Ishmael (singer)

Ishmael
Birth name Ian Smale
Born 1950
Origin UK
Genres Pop, punk rock, children's music
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, pastor, evangelist, children's evangelist
Years active 1970–present
Website ishmael.org.uk/whoisish.php

Rev Ian Smale (born 1950) better known by the stage name Ishmael is a gospel beat, Christian punk and children's music musician and evangelist from the United Kingdom. He has had an international ministry since playing in the acoustic duo Ishmael and Andy[1] with Andy Piercy starting in 1970. His innovative musical styles and enthusiasm for his faith have influenced many people of all ages to become Christians or to have a deeper experience in their Christianity such as being filled with the Holy Spirit or being healed.

Musical career

Ishmael started performing in his teens with his lifelong friend Andy Piercy forming the acoustic duo Ishmael and Andy when he first adopted his stage name from the similarity of his birth name to an Old Testament Biblical character. They sang provocative and challenging Christian lyrics to contemporary music. After producing two albums together Piercy joined the rock group After the Fire and Ishmael produced the album Charge of the Light Brigade intended to challenge Christians to live what they preach. Ishmael continues to work occasionally with Piercy although the main focus of his ministry for twenty five years has been on child evangelism. In the late 1970s he formed the band Ishmael United that produced two albums and as the music took on more of a punk style he changed their name to Rev Counta and the Speedoze[2] and brought out a further album. Since then he has concentrated on his ministry to children and recently returned to challenging people in the Church about how they live.

Pastoral career

He completed a couple of years training at a Pentecostal theological college, and was ordained into the Elim pastoral ministry where he served for several years.

Ishmael longs for children and adults to enjoy praising God together. For this purpose his itinerant ministry is composed of both seminars for adults about the importance of children, and musical celebrations that he calls 'Praise Parties' for all ages to worship together. He also loves preaching and teaching both young people and adults from the Bible.

He is one of the few people to have ministered every year at Spring Harvest since its start in 1979. He runs a children's ministry on one of the sites (usually Minehead) called The Glorie Company.

For 16 years as well as his itinerant ministry he was part of a local church leadership team, but he has now been released from that responsibility to concentrate on what he believes God has asked him to do – working with children and other people who share his goal throughout the world. Ishmael believes that children are a vital part of church life and he aims to teach people the value of both kids and youth Church as well as the importance of the whole family worshipping together.

Most of the time that Ishmael has worked abroad has been spent in the USA and Germany but he has also worked in Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Gibraltar, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Czech Republic and South Africa.[3]

Other activities

Ishmael has taken part in a number of national television programmes.

He was ordained a deacon in Chichester Cathedral in June 2007, and was appointed as part-time deacon in the nominal parish of the cathedral (which extends no further than the cathedral's own grounds).

Ishmael and his wife Irene worship at Chichester Cathedral and have recently been accepted onto the Cathedral electoral roll. They have three grown up children Joseph, Daniel and Suzy. Ishmael has been given a consultancy role with Evangelical Alliance and Kingsways Children's Ministry.

Medical condition

In 2008 Ishmael was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. An appeal for prayer, along with regular updates on the progress of his treatment, was launched by friends on his website.

In August 2010 Ishmael's doctors declare him free from cancer. He is planning to 'be on the road' again in September 2010.[4]

Publications

Ishmael has recorded nearly 400 songs written himself; released 36 albums of his and other writers' songs, 15 of which he also produced; and made two music videos.

Ishmael has written twelve books, some of which have been translated into German, Dutch, Danish and Romanian as well as seven songbooks.

Albums and singles

Title Artist(s) Media Year
Benedictus / Song of praise number 2 Ishmael and Andy Vinyl single 1971
Ready salted Ishmael and Andy LP 1973
The charge of the light brigade Ishmael LP 1977
Its amazin what praisin can do Ishmael with After the Fire Cassette 1978
If you can't shout saved Ishmael United LP, cassette 1979
Crowd trouble / Song of the last generation Ishmael United Vinyl single 1979
Life begins at 30 Rev Counta and the Speedoze LP, cassette 1980
The Glorie song / Return of the magnificent Glories Ishmael Vinyl single 1980
Land of hope and Glories Ishmael LP, cassette 1981
Songs for bouncing Glories Ishmael Cassette 1981
Power and the Glories Ishmael LP, cassette 1982
Ishmaels children praise party vol 1 Ishmael LP, cassette 1983
Ishmaels children praise party vol 2 Ishmael LP, cassette 1984
Ishmaels children praise party vol 3 Ishmael LP, cassette 1985
Ishmaels antique collection Ishmael Cassette 1986
Ishmaels family praise favourites Ishmael Cassette 1986
Ishmaels Scripture praise party Ishmael Cassette 1987
As subtle as a sledgehammer Ishmael compilation Cassette 1987
Land of hope and Glories / Power and the Glories Re-released as a double cassette 1987
Training up the troops Ishmael Cassette 1988
Praise Party vol 1 / Praise party vol 2 Re-released as a double cassette 1989
Songs for little troopers Ishmael Cassette 1989
Training up the troops vol 2 Ishmael LP, cassette 1989
Training up the troops / Training up the troops vol 2 Re-released on double CD 1989
The charge of the light brigade Re-released on CD 1989
Hooked on Ishmael Tim Jupp Instrumental Cassette 1989
Praise Party vol 3 / Scripture praise party Re-released as a double cassette 1990
Ishmaels Christmas carol celebration Ishmael Cassette, CD 1991
Gym Glories workout / Little Suzys hidden talent Ishmael cassette 1991
Peaceful meadow / Melody faces the music Ishmael cassette 1991
Praise and Glories Ishmael Cassette, CD 1991
Jesus is Topz / Everyday with Jesus Ishmael Cassette single 1991
Training up the troops / Training up the troops vol 2 Re-released as a double cassette 1992
Children's hymn celebration Ishmael Cassette, CD 1992
Ishmaels praise party video Music compilation video 1993
Family praise favourites / Songs for little troopers Re-released as a double cassette 1993
Ishmael USA Ishmael Cassette, CD 1993
A sting in the tale (Re-release of the antique collection under a new title) cassette 1993
Joyful noise for girls and boys Ishmael cassette, backing tracks 1994
25 years with Ishmael (50 track compilation ) double cassette, CD 1995
25 years of children's favourites (50 track compilation ) double cassette, CD 1995
If you can't shout saved / Life begins at 30 Re-released as a double cassette, CD 1995
Ready salted Re-released on cassette, CD 1995
Christmas carol celebration / Children's hymn celebration Re-released as a double CD 1995
Ishmaels video praise party vol 2 Music compilation video 1996
Ishs Bible Belters Ishmael Cassette, CD 1996
Wakey wakey, sleepy sleepy Ishmael Cassette, CD 1997
Little songs for little children Ishmael CD 1998
Worship songs for little children Ishmael CD 1999
Praise songs for little children Ishmael CD 2000
Bible stories for little students Ishmael Prose 2000
12 New children's praise songs vol 1 Ishmael CD 2001
12 New children's praise songs vol 2 Ishmael and Dave Bilbrough CD 2001
52 Scripture songs (10 tracks re-recorded) Released as a double CD 2002
12 New children's praise songs vol 3 Ishmael and Aaron Frith CD 2002
I know Jesus loves me Ishmael CD 2003
12 New children's praise songs vol 4 Ishmael and Geraldine Latty CD 2003
Its Christmas Ishmael and Noel Richards CD 2003
Lord here we stand Noel Richards CD single 2003
Its Party Time Ishmael and t-girl CD 2004
Songs for little children (Little songs for little children / Worship songs for little children / Praise songs for little children re-release triple CD 2004
Children of the voice vol 1 Ishmael prose triple CD 2004
12 New children's praise songs vol 5 Ishmael with Noel Richards CD 2004
12 New children's praise songs vol 6 Ishmael with Andy Bromley CD 2005
Ishmaels praise party video Re-released DVD 2005
Ishmaels video praise party vol 2 Re-released onto DVD 2005
The Glories stories released onto DVD 2005
Its Party Time Released onto DVD 2005
Ishmaels cartoon karaoke Released onto DVD 2005
Its Tots praise Ishmael with Julia Plaut CD 2005
I know Jesus loves me too Ishmael CD 2006

Books

Title Year Language/original title ISBN
The history of Ishmael part one. 1988
Ishmael's family worship songbook. 1988
Angels with dirty faces. 1989
Englebjørn med snavsede finger. 1989 Danish: 'Angels with dirty faces’
Children of the Voice. 1990
Father God I wonder booklet. 1990
Doamne, Tată, Mă Întreb. 1990 Romanian: 'Father God I wonder' booklet.
Children of the Voice – 2. 1991
Lille ballade og stemmen. 1991 Danish: ‘Children of the Voice’.
Praise'n’Glories songbook. 1991
Ishmael's once a week family time. 1992
Kinder im Reich Gottes. 1992 German: ‘Angels with dirty faces’.
Children of the Voice – 3. 1993
Joyful noise for girls and boys songbook. 1994
Songbook for the troops. 1990
Little Jim enjoys the family service. 1992
USA songbook. 1993
Loving memory . 1995
Bible Belters / Wakey wakey, sleepy sleepy songbook. 1997
Children of the Voice the trilogy. 1998
What is a Christian booklet. 1998
Songs for little children songbook. 1999
Reclaiming a generation. 2001
365 Devotions with Ishmael. 2002
Nad Bibli bez nudy. 2004 Czech: '50 fun filled family activities'.
Deti a cirkev. 2005 Czech: ‘Reclaiming a Generation’.

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070423101550/http://friends.afterthefire.co.uk/dits-ch05.htm. Archived from the original on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "News: CCM / Europe". CCM Magazine. 2 (4): 52. October 1979. ISSN 1524-7848.
  3. ↑ Arun Community Church history
  4. ↑ "Welcome To Ishmaels Website". Retrieved 23 September 2014.
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