song will be used in conjunction with a music video created by the IMB and filmed in Bangkok, Thailand. The video debuted at the SBC annual meeting in June and is being distributed to 40,000 churches this fall.

"We wanted to write a song that gives the average Christian who is trying to find their place in the Great Commission a place to begin," Allen said. "The common response among Christians when confronted with the incredibly overwhelming task of spreading the gospel is, 'Where do I start?' The lyrics are a prayer that simply says, 'Lord, let it start with me.'"

Further emphasizing their desire to spread the gospel among the nations, the group traveled to the United Arab Emirates to film a video for the song "Lead You to the Cross" on the sand dunes and in the city streets of Dubai. 

"It's an eye-opening experience to go to places where they have never heard the gospel," Allen said. 

"It will absolutely change your life. Regardless of how daunting the task is and how much work is involved on the trip, it's so beneficial to see how other people are living and to spend time with missionaries who have left everything behind to tell others about Jesus. 

"Oftentimes, the missionaries serving overseas need to be encouraged and reminded that people are praying for them. That's a huge relief when they know that people are lifting them up in prayer and haven't forgotten about them as they are sharing the gospel. Through our music and message, we want to help missionaries in any way that we can and also help others to find their role in the Great Commission."