10 Organizations creating great worship music
Here are some organizations (churches primarily), that in my opinion, are writing, creating, singing and releasing great songs for the entire Church around the world to sing. This is not an exhaustive list or a top ten list. Just wanted to provide this so you will be able to check out all of their music and maybe include some of their songs into your rotation and put on your iTunes list.
1. Passion- Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, Matt Redman, David Crowder and more
2. Hillsong- Darlene Zschech, Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Pete Wilson and more
3. North Point- Eddie Kirkland, Seth Condrey, Casey Darnell, Todd Fields, Candi Shelton and more
4. Bethel/Jesus Culture- Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Quilala, Jenn Johnson, and more
5. Holy Trinity Brompton/Worship Central- Tim Hughes, Ben Cantelon and the Worship Central band
6. Reach Records/Reach Ministries- Lecrae, Tripp Lee, Tedashii, and others
7. New Life Church/Desperation Band- led by Jon Egan, and birthed out of Desperation Ministries, the student ministry of New LIfe Church
8. Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church- Charles Jenkins and the Fellowship Choir
9. Elevation Church- Wade Joye, Mack Brock, Chris Brown, London Gatch and more
10. Austin Stone- Aaron Ivey, Jimmy McNeal, Kyle Lent, and more
other organizations to check out: Victory World Music, Bayside Church, Gateway Worship, Lakewood, 12Stone.
Who else would you recommend?
Gateway Church Southlake TX–Kari Jobe,
Planetshakers are pretty good too! Comparable to Hillsong United. They’re in Melbourne, Australia.
I’m honestly troubled by a lot of popular worship music these days, including a few songs by some of the artists you list. I’ve grown weary of songs that are described as “worship” that seem mostly centered on me & my emotions, rather than on God — or songs which bring up subjects that even a trained scholar has a hard time understanding (or which seem flat-out contradictory to Scripture). I’ll have to check out a few bands on your list that are new to me.
An organization I might add is Come&Live (http://comeandlive.com/artists/). I haven’t reviewed all their bands; they work with a bunch of independent artists. They don’t all make sing-along worship music, but many of these bands seem to understand not only solid worship lyrics but also good musicianship. Many of them are writing about Biblical & worship themes that the church needs to hear, in styles that I actually want to listen to.
Becky, I am in agreement with you. I like Come and Live and also Sovereign Grace ministries. I pray that many more worship leaders would take the “not-always-popular-road” with worship songs, styles, etc. When we move away from solid Biblical content and into styles that speak more of the secular world, our identity of being a Jesus-follower really changes and sadly many don’t even realize it! May God continue to lead you in HIS way and may your heart be open to his leading–no matter how unpopular it may be at time.
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Keith and Kristyn Getty
Kingsway
Yes!!
Level 3:16 ministry of The Impact Movement a covenant partner of Cru.
Lecrae’s story includes hearing Pastor James White’s message the Distinctive Devotion that changed his life.
This is a great list. I also love Deluge (Jonathon Stockstill).
Two churches in my area (North Dallas) putting out great stuff:
Fellowship Creative – the worship & arts dept at Fellowship Church – and The Village Church
Check out LIFE Worship from Auckland, New Zealand (http://www.lifeworship.org.nz/) Their debut album ‘For Freedom’ is amazing.
Mars Hill… they are really putting out some great worship music.
I’ve been impressed with the music that has been coming out of Trinity Grace Church in NYC. Their albums are streaming on RelevantMag.com’s The Drop.
Don’t forget Sovereign Grace (Kauflin, Altrogge, Cook)
Harvest Bible Chapel has written some excellent very Christ focused and glorifying songs.
I disagree with Hillsong being a source of good worship music. Of course, my former worship leader inundated my former church with Hillsong’s ultra-slow songs that all sounded alike.
Where’s Sovereign Grace?
Enfield, Red Mountain Church and Indelible Grace are also great.
Diante do Trono are pretty good too!
i love C3 Music from C3 Church oxford falls in sydney australia