"Hey everyone – here’s just a quick update of what is happening in my life. Obviously, there’s a lot more to talk about than can simply be explained in a quick email like this – but I wanted to at least try to update you all on what is happening...

Friends – many of you already know about this, but there are some of you that do not know yet. This Wednesday, I am officially moving to Kansas City, MO – to be involved at the International House of Prayer (IHOP). Most of you know that I have been out there this past fall, involved in an internship. During this internship – God has massively and violently apprehended my heart, and called me forward into a completely new season of life. What this new season holds, I do not really know – and yet it is completely exhilarating to discover that God has given me “a completely new start in life” at age 30. By age 30, I know most people are already pretty rooted in a career, a marriage, kids, bills, and all of the concerns of life. I have had some of these things in the past – but somehow find myself here with none of these things to hold me back from picking up and moving anywhere in the world that God wants me to be.

I know it may not make sense to many of you – as to why I am actually moving there. I do not have some sort of “job opportunity” there. In actuality, I am walking away from pretty much everything I have in Nashville. I am walking away from a life of “comfort” and “security” into a life where I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen – and basically going “all in” with God. This is both really beautiful and really scary. I know that those of us that are Christians – often talk about “relying on God with everything”. Well, I’m afraid that I often have talked about the same thing – and yet really did not even know what that meant until these past few months. I am literally leaving everything, to basically hang out in a prayer room in the south suburbs of Kansas City.

Many of you are wondering what is happening with The Glorious Unseen. At this point, TGU is no longer a traveling / touring band. It actually is not a band at all anymore – although, there is the possibility that it could resurface at some point, if God restores me into worship ministry. For now, he has called me to simply lay it down before him. I actually had to cancel several large events we were scheduled to play in 2011 – cause He has asked me to boldly step forward into the next phase of life – and be done with the old. Instead of touring, I am simply committing to a life of prayer, fasting, and meditation on scripture – as I have actually seen way more powerful things happen in the past few months in my own life, and in the lives of those who I have been praying for – then I ever saw by traveling all across the US and Canada playing worship events for the past 3 years.

I want to say a big “thank you” and a big “I love you” to all of you in Nashville who I have shared so many memories with. I have lived here for pretty much all of my adult life – and I know that even as recently as 4 or 5 months ago I would have said that I would never move away from this city. I came here as a 19 year old kid wanting to get involved in the music industry – and have met so many of you and shared so much life with you over the past 11 years. I wish I could see everyone in person and say a proper goodbye – but I’m afraid that’s just literally impossible. I will be back through from time to time I’m sure. If anyone is coming through KC at any point – hit me up!

Ben Crist"

For more info on The Glorious Unseen, visit the JFH Artists Database.