"Louisiana Rain"
Jim McKay
Words & music by James McKay & Paul Marino

Take my life and make it new..
Take my future and my past
Hear my heart call out to you
All I ask..
Will you send down your saving power
Wash me in amazing grace
I wanna feel your healing shower
Let mercy fall like a Louisiana rain.

In the Cross let me find hope
In your Word let me find strength
Lord tear down my prison walls
Free me from these binding chains!
I need your love to carry me
Through this hard and darkened place
I wanna finally be free
Let mercy fall like a Louisiana rain.

I need you Jesus
So let your mercy fall

As I walk this narrow trail
As I take these steps of faith
When I stumble when I fail
Let mercy fall like a Louisiana rain.

Let mercy fall, let mercy fall, let mercy fall.

Cover Letter

This Friday marks the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I am still moved by the photos and videos of the destruction this hurricane left in its wake. Lives were lost, homes and businesses were destroyed and the scars left by Katrina are still evident on the landscape of the Gulf Coast and in the hearts of those who survived its massive fury.

Christian music veteran Jim McKay did not experience the brunt of Hurricane Katrina but as a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he, his family and church have certainly experienced its effects. This past March, the Lord laid on his heart to write a song inspired by the rain falling outside his window. He later collaborated with Lifeway Worship Music Group songwriter and producer Paul Marino (Ginger Millermon, Peder Eide, River). The result is a moving song entitled “Louisiana Rain.” Jim shares:

Louisiana Rain was inspired by the awesome power of God that I have witnessed when the Louisiana skies open up and He pours out His healing showers on this land! I witnessed one of those “heavy” downpours a while back that are so famous in this state and thought about how God’s mercy is poured out on us in a very similar way. We certainly don’t deserve His saving power in our lives, yet the scripture tells us that He loved us while we were yet sinners! And Jesus poured out His life on the cross because He “so loved the world” that if we only “believe in Him” and the sacrifice He made on the cross for our sins, then we “will have eternal life!” (John3:16&36)

The first verse of the song says “Wash me in amazing grace“ The second verse cries, “Lord tear down my prison walls, free me from these binding chains.” Those lines refer to my state of desperation as I prayed to be cleansed from the sins that had “imprisoned” me.

With finished song in hand, Jim went into the studio with producer Paul Marino and some of Nashville’s finest session players. The result is a song that is a wonderful and timely reminder of God’s love and grace. I say timely because, though this wasn’t the original plan for the song, we realized that this song is a perfect way to also remind your listeners of God’s grace that has brought healing to people scarred by Hurricane Katrina. It is also a great way to remind your listeners that the needs of these people are still very great, even three years later! Jim continues:

My prayer is that this song will bring to mind the gentle and tender love of our God, and the mercy that He poured out to the victims during that dark time. We have seen many lives healed, not only physically, but spiritually, during and after that tragedy. It has been amazing to see how God’s love was demonstrated in so many incredible ways!

We have included THREE versions of “Louisiana Rain” from Jim McKay. The FIRST (1st) version is the NORMAL version of “Louisiana Rain” that is going for national adds THIS FRIDAY!

The SECOND (2nd) version is a SPECIAL EDITION that we have put together for you to use THIS FRIDAY ONLY as we observe the third anniversary of Katrina. The THIRD (3rd) version is the SPECIAL EDITION WITHOUT the opening newscast. This can be used at your discretion over the coming weeks and is a nice supplement to the original version which, again, is going for NATIONAL ADDS THIS FRIDAY!

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Biography

In the mid 90’s, at a small church in Baton Rouge, La., the miracle of divine intervention touched the lives of Jim McKay and Don Fontenot. Don and his wife Betty, had come to visit this church one morning while Jim was playing a song that he had written. On that day, a brotherhood of kindred spirit was born. They talked after the service ended and began playing music together in church and eventually became a song writing team. Of course, there is more history behind their separate journeys. They had both shared the same preferences in music, having come from rock & roll backgrounds, and having played in a night club circuit for many years. But God had other things in mind.

When Jim and Don surrendered their lives and talents to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, God changed the entire purpose for their music! One Only also consists of Greg Thornton, who was the worship leader of that same church, and who joined up with Jim and Don as their percussionist and background singer. Don’s wife Betty, also sings with the group as a background singer. The ministry of One Only later evolved in a direction that God was leading, with an emphasis in taking The Gospel into the area prisons and veterans homes.

The mission of One Only and their sole purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ, the ONE & ONLY, and to spread the Good News of His saving grace to a lost world. God has seen fit to answer the prayers of this group, to accomplish such a purpose, and to grant them the desires of their hearts! A song that Jim has written, entitled “Fill Me Now,” has gained national attention and is being released the week of January 7 to Christian radio stations across the country. So TO JESUS, BE ALL THE GLORY!!!

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Extras

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