Cataclysm is a dramatic sounding name for a new music album. But it speaks directly to the personal crisis Jules Riding has gone through over the past five years.

Jules is one of this country’s top Christian songwriters and one with a strong following in Baptist circles. Over half his church bookings come from Baptist churches – even though Jules himself currently enjoys the more contemplative worship of St Chad’s Anglican Church in Meadowbank, Auckland.

Jules’ fans will have noticed that he has been missing in action for the past few years and will welcome his return. His new album, and a DVD, are being released this month to coincide with a nationwide tour that includes a number of Baptist church venues.

“It comes out of the last five years of soul searching I have been through. I quit ministry in 2005 due to burn out related to a lot of personal issues. Over this four to five years I’ve spent a lot of time in counselling, which has been incredibly helpful in making me come to terms with who I am,” says Jules.

During this time, Jules has worked as a worship pastor, real estate agent and postie.

“Over this time of wilderness and walking through some personal cataclysms I have written a pile of new songs. Some relate to the counselling and some to the rebuilding of my faith,” Jules says.

“This is me re-evaluating my life and the Lord helping me to re-establish my faith, prayer life and Bible studies. It’s a story of redemption.”

Cataclysm is a concept-style album. The first song is “Exile,” a story about alienation. The last song is called “All is Well,” which is about trust in the Lord. Between alienation and trust there is a whole journey.

The album was recorded at a live concert. Jules says he has sacrificed a bit of recording studio quality for the sake of a live feel and the DVD visuals.

It’s his tenth recording project, two of which were for kids. The seven “adult” albums have a had a wide variety of themes.

“I’m a song writer so I write from experience, and also a lot of scripture songs. The themes of this album relate particularly to personal struggle. I have songs about coming to terms with anger and others about pain, grief and despair.

“In concerts I am baring my heart in a way I haven’t done to quite the same extent before. I am challenging people to examine their faith, particularly in the Last Days. There are a lot of issues facing us as Christians in this day and age.”

The title track, “Cataclysm,” is an End Times song. It is Jules’ take on where we find ourselves in human history. It comes in the middle of the album.

The next song is “Wilderness.” “I talk a lot in concert about wilderness because most of us get scared stiff if we find ourselves in a spiritual dry patch in our walk. We don’t know what do do or how to cope with it. We often don’t realise God has a purpose in taking us through the wilderness. Jesus was baptised by John in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit came upon him and then led him into the wilderness. It’s an important part of our Christian experience.

“I feel I have been through a four year wilderness and God has spoken to me more in this time than at any other time in my life.”

– Duncan Pardon