Casting Crowns in North Korea

I'm sure most of you have heard of the Christian band Casting Crowns - they are one of my favorites, and I really enjoyed seeing them live at Breakforth in Edmonton last year. I bought their new CD, The Altar and the Door, as soon as it was released. At the very end of the CD there is a hidden track which totally confused me the first time I heard it - it doesn't sound anything like the rest of their songs; in fact, I could have sworn it was Andrea Bocelli. It is a hauntingly beautiful piece called White Dove Fly High, and today I finally discovered the story behind the song.

Casting Crowns was invited to represent the U.S. at the Spring Friendship Art Festival in Pyong Yang, North Korea. Of course even if you know as little as I do about world politics, you know that a Christian band inside North Korea is no small deal. They performed this song in both Korean and English at the festival. It is a prayer for peace.

I found a slideshow set to the song put together by one of the band members after their trip: