The Ode

Written by Tumanako Moetaua, Mark Dunlop & Lachlan Holmes

For all of my church kids, this is for you
For the ones who knew all of the songs and sang them at the top of your lungs
For the ones who sat at the back and never really had a clue of what was going on
For the ones with the questions
For the ones who thought they had the answers
For the ones who got caught up with the wrong crowd and walked away from their fathers

Maybe you left, maybe you stayed
Maybe your faith is strong, maybe it’s frayed
Maybe you were fighting for acceptance and at church you felt like the outcast
People talking behind your back made you just want to get out fast
The only you place you felt safe feels like a place you don’t belong
Asking all these questions, wondering if you’re wrong

The God that you were taught about was about loving others
He sent his Son as an example of how to show love to each other
His name was Jesus
Maybe you know Jesus
Maybe He’s still your friend
Maybe you still speak with him for hours on end and that’s cool
This is still for you too

Maybe you’re doubting faith
He said if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can command the landscapes around you to conform to the sound of your voice
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Jesus still loves you
Maybe you need answers but all you have is options
Maybe you gave up on God because people gave up on you

Maybe, just maybe, He’s still tugging at your heart and he wants you to hear this so here goes nothing
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Jesus still loves you, listen up, that’s the truth
No matter where you find yourself, from the club to the pews
To all of my church kids, this is for you