On August 28, sixstepsrecords will unveil the Passion Talk Series five-DVD set, Louie Giglio: The Essential Collection, featuring five key titles bundled together for the first time. This all-new, 4-plus hour set includes the latest talk from Louie Giglio, “Symphony (I Lift My Hands),” together with his best-selling talks “Indescribable,” “How Great Is Our God,” “Fruitcake & Ice Cream” and “Hope: When Life Hurts Most” for just $29.99. This is the newest installment of the powerful and compelling, 900,000+ selling Passion Talk Series from Passion founder and visionary, Louie Giglio.
In addition, the entire Passion Talk Series is re-launching with additional bonus content and a lower $9.99 price (per talk). The series’ individual DVDs now include a bonus full-length talk from the Passion City Church Resources line. Each talk includes a Study Guide for further discussion, making it ideal for small groups, Bible studies or home viewing.
The Passion Talk Series is currently comprised of the following six talks from Louie Giglio:
Indescribable (Passion Talk Series)
The heavens are telling glory of God, and their expanse the work of His hands. Night after night they remind us of just how small we are, and how huge God is. Looking out into the far reaches of the universe, we find a seemingly vast expanse of mystery and wonder, intricately fashioned by a God of unfathomable size and power. Just a glimpse of one of the billions of visible galaxies He has formed resizes us, shrinking us, and the world we call home, to seeming insignificance in an instant. But as tiny as we may seem, the God who knows every star by name also knows yours, and mine. And in the most stunning rescue imaginable, God sent His son to this spinning planet we call home – the Creator reconnecting us to Himself with life that never ends. Indescribable takes us on an image-rich journey through the cosmos, allowing us to peer into God’s universe to discover the amazing magnitude of His greatness and grace.
How Great Is Our God (Passion Talk Series)
Your life is a miracle, and the creator of the universe knows you by name. He’s big enough to breathe out stars, yet intricate enough to fashion together the trillions of cells that make up every facet of who you are. The God who spoke the universe into existence made you, too and knows everything about you. From the smallest molecule to the situation you find yourself in right now, He’s aware of your circumstances and intimately acquainted with everything you do. And He cares about you and promises to carry you through. That’s where we find hope in the midst of the darkest places in life. The journey often complicated and painful filled with confusion and chaos. Yet, the cross of Christ reveals God’s promise to preserve and restore you no matter what the circumstance. He will hold onto you and hold you together, giving strength to those who hope in His unfailing love.
Hope: When Life Hurts Most (Passion Talk Series)
Life isn’t easy. We experience problems and setbacks every day. But during the hardest parts of life, when the bottom seems to fall out, where do we turn for peace? Although God doesn’t offer any easy solutions, He does offer Himself and His cross as an anchor of hope no matter what we face in life. And more than simply enduring suffering, the hope we find in Him allows us to leverage our darkest moments for His fame. When life hurts most, the world listens most intently to our message, allowing us to broadcast through our pain the goodness of the One who loves us the most.
Fruitcake and Ice Cream (Passion Talk Series)
Fruitcake and Ice Cream: An Unlikely Collision of Friendship and Grace was the message heard by students around the world on the seventeen-city Passion World Tour. Sometimes the best things in life are those we're not even sure we're looking for at the time, but those we realize we can't live without in the end. That's the story of Ashley, a somewhat typical college senior--loving life, partying hard and trying to balance it all with success in the classroom. Disengaged from God and turned off by most Christians she knew, unexpected events turned Ashley's world upside down and brought a new roommate for her final semester at the University of Florida. Unpolished, and marked by unscripted authenticity, Ashley's personal journal entries provide the backdrop for Fruitcake and Ice Cream, a message that breathes hope for the spiritually searching while providing a massive kick-start for those within the Church who carry the unrivaled story of God's grace and truth in a darkened world.
The Twelve Words Of Christmas (Passion Talk Series)
It's the greatest story ever told. Completely unforeseen, yet long awaited was the voice of God breaking through the darkness and four hundred years of silence with the cry of a baby. And not just any baby, the gift of God. God's people, having waited generations for their Creator to reveal Himself, never would have imagined that rescue and redemption would come in the simple, vulnerable form of a child, a baby born under the radar and into the chaos--announced by twelve words that changed history and brought hope to humanity. Thats the message of Christmas. God with us, full of grace and truth. And no one on earth is too far from His love. No one beyond His reach. He's at work in your life, even in the midst of the chaos, and promises to bring you through. Merry Christmas. The Savior is here.
Symphony (I Lift My Hands) (Passion Talk Series)
It's staggering when we begin to realize that all creation is singing the praises of the One who fashioned and formed the universe. Yet, singing stars and earth's ovation cannot drown God's desire to hear your voice. In the midst of a miraculous and immense symphony of praise, God is still mindful of you, going to extraordinary lengths to give you life and breath through His Son. But why would God pay such a high price to bring us to life again? Could it be that we are prized above all creation...that we are loved by the God who made the heavens and the earth. Such stunning grace awakens our hearts in extravagant worship as we take our place in His symphony and join the chorus, on both the best of days and through the darkest nights.
PASSION: White Flag has debuted to widespread praise and popularity with the highest street week to date for a Passion recording, selling more than 48,000 units, a 61% increase above 2011's PASSION: HERE FOR YOU, while landing at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on Christian SoundScan. In addition, this marks sixstepsrecords' second album this year to debut in the top 5 of the Billboard Top 200, following David Crowder* Band's No. 2 entry this past January.
Some of the most celebrated and respected worship leaders of today, including Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and Charlie Hall, led the generation of tomorrow in collective praise, as captured on PASSION: White Flag, recorded at Passion 2012 earlier this year. This 14-track worship celebration (deluxe edition contains 3 additional tracks, plus extras), live from Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, features the aforementioned sixstepsrecords artists along with the voices of more than 42,000 college students. PASSION: White Flag skyrocketed to No. 4 on iTunes® Top Albums Overall Chart upon its release, with the deluxe version of the project currently No. 1 on the Christian iTunes® chart and the regular version holding the No. 2 position. PASSION: White Flag can be downloaded here or purchased at retailers and digital outlets nationwide.
PASSION: White Flag is lead by the rallying title-track single, “White Flag,” featuring GRAMMY® winner Chris Tomlin. The song was the most added track at Christian AC radio in its debut week and is currently at No. 17 on the National Audience chart, while being the most added at both AC Monitored and Indicator this week. The album features some familiar songs while also highlighting brand-new music spurred from Passion 2012.
Passion 2012 was a four-day gathering, attended by over 42,000 college students, led by Passion founder and pastor, Louie Giglio along with renowned speakers John Piper, Beth Moore and Francis Chan, as well as artists and worship leaders Chris Tomlin, David Crowder* Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Hillsong United and Lecrae. Passion 2012 helped students representing 31 countries and more than 1,700 campuses learn about the horrific realities faced by the 27 million people worldwide who are enslaved as forced laborers, child laborers or trapped within the all- too prevalent sex trade. In total, $3.3 million was given to support more than 20 projects around the world by organizations that are focusing on prevention, rescue, and restoration for the millions of men, women, and children entrapped in modern day slavery.
Media are also taking notice of PASSION:White Flag, saying…
“White Flag rises up and delivers a powerful set… Assisted by stellar vocalists like Kristian Stanfill and Chris Tomlin, tracks like “Not Ashamed” and “No Turning Back” ring out with an epic rock swagger that draws heavily from the sound of artists like U2 and Coldplay. David Crowder*Band steps in…adding anthemic fuel to a fire that’s already burning pretty hot.” – iTunes
“Featuring modern worship’s usual suspects, sixstepsrecords fills the musical component of its annual Passion conference with bigger anthems, bigger production and all-star roster…the 2012 CD showcases Passion’s best yet tracks... producer Nathan Nockels does a stellar job of sonically placing the listener in the middle of the action. White Flag plainly positions Passion as the leader in new corporate worship.” – CCM
"Passion's heart to craft reverent and relevant praise remains the same....this is a tightly performed blend of electronic rock, Brit pop, and booming ballads that work well with a congregation, though the calmer cuts could just as comfortably accompany personal prayer time." – Christianity Today
“If you have a time or place to sit alone and spend some time singing praises to a loving Creator, this album is amazing. To close your eyes and sing along with some of these remarkably powerful lyrics, with no other thoughts or distractions, will take you to a true place of worship. Passion has always excelled in this area and they continue to do so, even after 14 years.” – Jesus Freak Hideout
“Like previous offerings, this project delivers a set of songs that bring the listener to a fresh sense of gratefulness for God and what He has done for those who belong to Him. It’s no exaggeration to say there is not a single track on this recording not worth downloading and carrying with you.” – Worship.com
Alongside the release of Passion: White Flag, Passion founder and recent GRAMMY ® nominee Louie Giglio debuted the latest in the 900,000+ selling Passion Talk Series, SYMPHONY, I LIFT MY HANDS, last week. As seen by over 200,000 people on Tomlin’s 50-city “And If Our God Is For Us...Tour," SYMPHONY is one of Giglio’s most compelling talks and one that left audiences spellbound. To experience a preview of SYMPHONY, click here.
The Passion World Tour will stop in Vancouver this Friday, March 23, and features Giglio, along with Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and Kristian Stanfill with future 2012 dates soon to be announced in Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa.
Recorded live at Passion 2012 and featuring sixstepsrecords artists Chris Tomlin, David Crowder* Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill, along with the voices of more than 42,000 college students at Atlanta's Georgia Dome, PASSION: White Flag will release worldwide on March 13th.
The album will feature some familiar songs while also highlighting brand new music spurred from Passion 2012, including the first single, featuring Chris Tomlin, “White Flag,” impacting radio on February 24th, along with a Bonus Deluxe with three exclusive tracks (full track listing below). White Flag is the follow-up record to Passion: Here For You, which debuted at No. 11 on Billboard’s Top 200 when it released in March 2011 selling over 30,000 units and garnering the No. 1 spot on the Christian Albums Chart. Since the first release in 1998, Passion projects have sold more than 1.8 million albums and introduced the newest and up-and-coming worship songs, including “Better Is One Day,” “How Great Is Our God,” “God Of This City,” “Holy Is The Lord,” “Waiting Here For You,” and in 2010, the #1 radio single “Our God” (from 2010’s Passion: Awakening).
Recently commended by President Obama in his speech (at 12:43) at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, Passion 2012 helped 42,000 students representing 31 countries and more than 1,700 campuses learn about the horrific realities faced by the 27 million people worldwide who are enslaved as forced laborers, child laborers or trapped within the all- too prevalent sex trade. In total, $3.3 million was given to support more than 20 projects around the world by organizations that are focusing on prevention, rescue, and restoration for the millions of men, women, and children entrapped in modern day slavery.
Not only did students give financially to impact people all over the world, but they also provided enough towels and socks to the homeless shelters in the city of Atlanta to supply them for more than a year. More than 36,000 towels and 150,000 socks were donated.
CNN captured the heart of Do Something Now this year in a story profiling the efforts being made by the students and the heart and purpose behind Passion. Click here to watch the story.
Passion 2012 was a four-day gathering for college students and was led by renowned teachers Louie Giglio, John Piper, Francis Chan, and Beth Moore, among others, as well as lead worshipers Chris Tomlin, David Crowder* Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and more.
To keep up with the Passion movement throughout the year, follow @Passion268 on Twitter, find on Facebook at http://facebook.com/Passion268generation or visit http://268generation.com. To track the freedom efforts visit http://dosomethingnow.com.
White Flag track listing:
1. Not Ashamed (featuring Kristian Stanfill)?
2. White Flag (featuring Chris Tomlin)?
3. Jesus Son Of God (featuring Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels)?
4. How I Love You Jesus (featuring Christy Nockels)?
5. All This Glory (featuring David Crowder*Band)?
6. Lay Me Down (featuring Chris Tomlin & Matt Redman)?
7. You Revive Me (featuring Christy Nockels)?
8. One Thing Remains (featuring Kristian Stanfill)?
9. Yahweh (featuring Chris Tomlin)?
10. Sing Along (featuring Christy Nockels)?
11. The Only One (featuring Chris Tomlin)?
12. Mystery (featuring Charlie Hall)?
13. 10,000 Reasons (featuring Matt Redman)?
14. No Turning Back (featuring Chris Tomlin)?
15. Let Me Feel You Shine (Deluxe Bonus) (featuring David Crowder*Band)?
16. Who You Are (Deluxe Bonus) (featuring Kristian Stanfill)?
17. Jesus, My All In All (Deluxe Bonus)?
A call to Do Something Now in the name of Jesus rang through the arena at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta on the final day of Passion 2012 this past Thursday. Passion founder Louie Giglio challenged students to not live in anticipation of “what’s next” but to take action today and pursue what makes them come alive … and do it for the glory of God.
Throughout the four-day gathering, 42,000 students representing 31 countries and more than 1,700 campuses learned about the horrific realities faced by the 27 million people worldwide who are enslaved as forced laborers, child laborers or trapped within the all- too prevalent sex trade.
“We believe that this generation of students has the ability to put an end to slavery,” said Bryson Vogeltanz, Chief Steward of Do Something Now for Passion Conferences. “We believe that God receives much glory when worship and justice are wed as one. It’s about doing something in the name of Jesus to free people all over the world who are enslaved.”
Passion’s call to Do Something Now exists to marry worship and justice, empowering each individual to join efforts and together, be a force for good in the world.
In total, students gave $2.5 million toward freedom with an additional $500,000 donation from another couple attending the conference and $300,000 being given online since the closing day, bringing the total amount given to $3.3 million. These monetary gifts will be used to support 20+ projects around the world by organizations that are focusing on prevention, rescue, and restoration for the 27 million men, women, and children entrapped in modern day slavery.
Not only did students give financially to impact people all over the world, but they also provided enough towels and socks to the homeless shelters in Atlanta to supply them for more than a year. More than 36,000 towels and 150,000 socks were donated.
CNN captured the heart of Do Something Now this year in a story profiling the efforts being made by the students and the heart and purpose behind Passion. Click here to watch the story.
At the end of the day, Giglio asked students to live fearlessly and take action in their faith. Many students spend countless hours pondering the question “What am I supposed to do?” Giglio answered that daunting question during Thursday's closing session, “Well, what are you good at? Do it, and as you do, move to the top of your prayer list, ‘God will you give me the words to fearlessly proclaim the gospel?’”
Students roared Thursday morning when Giglio announced that Passion would yet again be back in the Georgia Dome in 2013, but this time, with the anticipation to take down the curtain and open to seating in the round. Being that the gathering sold out at 42,000 prior to its start, this new possibility would open the experience to nearly 71,000 students next year.
Passion 2012 is a four-day gathering for college students and was led by renowned teachers Louie Giglio, John Piper, Francis Chan, and Beth Moore, among others, as well as lead worshipers Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and more.
On March 13th sixstepsrecords will release a new LIVE recording featuring Passion 2012 worship leaders Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and more. The album will feature some familiar songs while also highlighting brand new music spurred from Passion 2012. This will be the follow-up record to Passion: Here For You, which debuted at No. 11 on Billboard’s Top 200 when it released in March 2011 selling over 30,000 units and garnering the No. 1 spot on the Christian Albums Chart.
Charlotte, NC worship band, Elevation Worship releases its national debut album, For the Honor, on Essential Worship this week. The project, available in a digital deluxe version (featuring three bonus songs, five music videos, a For the Honor documentary, chord charts for all songs and more) and a standard edition, is available this week in retail stores nationwide and at iTunes. Since its release For the Honor has reached both No. 1 (Deluxe) and No. 3 (Standard) on the iTunes Christian Chart, indicating its impressive impact on consumers.
Last weekend Elevation Church, one of the fastest growing churches in the U.S., and home to
Elevation Worship, hosted a launch event for its multi-campus congregation of more than 10,000. With generosity listed as a core value, it’s no surprise the church designated all proceeds of the album’s street date digital sales to benefit Compassion International’s Child Survival Program, supporting the people of Kamwokya, one of the poorest slums in Kampala, Uganda. In one day of sales, more than $25,000 was raised, fully funding the local program.
Compassion’s Church Relations Director, Kevin Meyers, shares, “It’s been an incredible experience partnering with Elevation Church and seeing its unrelenting generosity and drive for excellence in all it does. Even more impressive and inspiring is its desire to use its God-given
creativity to reach out to highly vulnerable mothers and babies in Uganda.”
Wade Joye, worship pastor at Elevation, shares, “As a church, we want to be known for audacious faith—believing God for the impossible—for being a generation of honor; and for generosity, being openhanded with the blessings God has given us. It’s an honor to know that our church body and this music is being used to touch others half a world away.”
For The Honor is a landmark, live recording that captures the energy, excitement and commitment of a church rising up to change the world. Worship leaders Wade Joye, Mack Brock, Chris Brown and London Gatch lead Elevation Worship and serve full-time at Elevation Church.
Written and produced by Elevation Worship (in partnership with Essential Worship/Provident Label Group) For The Honor features 14 original songs that reflect its collective life experience. The songs were written in conjunction with Pastor Steven's sermon series over the past five years, and inspired by the church’s incredible journey. The result is a rich collection shaped by community, in the context of one powerful move of God.
When the Newsboys see a need, they do what they can do to help in any way possible. Discovering the desperate need for clean water in the Dominican Republic, Newsboys, along with the dedicated support of Compassion International, are helping to supply a water filtration system in the Dominican Republic.
It is reported that 80% of disease is caused by unclean water, and according to the United Nations Development Program, "almost two million children die each year for the lack of clean water and adequate sanitation." The Dominican Republic is directly affected by this issue, as research has found that the water in most of its provinces is not suitable for consumption.
With the partnership of Newsboys and Compassion, a water purification system plan has been developed for the poor community of Santo Domingo located in the Dominican Republic. Thanks to this relationship between Newsboys and Compassion and others on "The Born Again Experience" tour, proceeds will go directly towards building the filtration system.
Newsboys' very own Duncan Phillips was joined by Carlos Whittaker last week as they visited this community to see this problem first hand, and to see where the well will be built. See a video of Duncan talking about this partnership with Compassion here.
"When you come to a place like Santo Domingo, you understand it is a life and death struggle to get fresh, clean water," Phillips shares. "For these people, it's a daily expedition [to get clean water]. Newsboys and Compassion have commited to put in a water filtration system, and when you partner with us and purchase the VIP ticket on 'The Born Again Experience,' you directly affect clean water for a community."
Announced in January, the Newsboys' 25-city "The Born Again Experience" spring tour will bring the message of "A Night For The City To Serve The City." Redefining the live show experience, Newsboys plan to get audiences on their feet while offering the evening's mission to offer hope, service and compassion to the community, for one another and for those in need. Each night of the tour hopes to bring a true partnership of service with the city for the city.
Newsboys will be joined on the tour by Kutless, Disciple, Carlos Whittaker, and special guest speaker Bob Lenz. For more information, please visit Newsboys.com.
Recorded live amidst the voices of 22,000 college-aged young people, Passion: Here For you is available nationwide and via all digital outlets. The album has already skyrocketed to No. 6 on iTunes ® Top Albums Overall Chart and can be downloaded here. The live recording from Passion 2011 features 12 songs, with a digital deluxe version, that features 15 songs from Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill plus special guest Lecrae.
The sold out, four day conference was held at the Georgia World Congress Center and Philips Arena in Atlanta. In addition to music, Passion 2011 featured talks from Passion Founder and Passion City Church Pastor Louie Giglio along with other notable speakers and best-selling authors John Piper, Beth Moore, Andy Stanley and Francis Chan. The students generously gave more than 1.1 million dollars for global needs through the “Do Something Now” campaign. These needs included sponsoring a child through Compassion International, providing funds to build wells in India to supply fresh water, helping set up loans so families can start their own business in Afghanistan and more.
To catch a glimpse of Passion 2011 LIVE, watch powerhouse vocalist Christy Nockels perform her new song “Waiting Here For You."
The debut of Passion: Here For You comes less than a month before Passion Ft. Worth, which takes place April 1-3 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. To register for the Ft. Worth event and Passion 2012, in addition to finding more information on Passion, please visit http://268generation.com/.
Media are also taking notice of the latest Passion: Here For You record saying…
“If you want to experience a spine tingling worship experience then you can't go wrong with the biggest names in the business. Tomlin, Stanfill, Crowder, Nockels, Hall, Redman and guest vocalist Lecrae are all in top form on this excellent Passion: Here For You album, easily the best in this great series.” - NewReleaseTuesday.com
"Giving listeners a glimpse of what it's like to worship with thousands of college students, this album provides more than just an amazing listening experience. It calls you to worship. Each song magnifies the name of Jesus and impacts worshippers to live out Isaiah 26:8. These anthems will be sung for years to come." – Baptist Standard
“Passion once again delivers a beautiful uplifting disc that makes every person who failed to make the trip to the Atlanta conference jealous of the rich experience.” - Soul-Audio.com
“Kristian Stanfill covers a great Hillsong United tune, ‘Forever Reign.’ One radical change: Lecrae adds a stirring rap segment to the song ‘Shadows’ by Passion regulars David Crowder*Band.” - ChristianityToday.com
“The Passion series recording have been coming out annually since 1998, and spawned some huge worship releases over the years. This year is no different, as worship leaders such as Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill round out the crew. In addition, rapper Lecrae is featured on two songs to introduce his incredible skills to a whole new crowd… a very solid release.” - HollywoodJesus.com
“To sum it up, Passion’s latest offering Here for You is full of great worship songs.” - Walk Thru the Bible Ministries
This will be the follow-up record to the recently GRAMMY ® and Dove Award nominated album Passion: Awakening that debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Top 200 when it released in March 2010 selling over 25,000 units garnering the No. 1 on the Christian Albums Chart.
Award-winning band Newsboys have announced at the completion of headlining 2011's Winter Jam they will headline the "The Born Again Experience" tour. Presented by Compassion International, "The Born Again Experience" will hit 26 cities across the nation, kicking off the second week of April and running through May.
Newsboys are already planning for a revolutionary and jaw-dropping set, and with the support of Compassion International, an exciting evening offering the message of "A Night For The City To Serve The City." Redefining the live show experience, Newsboys plan to get audiences on their feet and to offer hope, service and compassion to the community and for one another.
Making the tour even more exciting for fans everywhere, Newsboys have also announced the VIP Born Again Experience. By purchasing a Platinum or Premium ticket, this allows the VIP ticket holder into an exclusive meet and greet with Newsboys, access to their Pre-Show Experience and to a pre-show acoustic concert. Special Gold Circle seating is available for all Platinum ticket holders.
Additionally, each VIP Born Again Experience ticket holder will receive a tour grab bag, which includes an autographed poster and an autographed CD of Born Again: Miracles Edition, which officially releases March 29th. The VIP Born Again Experience Premium ticket is available now for only $50, and for an additional $25 buyers will receive a Platinum ticket. A portion of these proceeds will go directly to the work and ministry of Compassion International.
Kutless, Disciple, Carlos Whittaker, and special guest speaker Bob Lenz will join Newsboys on the tour. For more information and to register for VIP tickets, please visit Newsboys.com. General tickets will not be available to the public until February 15th.
THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE tour dates*:
Mon., April 11 - Williamsport, PA
Thurs., April 14 - Corbin, KY
Fri, April 15 - Bowling Green, KY
Sat., April 16 - Murray, KY
Sun., April 17 - Topeka, KS
Thurs., April 21 -Florence, AL
Fri., April 22 - Atlanta GA
Sat., April 23 -Pikeville, KY
Thurs., April 28 - Houston, TX
Fri., April 29 - Wichita Falls, TX
Sat., April 30 - San Antonio, TX
Sun., May 1 - Corpus Christi, TX
Tues., May 3 - Lubbock, TX
Thurs., May 5 - Albuquerque, NM
Fri., May 6 - Phoenix, AZ
Sat., May 7 - Santa Ana, CA
Sun., May 8 - Sacramento, CA
Thurs., May 12 - Puyallup, WA
Fri., May 13 - Medford, OR
Sat., May 14 - Kennewick, WA
Sun., May 15 - Spokane, WA
Tues., May 17 - Idaho Falls, ID
Wed., May 18 - Salt Lake City, UT
Thurs., May 19 - Grand Junction, CO
Fri., May 20 - Highlands Ranch, CO
*All tour dates subject to change
After leading worship in front of over 22, 000 devoted college students at Passion 2011 earlier this month, last week the newest member of sixstepsrecords, Kristian Stanfill released his sophomore album Mountains Move selling over 6,000 copies and charting at No. 3 on the Contemporary Christian SoundScan chart and No. 2 on the Current Christian/Gospel Digital Albums chart.
Having introduced music listeners to Mountains Move back in September with his five song EP titled Day After Day, Stanfill’s latest project is captivating critics across the board shown in the quotes below:
" From the successful aftermath of his trademark song "Say,Say", Kristian Stanfill storms out with a beautiful sophomore project.Mountains Move ticks the box as one inspirational worship music everyone could do with." -Seattle Post Intelligencer
"Lord Almighty" and "Day After Day" are both great worship songs that I can imagine singing with fellow believers. If you like Fee, Charlie Hall, Chris Tomlin and Tim Hughes, you'll enjoy Kristian Stanfill.”-NewReleaseTuesday.com
"One of Kristian’s identifying attributes communicated clearly through his music is his profound passion to worship. He brings a reverence that is both rewarding to listen to and refreshing to worship with. His musical chops fall into the same genre as Tomlin and Fee."- On Course Magazine
“According to the graciously burgeoning songwriter, this worshipful collection centers on "believing that God is who he says he is" despite our circumstances. Stanfill accomplishes this brilliantly and cranks out songs that possess a distinctive solidarity: they all emphasize the unwavering nature and character of God”-Crosswalk.com
“Filled with sweeping verses, and sweeping anthemic choruses, the man knows how to pen a powerful tune. If you picked up is self-titled EP a few months ago, you would have already heard the first three songs off of this one….and you have not heard the best of Mr. Stanfill yet.”- HollywoodJesus.com
“Day After Day,” the first single from Mountains Move is resonating with listeners as well, as the song is continuing to rise on the radio charts currently at No. 21 on the National Christian Audience Chart and No. 28 on AC Indicator. In addition, the song is being spun over 13 major stations across the country as well hundreds more via the K-LOVE network.
This spring, Stanfill has a full tour schedule, for which new dates will be announced soon. To see if the worship leader is coming to a city near you and for more information on Stanfill, please visit www.kristianstanfill.com.
On January 1st, the city of Atlanta was flooded with more than 22, 000 college students as they filled the Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center for Passion 2011. The sold out event featured talks from Passion founder and Pastor Louie Giglio along with other notable speakers and best-selling authors John Piper, Beth Moore, Andy Stanley and Francis Chan. The annual event kicked off with powerful worship led by Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill, along with special guests Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North and Gungor. With the past two years' conferences taking place in these two locations as the conference exceeded the capacity of Philips Arena, Passion announced the exciting news that Passion 2012 will take place at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
At the core of Passion is a desire to wed worship and justice, believing that what God wants most is not just another song, but a reflection of His love and mercy among the poor, the imprisoned, the voiceless and the oppressed. Therefore, during the four-day conference (held Jan 1-4) attendees stepped up in a big way to help the needy around the world through the global movement, Do Something Now which Passion launched in 2007 to help those with the greatest of needs through various causes such as sponsoring a child through Compassion International, providing funds to build wells in India to supply fresh water, and helping set up loans so families can start their own business in Afghanistan. Since its inception Do Something Now has gathered more than three million dollars for these causes.
For Passion 2011, Do Something Now set goals with each cause to encourage the students to get involved and make a difference. The end result greatly exceeded the expectations for each, as evidenced in the final counts seen below:
• Clean Water :: Students provided 24 clean water wells in India exceeding the Do Something Now goal of $75,000 for 15 wells.
• Pathway Out of Poverty :: Students provided 385 micro-loans to offer pathways out of poverty for people in Afghanistan, exceeding the goal of $40,000 to fund 200 loans.
• Feed The Hungry (JAM International) :: Students provided enough to feed 2,225 children in South Africa for one year, exceeding the goal of $50,000 to feed 1,000 children.
• Child Sponsorship + Compassion Market :: Students sponsored 442 children through Compassion International and provided essentials for families such as vaccines, AIDS testing, livestock and mosquito nets, exceeding the goal of $100,000 to sponsor 150 children and provide basic essentials.
• Homes in Haiti (Haiti Transformed) :: Students funded 39 homes to be built in Haiti for displaced families, exceeding the goal of $54,000 for only 15 homes.
• Bibles to the Unreached (Bibles Unbound) :: Students sent 31,554 Bibles to people in remote areas of Columbia, exceeding the goal of $20,000 to send 20,000 Bibles.
• Freedom and Futures for Sex Slaves (Word Made Flesh) :: Students provided aftercare and vocational training for 22 girls trapped in the sex trade in Bolivia, exceeding the goal of $36,000 to provide restoration for 10 girls.
• Stop Sex Trafficking (International Justice Mission) :: Students funded 29 rescue operations to bring girls out of sex slavery in Cebu, Philippines, exceeding the goal of $45,000 to fund 10 rescue operations.
• Life-Saving Surgeries (CURE International) :: Students funded 141 surgeries to bring physical healing to babies in Uganda suffering from Hydrocephalus, or “water on the brain,” exceeding the goal of $50,000 to fund 50 surgeries.
• Homeless Men and Women in Atlanta:: Students provided over 18,400 towels and 88,000 pairs of socks for Atlanta area shelters.
"The fact that 22,000 university-aged young people would journey to Atlanta and gather for the name of Jesus is staggering in and of itself,” says Louie Giglio. ”But the fact that, as a result of His grace in their lives, they would pool their resources to the tune of $1.1 million to fund 10 local and global causes signifies a massive shift. The days of me and mine are fleeting, and the days of Christ and His are coming swiftly. Students believe in eternity, and they want to invest their gifts, passion and resources on the things that matter most in the end."
This year is also the first time Passion is holding two conferences in the same year in the U.S. The next event will be held in Dallas, TX on April 1-3 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Just prior to this on March 8, sixstepsrecords will release its new LIVE recording Passion: Here For You featuring Passion 2011’s worship leaders Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill and more. The album will feature some familiar songs while also highlighting brand new music spurred from Passion 2011. This will be the follow-up record to the recently GRAMMY® nominated album Passion: Awakening that debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Top 200 when it released in March 2010 selling over 25,000 units garnering the No. 1 on the Christian Albums Chart.
To register for the Dallas event and Passion 2012 in addition to finding more information on Passion, please visit http://268generation.com/.
Spend more than a few minutes with any member of Nashville-based band Tenth Avenue North – particularly frontman/songwriter Mike Donehey – and you’ll walk away with the impression of four men plugged into the struggles facing young people not only in the United States, but around the world.
Immediately following its headlining “The Light Meets The Dark” tour, which wrapped Nov. 29, the band boarded a flight to San Pedro Sula in Honduras to get a more intimate look at the work of partner organization, Compassion International, through meetings with pastors and directors of three different Compassion-run projects.
The band also spent time playing and interacting with sponsor children within the programs, including taking part in an impromptu soccer match on a rain-soaked pitch, leaving the musicians and kids covered in mud but drawn closer together.
“We have been working alongside Compassion International for several years by advocating child sponsorship at our shows,” Donehey said. “Before we left for Honduras, we heard a lot about the problems with gangs in that country and the positive impact Compassion is having on the lives of gang members. When we arrived, we got to sit with kids and hear their stories. We listened to their life dreams. It made us want to do even more to support Compassion International because we were able to directly see the impact of sponsorship on the lives of individual children, families and entire villages.”
“The point of this trip was to show them first hand the work of Compassion,” said Spence Smith, artist relations manager for Compassion International. “The guys have a great head-knowledge about poverty, slavery and other issues we face in the world, but they didn’t have a personal reference point to fully understand the magnitude of these problems.”
He continues, “The band got 1,700 kids sponsored on its fall tour then immediately went on its first trip to see our work. I'm really excited to see what 2011 holds for Tenth Avenue North and Compassion as we continue to partner together in some bigger ways.”
sixstepsrecords garnered two GRAMMY ® nominations Wed. evening. “Our God” from the Passion: Awakening album, recorded and co-written by Chris Tomlin, was recognized in the “Best Gospel Song” category while David Crowder*Band’s critically acclaimed Church Music received a nod in the “Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album” division. This marks the first GRAMMY ® nomination for both the David Crowder*Band and Passion, and the fourth GRAMMY ® nomination for Chris Tomlin. The 53rd Annual GRAMMY ® Awards will take place on Sun. Feb. 13, 2011 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS. The awards will be held in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
“Our God” was originally featured on the Passion: Awakening album recorded live at the 2010 Passion gathering in Atlanta with over 22,000 university-aged students in attendance. Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin and Jesse Reeves were writers on the song. David Crowder*Band’s Church Music was released in fall 2009 and is 73 full minutes of music – 17 tracks, which ably stand alone, while at the same time seamlessly join together.
Tomlin’s recently released And If Our God is For Us... ranked in at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200 selling over 45,000 units in its first week. In this same week, his Christmas album, Glory in the Highest, was also No. 20 on the Billboard Top 200 giving Tomlin the rarity of having two albums in the Billboard Top 20 simultaneously. He is currently on the “Glory in the Highest Christmas” tour with Louie Giglio, the visionary and leader of the Passion Movement and pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA. David Crowder*Band’s music video comprised of 700,000 LITE-BRITE ® pegs for the Church Music track “SMS (Shine)” was recently featured on NBC’s The Today Show, Fox & Friends, USA Today online, Paste online and more. To view the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/davidcrowderband.
"All of our sixstepsrecords/EMICMG team is humbled to be recognized once again by the GRAMMY ® community,” remarks Giglio, the visionary and leader of the Passion Movement, sixstepsrecords and pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA. “Our hope all along has been to create music that lifts the souls of people around the globe while inspiring artistry that is rich and diverse. To be nominated in the company of such accomplished musicians is a huge honor."
sixstepsrecords will debut a three-part DVD series from Louie Giglio, the founder of the Passion movement and pastor of the Passion city Church in Atlanta, as part of the newly launched Passion City Church Resources on Jan. 11, 2011. “Grace [The One and Only],” “New Year” and “Prayer: Remix” are among the first titles to be released as part of the multi-part messages from the church.
Similar to the Passion Talk Series DVDs, the DVDs will serve as a resource for ministries worldwide including small groups, bible studies, churches or even among friends & family members. Each DVD covers a different topic, and features Giglio’s thought-provoking and scriptural teaching.
"It's hard to put into words how humbling and exciting it has been to see the Passion Movement take root in a local community of faith called Passion City Church,” explains Giglio. “Our hope is that these messages will encourage and build up people around the globe in the same ways that God has used them to shape and refine our vision and our lives."
Below is a synopsis of what viewers can find in each DVD:
Grace [The One and Only]
Grace. Unexpected. Undeserved. Yet the core of the story is the gospel.
Unique to the person and message of Jesus Christ, grace is simply God at work doing what we could never do. Nothing we can say or do can elicit more or less of the lavish grace of God. Grace is the essence of our Creator and the way to a personal connection with Him that lasts forever and the source of the strength that enables us to walk in truth.
New Year
It’s a New Year and God is for you. He’s committed to conforming you to the image of Christ, promising to use anything and everything that comes your way for His ultimate good in your life. It’s stunning, but true. Debt has been canceled. Grace extended. The Spirit given. We are now the sons and daughters of God. And, even in suffering nothing can separate us from the extravagant love of God.
Prayer: Remix
Bless Me. Be with me. Watch over and protect me. Forgive me.
Listen to the way you pray, and to the prayers of those around you, and you’ll hear these four tried and true phrases often—familiar words we’ve probably been saying over and over to God since we first learned how to pray.
ReMIXED prayers embrace these four concepts, while moving towards a healthier, God-centered prayer language that saturates our thoughts and words with the phrases, “Let Me Bless You,” “Live Through Me,” and “No Matter What, Use Me.”
The highly successful Passion Talk Series has sold over 900,000 DVDs worldwide and has had over 4.8 million clips played on YouTube.
Joining the immensely successful Passion Talk Series (PTS) is the lines’ first Christmas talk with Passion Movement founder Louie Giglio, “The Twelve Words of Christmas,” available now on DVD from sixstepsrecords.
Recorded live during Chris Tomlin’s “Glory in the Highest” 2009 Christmas tour “The Twelve Words of Christmas” shares a special message of Christmas, that God is with us, full of grace and truth, and that no one on earth is too far from His love or beyond His reach. In the full length talk, Giglio reminds us that God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of the chaos, and promises to bring us through. Giglio will also be speaking on Tomlin’s 2010 “Glory in the Highest” Christmas tour (dates below).
PTS features hours of compelling content, each telling a meaningful story of God's goodness, grace & love. Used by small groups, life groups, churches and among friends and family members around the world, the messages found in PTS have impacted the lives of millions of people around the globe. With sales of nearly one million worldwide, PTS has also garnered over 4.8 million YouTube hits. For more information please visit http://www.passiontalkseries.com.
New from sixstepsrecords in 2011 will be the new Passion City Church Resources line, a series of church talks from Giglio taken from services at the Atlanta-based Passion City Church which he pastors and also founded in February 2008.
On January 11, 2011 the line will debut with a collection of three different talks: “New Year” (2 talks), “Grace [The One and Only]” (5 talks) and “Prayer: Remix” (3 talks). sixsteps plans to add new talks to the ongoing series throughout the year.
“Louie Giglio’s gift to communicate the truth of the Gospel as well as motivate and inspire the global church to a deeper understanding of who God really is to each of us personally and throughout the world is unmatched in my opinion,” says Peter York, President, EMI CMG Label Group. “This series of talks from Louie are vital for our time and should be a staple in every church, home and small group in the country. They have impacted me, my family, my staff and countless friends throughout the body of Christ who have engaged with them.”
Six time GRAMMY ® winner Amy Grant to host a unique and intimate concert series to benefit worldwide children’s advocacy organization Compassion International for ten shows this fall on the “Pieces of Our Lives” tour featuring a personal concert from Grant along with an exclusive art gallery reception.
The “Pieces of Our Lives” art gallery reception will showcase exclusive art, photography, paintings and lyrics reflecting themes found in Grant’s signature songs. Select items will be available for auction after tour. Each event will be limited to only 300 guests.
The intimate concert series will benefit Compassion International’s Leadership Development Program. The LDP program is geared towards taking young people out of poverty, equipping them with a college education and empowering them to make a difference within their home community.
To find out more about the “Pieces of Our Lives” events, special ticket prices and event concierge service, visit http://www.piecesofourlives.com. A list of tour dates are listed below.
“I’m extremely excited about these special evening events,” says Amy Grant. “I love music, but I love it most in small intimate venues where I get to really connect with the audience. The structure of these evenings is so unique and elegant. Anytime you can combine music, art and a great cause, I think you have something very special. The evenings are really about telling stories, singing songs and sharing art – all to benefit the lives of students and children in need.”
“Pieces of Our Lives” tour
* all dates subject to change, visit www.piecesofourlives.com for most up to date tour info
Sept. 28 Houston, TX - The Hobby Center, Zilkha Hall
Sept. 29 Austin, TX - One World Theatre
Sept. 30 Dallas, TX - The Eismann Center
Oct. 5 Atlanta, GA - The Opera House at Atlanta Events Center
Oct. 6 Orlando, FL - Vision 360 Global Collaboration Ceter
Oct. 12 Chicago, IL - River East Art Center
Oct. 13 Minneapolis, MN - The Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom
Oct. 26 St. Louis, MO - Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, Lee Theatre
Oct. 28 Oklahoma City, OK - Oklahoma History Center
With selling over 100,000 downloads and being the No. 1 selling Christian Digital track for an ongoing five weeks, Passion has garnered its first No. 1 single, “Our God.” The hit track sung by multi-platinum selling artist Chris Tomlin, tops the R&R AC Monitored, AC Indicator and National Audience Chart, holding the No. 1 position for three consecutive weeks.
Written by Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, Chris Tomlin and Jesse Reeves, “Our God” is featured on Passion: Awakening, the latest recording from the renowned conference. Recorded live in Atlanta, Passion: Awakening received the biggest debut ever for a Passion album to date, selling over 25,000 units, with Passion event album sales nearing 2 million. The record also took the No. 1 spot on the Christian Albums Chart, No. 15 on Billboards Top 200 and No. 8 on Billboard's Current Digital Albums Chart after its first week in stores.
This spring/summer, sixstepsrecords artists Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Kristian Stanfill ventured across the globe on the Passion World Tour 2010. The conference attracted more than 23,000 university students in historical landmarks including Kiev, London, Tokyo, Manila and Hong Kong.
This fall, Passion will return to gather students in Sao Paulo and Vancouver. Registration is open now for Passion 2011, which will take place January 1-4 in Atlanta, GA and April 1-3 in Ft. Worth, TX.
For more information on the Passion Movement, please visit www.268generation.com and for more information on Chris Tomlin and to view his tour dates, visit www.christomlin.com.
Artist: Passion
Album: Awakening
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Reviewer: Alex Judge
Boasting an artist roster including worship leaders such as Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, Matt Redman, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, and Kristian Stanfill, it’s easy to say that “Passion: Awakening” will be a good album even before listening. With eight brand new, previously unreleased songs, this live album from the Passion conference 2010 will expose you to some great new worship material. Each of these unique songs present thematically variant messages that will speak to different places in your life offering encouragement and bringing you to a place of awe in the presence of God.
Though I am not typically a big fan of live recordings, I must say that a number of these songs have some fantastic content lyrically and musically. A number of them may even make it into my normal everyday listening! Obviously written for congregational gatherings, these songs are easy to learn and to sing along with and will be stuck in your head for days if you aren’t careful (though that may not be a problem)!
Featuring artists who have pretty much defined the term modern worship music, these musical compositions are very easily classified as typical praise and worship. If you are a worship leader at your local church or youth group, get this album and learn these songs. It’s fresh material that we can sing to God, offering him a new song. Psalm 33:3 says, “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” This is a verse that the Passion conference certainly takes seriously as they release this new album full of skillfully composed and performed music.
Selling over 25,000 units and taking the No.1 spot on the Christian Albums chart, No. 15 on Billboards Top 200 and No. 8 on Billboard's Current Digital Albums Chart, sixstepsrecords’ Passion: Awakening has experienced the biggest street week ever for a Passion record to date.
In addition to topping the charts, the latest single from the new album “Our God,” sung by notable worship leader Chris Tomlin, is currently climbing its way up both the AC Monitored and Indicator radio charts.
Featuring today’s popular worship artists Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Fee and Hillsong UNITED, Passion: Awakening was recorded live in Atlanta, GA earlier this year with more than 22,000 university-aged young people in attendance.
Colleges and critics from across the country have been raving about the new Passion release:
“Passion: Awakening is the complete package for anyone seeking a new and refreshing worship album to add to their library. With 12 emotionally-charged selections, including a slightly altered version of David Crowder’s ‘How He Loves Us,’ cover, this album offers an experience that will not be found anywhere else.” – Richland College Newspaper
“The Passion Awakening CD provides an uplifting experience whether listening while walking to class or with a group of friends. It has a little bit of everything: rock, acoustic and eclectic beat. It's not your normal worship album.”-UT Knoxville’s, The Daily Beacon
“Colossians 3:1 instructs us to ‘Set our hearts on things above.’ Awakening, the latest masterpiece from Passion’s worship leaders, is the musical application of that verse. It’s a soul-lifter, a worship-in-spirit-and-truth offering to help us raise our eyes and hearts to our King and spur us on as children of His Kingdom. What a gift to the body of Christ!” - Youthwalk
“These are some of the best new original worship songs of the past few years. If you want to experience a worship ‘awakening,’ then you can't go wrong with the biggest names in the business. Tomlin, Stanfill, Crowder, Nockels, Hall, Redman, Fee and Hillsong United are all in top form on this excellent Passion: Awakening album, easily the best in this great series.” – New Release Tuesday
“Overall, fans of the series will surely love what they find on Passion: Awakening. It features some of the strongest material to ever come out of the Passion camp.” – The Bridge Live
The heartbeat of the Passion Movement is not simply about filling arenas, but a generation mobilized to carry the message of God’s fame to the unreached, oppressed and forgotten wherever they are on the planet. Over the course of Passion 2010 (held January 2-5), attendees responded to the challenge to wed worship and justice by giving more than 1 million dollars on-site to various causes around the world to help those in need through the Do Something Now campaign. Do Something Now, a movement launched by Passion in 2007, has to date funneled more than two million dollars to those in greatest need throughout the world.
Currently, Passion is preparing to set out on it's second World Tour beginning in May, with university gatherings planned in Kiev, London, Tokyo, Manila, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo and Vancouver. Registration also recently opened for Passion 2011, which will take place January 1-4 in Atlanta, GA. Thousands of university students have already staked their place for the gathering. For more details on the Passion World Tour dates this year and Passion 2011, visit http://www.268generation.com
For more information on Passion and the new album, please go to http://www.268generation.com/.
Sisters Tricia Baumhardt and Melissa Brock of Superchick share some love with their Compassion International sponsored children in Uganda January 18-29, 2010. The two visited four Compassion Child Development Centers in the southern Kampala area, including Nakulabye, Naguru, Kikonda Village, and Kigungu Fish Landing Site. There they saw and experienced the full range of holistic development taking place with children of all ages from before birth through college graduation.
Melissa comments, "Going to Uganda with Compassion really let me see in person how sponsoring a child not only gives them food, water, education and God's love, but it gives hope to the hopeless. It gives them a chance at a future beyond their circumstances. And the people of Uganda showed me what true love for God is in the midst of trials. They were full of joy for their God, and it was evident in their faces. I left with a new joy myself. What a beautiful place, a beautiful people and a beautiful God we have!" For more information about Superchick's involvement with Compassion International, visit superchickonline.com/compassion.php.
Nashville, TN…With nearly 2 million Passion event records sold to date, sixstepsrecords is heralding the March 9th release of PASSION: AWAKENING. The project features a stellar group of leading worship artists Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, FEE and Hillsong UNITED, who combined have sales exceeding 5 million records.
Recorded live this past January at Passion 2010 in Atlanta, GA, with more than 22,000 university-aged young people in attendance, PASSION: AWAKENING features a dozen tracks including eight brand new, never before released songs (see track listing below). The record highlights unforgettable, emotionally-charged live anthems including new songs "Our God," "Awakening," "Say, Say," "Chosen Generation," “Healing Is In Your Hands” and others, most written specifically by the artists together for the Passion 2010 gathering, and many of which are already making their way to into churches around the world. "Our God," a declaration of God’s awesome power and love, written by Tomlin and Redman will be the first single serviced to radio and will go for adds on February 26th.
"Following one of our most potent gatherings, I couldn't be more excited about our latest release, PASSION: AWAKENING,” says founder and director of Passion Louie Giglio. “Not only does this album reflect a wave of new music - much of it written specifically for this event - but an incredibly broad reach with artists from Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Matt Redman, Hillsong UNITED and others. But most importantly, PASSION: AWAKENING captures the heartbeat of students, in this case 22,000 strong, awakening to make Jesus famous in everything they do. Fourteen years and twelve albums into the Passion Movement, I could not be more proud of this project and our team,” Giglio continues. “Our vision is consistent and durable, but the music, most written specifically for this gathering, is fresh, pushing us forward as we seek to wed worship and justice for His fame in all the earth."
“sixstepsrecords has a long history of introducing new worship songs and artists to the church, be it Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Matt Redman, and Charlie Hall,” remarked Peter York, Label Group President, EMI Christian Music Group. “The new Passion: Awakening record continues that history and brings several incredible new songs that I feel will resonate deeply with the Church. It was astounding to hear 22,000 university students sing them in unison at the Passion 2010 conference, and I’m confident they will have an equally profound impact as they flow through churches worldwide.”
The heartbeat of the Passion Movement is not simply about filling arenas, but a generation mobilized to carry the message of God’s fame to the unreached, oppressed and forgotten wherever they are on the planet. Over the course of Passion 2010 (held January 2-5), attendees responded to the challenge to wed worship and justice by giving more than 1 million dollars on-site to various causes around the world to help those in need through the Do Something Now campaign. Do Something Now, a movement launched by Passion in 2007, has to date funneled more than two million dollars to those in greatest need throughout the world.
For more information on the Passion Movement, visit http://www.268generation.com.
With worship led by Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, FEE, Hillsong United and speakers including Passion founder Louie Giglio, John Piper, Andy Stanley, Francis Chan and Beth Moore, Passion 2010 kicked off the year with an unparalleled response when more than 22,000 university-aged young people from across the U.S. and world filled Phillips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta, GA.
At the heart of it all, Passion exists to see a generation stake their lives on what matters most, the fame of Jesus, the One who rescues and restores.
In the four-day conference (held January 2-5), attendees responded to the challenge to wed worship and justice by giving more than 1 million dollars on-site to various causes around the world to help those in need through the Do Something Now campaign.
Do Something Now, a movement launched by Passion in 2007, has to date funneled more than two million dollars to those in greatest need throughout the world. At the core of it all for Passion, is a desire to wed worship and justice, believing that what God wants most is not just another song, but a reflection of His love and mercy among the poor, the imprisoned, the voiceless and the oppressed.
At Passion 2010, Do Something Now introduced 12 partner organizations with the goal of raising $500,000. The goal was not to gain pledges for the future, but for the thousands of students to collectively give during the four-day conference to those with immediate needs.
Some of the causes included building an education center for the Dalit people of India through Operation Mobilization, small business loans for women in Haiti through Hope International, providing 100 cleft plate surgeries for children in Afghanistan with Cure International, sponsoring a child effected by HIV/AIDS in Mozambique with World Vision and many more. By the end of the four days, attendees responded overwhelmingly to the $500,000 goal, well-exceeding it by giving $724,480.42 to the different organizations. In addition, a special donation made by a family at Passion 2010 matched the total given at the start of the fourth day with a generous gift of $668.597.00, resulting in a grand total of $1.4 million.
In addition to the global relief, the students’ joined together and gave 14,820 towels and 72,600 pairs of socks to assist the homeless shelters of Atlanta.
“The heartbeat of the Passion Movement is not simply about filling arenas, but a generation mobilized to carry the message of God’s fame to the unreached, oppressed and forgotten wherever they are on the planet,” says Louie Giglio, the verse, ‘where your money is your heart is also,’ applies here, and believe many lives have been captured by His global purposes in these days.”
Donations are still being accepted to help the organizations involved with Passion 2010. This can be done by texting OMC to 20222 and/or giving online at onemillioncan.com <http://onemillioncan.com> . One hundred percent of all monies given online and by text will go to directly to the onemillioncan causes. For more details on all of the organizations and projects involved please visit http://268generation.com/passion2010/dosomethingnow.
Nashville, TN (January 29, 2009) – CompassionArt, an award-winning charity based in Littlehampton, England dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, releases The Art of Compassion (FaithWords/Hachette Book Group, January 2009 in the US and Hodder & Stoughton, November 2008 in the UK). Written by 12 world-acclaimed singer/songwriters, the book records the journey that engaged these artists personally in social justice and led to this groundbreaking new charity and book that encourages readers to use their own creativity and talents to help end world poverty.
Challenged by the poverty he saw all over the world, CompassionArt founder Martin Smith, front man for the Gold-selling band Delirious?, gathered together 11 of his friends to write and record an album of songs with the direct aim of the relief of global poverty.
Each singer/songwriter involved in the project has written a chapter for the book. Featured writers include Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech. Together, the artists account for at least 42 million albums sold, 83 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 118 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
The compellingly candid stories tell firsthand accounts of extreme poverty around our planet. The stories show how the songwriters move from ignorance and apathy through paralyzing awareness and end with a hopeful call to action, showing us the brutal cost of comfort in the Western world.
“These twelve people are not professional theologians, aid workers, campaigners or development specialists,” says author Craig Borlase (The Naked Christian: Taking Off Religion To Find True Relationship), who writes the opening chapter in the book and serves as editor. “They’re people who—like the rest of us—wonder how their lives can be more effective when it comes to fighting poverty and getting closer to God’s agenda for us all.”
“We are a global community, an underground adventure, a map being drawn as we speak that connects wealth with poverty, art with hope, compassion with despair,” says Martin Smith. “We are starting with twelve of the best-known Christian recording artists, who have come together to create an album and a book, with all artist proceeds and royalties going to break the hold of poverty on people’s lives around the world. But we’re not stopping there; CompassionArt is evolving to connect, inspire and release compassion all over the world.”
“Just take the [CompassionArt] model and run with it,” encourages Michael W. Smith in the book. “…When we look out beyond the boundaries of our own lives – whether we start to focus on the people living around us, on the needs of our country or on the problems that trouble people throughout the world – we uncover one of the greatest secrets of eternity: that giving away is better than holding on, that connecting with others for their benefit far outweighs a life of greedy isolation.”
Each songwriter/author has donated 100% of their proceeds from The Art of Compassion royalties, as well as all the proceeds from the songs on the recording releasing simultaneously with the book, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty (EMI CMG, Jan. 27, 2009; Fierce!/Kingsway, Integrity and Crossroads, Nov. 24, 2008), to charity. This is not just a one-time donation, but will be a forever offering for the life of the book and the songs through CompassionArt. All of the royalties received by GloWorks Limited, in partnership with CompassionArt, from sales of the United States edition of The Art of Compassion will go to CompassionArt, a UK charity. (© 2008 GloWorks Limited for CompassionArt, registered with the UK Charity Commission number 1124708.)
CompassionArt is not associated or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed by, Compassion International, Inc. Compassion® is a registered trademark of Compassion International, Inc.
More information on CompassionArt can be found at http://CompassionArt.tv.
(Nashville, TN) January 27, 2009 – The award-winning CompassionArt charity launches its CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty CD/DVD today amidst widespread acclaim. The album, which includes a 50-minute DVD documentary, and its companion book, The Art of Compassion, written by the 12 world-acclaimed CompassionArt songwriters, are available now at retail outlets everywhere. All song, artist and author royalties received from these projects will be forever donated to the poorest of the poor.
Martin and Anna Smith, CompassionArt cofounders, are parents to six children and have been on an unusual journey over the last couple years. While Martin was visiting the slums in India prior to him taking the stage that evening with his gold-selling band Delirious?, he visited a missions project in the red light district and fell in love with a little girl whose mother was trapped into working as a sex slave to feed and clothe her. Martin and Anna investigated the possibility of adopting the little girl, but the process came to a halt when miraculously the mother decided to leave her trade and start a new life with her daughter. Hurt to the core by the dichotomy of staying in “5-star” hotels and visiting slums like these around the world, the couple decided they were going to do something radical - and the CompassionArt idea was born. Instead of bringing the little girl home, Martin and Anna decided to “adopt” all 70 of the children in that project.
The first of 16 charitable projects chosen by CompassionArt was Hand of Hope, the organization working with these children, offering relief and restoration for families caught up in Mumbai, India’s sex trade. The charity also offers food and education for children scraping for survival on a rubbish dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. More information on all the CompassionArt charitable projects can be found at http://CompassionArt.tv. (Martin and Anna’s story is further penned by the couple in The Art of Compassion book.)
As this story has captured attention worldwide, numerous media outlets internationally over the last six weeks have run print and/or online news, including the Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Forbes and FOX News. CompassionArt is also featured in the current issue of Billboard magazine, which further ran as a Reuters wire story, online at Yahoo!, and internationally from Canada.com to The Peninsula, Qatar’s leading English daily.
In a CompassionArt Arts & Entertainment cover feature Sunday in The Tennessean, fellow CompassionArt songwriter Michael W. Smith reiterates the profound impact CompassionArt has made on him. “I promise when I say this, it was one of the most amazing times of my career,” said Smith. “In all the things I’ve done, and I’ve traveled all over and been with presidents and won awards, this one is very much at the top of what I’ll remember the rest of my life. Because it was life changing for all of us.” (For the full story, go to www.tennessean.com.)
“My hope is that this project is a huge financial success,” shares Chris Tomlin in a CCMmagazine.com cover story. “And without shame, I can say that out loud because every cent goes to the ‘least and the last.’ …I really see ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ stamped on this one!” (For the full story, go to www.CCMmagazine.com.)
Music critics are also offering their praise for the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty CD/DVD and book:
“The entire package is a solid-to-stunning collection of talent, heart and mission.” – CCMmagazine.com
“Every song is a standout…The artist lineup alone makes this album a must-have, but the story behind these songs makes it a collection like no other.” – Charisma
“CompassionArt, the Christian music who's who that came together earlier this year to help eradicate world hunger…” – Dallas Morning News
“The songs that make up the CompassionArt compilation CD are filled with hope and equality. The lyrics do not demean the poor and oppressed that they talk about, it does not pity them, and it does not brush over the injustice that they experience…The artists of CompassionArt bring a sweet aroma of love and challenge to those that listen.” – WreckedForTheOrdinary.com
“If you only want to find a couple songs for your worship set list, look first to ‘King of Wonders.’ … The others to make sure you have in your service are ‘Shout Praise’ … and ‘So Great,’ which is a great number to get your choir involved. The highlight, however, is how this album names God for our culture: ‘Friend of the Poor,’ ‘King of the Broken,’ Healer of nations. When you hear and join your heart with the sacred sounds here, you know exactly what worship has to do with poverty: everything.” – Worship Leader
“…this is an excellent album, packed with superior songs and uplifting performances by some of the most seasoned artists in the CCM industry…” – Soul-Audio.com
The 19 genre-defining songwriters/guest vocalists featured on the 14-song charity album, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty, include: (Songwriters) Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech; and (Guest Vocalists) Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac and CeCe Winans. Together, they combine for: 101 million albums sold, 103 No. 1 songs, 32 GRAMMY Awards and 9 GRAMMY nominations last month alone, 202 Dove Awards, 18 Stellar Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and 116 CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
Available now in the US through EMI CMG, the recording’s current radio single “King of Wonders” is being heard on the K-LOVE Radio Network and other stations across the country. CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty also released last November in Europe and Scandinavia through Fierce!/Kingsway, Asia, Africa and South America through Integrity and Australia and New Zealand through Crossroads.
CompassionArt, a charity based in Littlehampton, England, held a songwriters’ retreat in January 2008 and began recording songs from the retreat a month later for the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty album at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England, with later recording sessions in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. Six of the songs are being offered in a groundbreaking, limited time giveaway at http://widget.nabbr.com/compassion_art.html. Requesting donations for the songs, the goal is to engage people everywhere to help end world poverty. As CompassionArt inspires people to give of themselves, one donor downloaded the songs and offered $1,000 to help with CompassionArt’s goal to help the poor.
In addition to the recording and documentary, the 12 CompassionArt songwriters have written compelling, candid stories for a companion book, The Art of Compassion (FaithWords/Hachette Book Group, Hodder & Stoughton), releasing simultaneously with the album. This book tells firsthand accounts of extreme poverty around our planet as these songwriters move from ignorance and apathy through paralyzing awareness and end with a call to action, showing us the brutal cost of comfort in the Western world.
CompassionArt is not associated or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed by, Compassion International, Inc. Compassion® is a registered trademark of Compassion International, Inc.
More information on CompassionArt, including song clips, sheet music, news and more can be found at http://CompassionArt.tv.
The Story of CompassionArt
by Christa A. Banister
For Delirious frontman Martin Smith, music has always been the healing balm he’s used to share a message of hope in a hurting world.
And for more than a decade now, Delirious has not only provided the soundtrack for Sunday morning services and played thousands of electrifying shows for millions of fans in clubs and churches worldwide, but the Gold-selling band has always challenged its audience to be “history makers”—people who look beyond their own needs to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Always striving to be someone who practiced what he preached, Smith couldn’t help but wrestle with a troubling dichotomy in his quest to be a history maker.
While he was nestled comfortably in the confines of five-star accommodations, many of those he was reaching out to, particularly in his international travels, were living in slums. If that wasn’t a shocking-enough reality check for the father of six, he also met an abundance of mothers and their young children, caught up in the horrifying, dangerous life of sex trade in India. And in Phnom Penh, a poverty-ravaged locale Smith visited in Cambodia, children were routinely digging through rubbish dumps just to find anything resembling food to make it through another day.
Unable to reconcile his comfortable life with that of “the least of these,” Smith knew something truly unique, something life-changing, needed to be done to start “creating freedom from poverty.” So Smith decided to give back with what he’s been given—a platform, a microphone and a knack for writing songs that connect with the heart—and boldly asked 11 of his fellow musician friends to do the same.
The Birth of CompassionArt
Then in an unprecedented move, he asked these friends, some of the most gifted, well-known and busiest songwriters in the world, to clear their schedules and join him for a songwriters’ retreat in a quaint, little Scottish town of Perthshire. During a week-long span, they’d collaborate on songs for a release where none of them would see a dime for all the hard work. Instead, 100% of the song royalties goes to the work of supporting the poorest of the poor around the world.
And surprisingly, one by one, each artist replied with a resounding “Yes!”
Like anything that’s really worth pursuing, the rather ambitious idea behind what ended up being called CompassionArt almost seemed too big to actually work. But Smith and his wife Anna weren’t about to let the complicated logistics of setting up the infrastructure of a global charity scare them off. And for the better of a part of a year and a half, they worked through most of the red tape.
Then in what Smith described as a “truly pinch-myself moment,” the artists, which included Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Delirious bandmate Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech, began arriving in Scotland with a slew of great song ideas in tow. Later on sessions at the famed Abbey Road studio in London and the recording studios of Music City (Nashville) would feature fruitful collaborations with Chris Tomlin and a slew of genre-defining guest artists including Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac and CeCe Winans.
While pairing well-respected artists together who’ve sold more than 101 million albums, garnered 103 No. 1 songs, 32 Grammy Awards, 202 Dove Awards, 18 Stellar Awards, 3 American Music Awards and 116 of the CCLI’s Top 500 songs, could’ve easily led to some gossip-worthy diva moments, that was hardly the case with CompassionArt. With the endgame in the forefront of their minds, the ideas flowed fast and freely.
Creating Freedom From Poverty
“I love the team dynamic of CompassionArt. The common dream we have to reach out to the world’s poor through this vision made for lots of inspiring moments in both the songwriting stage and in the studio,” says Redman, a multiple Dove Award-winning artist known for congregational worship mainstays including “The Heart of Worship,” “Blessed Be Your Name” and “Better is One Day.”
“One of my favorite moments was gathering around the piano with Martin, Israel, Tim and Paul and writing the radio single ‘King of Wonders,” a song which started off when Steven and I wrote together,” Redman adds. “It was a great memory — friendship, worship, music and compassion all blended into one.”
But more than just one of those great memories that eventually fades away with time, Michael W. Smith says he’ll never forget this history-making occasion. “The time spent writing and recording these songs was one of the highlights of my life,” says Smith. “My hope is that these songs on the CompassionArt album will help feed the poor, satisfy the needs of the oppressed and reach out to the downtrodden.”
A New Era of History Makers
And that’s precisely why Martin encourages Christian music fans and worship leaders to partner in this history-making mission of “creating freedom from poverty” by purchasing the 14-track album and using the songs of CompassionArt in your Sunday morning worship services.
“The truth is that all this started as a response to the question, “How do artists engage in poverty?” When it comes to revealing the enormity of ways in which we who write and play and sing and dance and paint and edit and sculpt and cut and paste can get involved in breaking poverty’s stranglehold. This is a new day and we’re so glad you’ve joined the team,” Smith says.
Smith adds that something as simple as incorporating the songs of CompassionArt into your Sunday morning services can help make a huge difference, too.
“When you sing a song in church it actually makes money. A royalty is paid to CCLI, the global body that oversees the process. They take out a small percentage to cover admin costs and then pass the remainder of the royalty onto the songwriters’ publishers who take a cut themselves and then pass what remains to the writer of the song who then splits it with a management team. Why am I telling you this? Because what comes next is significant: Everyone involved in these songs from writers to publishers, managers to the team at CCLI has waived all their rights and allowed CompassionArt to own the copyrights,” Smith says. “There are no aces up the sleeve for anyone and everyone has given something away to make something extraordinary happen—with CompassionArt everyone is playing their part.”
One half of the proceeds over the songs’ lifetimes will be divided among four projects. Through the work of Hand of Hope (India and Cambodia), relief and restoration will be offered for families caught up in Mumbai’s sex trade and food and education will be provided to suffering children in Phnom Penh. With Ray of Hope (Brazil), a team gathers at the river to provide food, education, medical aid and everyday essentials to those in remote locations deep into the jungle. To rally against the trafficking of people, an ordinary group of activists with Stop the Traffik is a global movement with more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries. Finally, Uganda: Watoto helps restore hope to people whose lives are constantly marked with suffering. By providing creative life centers, Watoto encourages artistic education and plans for a better future for all.
The other 50% will benefit these artists’ individual projects, which include everything from Living Hope Community Centre, selected by Michael W. Smith to help those suffering with HIV, AIDS, and other chronic illnesses in Cape Town, South Africa, to Chapman’s Shaohannah’s Hope helping perspective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers.
Together, these artists have discovered they can accomplish so much more, which is why the work of CompassionArt has been such a meaningful, life-long investment of their time. “The recording process might be over, but the real work of CompassionArt has just begun,” says Zschech. “Our heart and mission to relieve human suffering means for the rest of our lives we will live with our hearts fuelled in worship to have our lives poured out in service. I pray for continued wisdom and revelation, and for great grace and kindness, as justice makes a way for those who until now have only known grave suffering.”
For more information about CompassionArt, please visit www.CompassionArt.tv.
The Charities of CompassionArt
India and Cambodia: Hand of Hope
For families caught up in Mumbai’s sex trade and for children scraping survival on a rubbish dump in Phnom Penh, Hand of Hope offers relief and restoration.
www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/HandofHope
Stop The Traffik
With more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries and a grassroots following of ordinary activists around the world, Stop the Traffik is a global movement against the trafficking of people.
www.stopthetraffik.org
Brazil: Ray of Hope
Every week in remote parts of Brazil, the Ray of Hope team heads to the river and the deepest parts of the jungle to meet the needs of children with food, education, support, advice, clothing and medical aid.
www.rayofhopeamazon.com
Uganda: Watoto
From orphaned children to abused mothers, Watoto restores hope to people whose lives have been devastated by suffering. By providing creative life centres, Watoto encourages artistic education and plans for a better future for all.
www.watoto.com
Compassion UK (nominated by Matt Redman)
Compassion seeks out some of the world’s most vulnerable children and through individual sponsors provides them with the means to break the cycle of poverty and create a viable future.
www.compassionuk.org
St Stephen’s (nominated by Andy Park)
For more than 40 years, St Stephen’s has worked among those addicted to drugs in Hong Kong. Founded by Jackie Pullinger, the charity has led thousands of people to faith and new hope.
www.ststephenssociety.com
Caring for Ex-Offenders and The Regeneration Trust (nominated by Tim Hughes)
Working across prisons and estates in London, CFEO seeks to enable prisoners to break the cycle of crime and re-integrate successfully back into society. The Trust works in deprived housing estates in London to help children and single parent families who suffer from the effects of poverty and to prevent others from falling into poverty.
www.caringforexoffenders.org
Hope Rwanda (nominated by Darlene Zschech)
Hope Rwanda provides sustainable solutions to poverty that leads to restoration, primarily by building homes for widows and orphans.
www.hoperwanda.org
Shaohannah’s Hope (nominated by Steven Curtis Chapman)
Dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption. The charity awards financial grants to qualified families already in the process of adopting, depending on their need.
www.shaohannahshope.org
For The Silent (nominated by Paul Baloche)
Working to bring an end to the sexual exploitation, trafficking and slavery of children worldwide, For the Silent provides a voice for those who don’t have one.
forthesilent.org
Beanz Meanz Livez (nominated by Stu G)
In the UK alone 88% of Britons have an estimated £10 in small change somewhere lost in their house. BML provides a means of collecting the coins and uses the money to provide clean water for families and children in India.
www.beanzmeanzlivez.com
Restoring the Sound (nominated by Graham Kendrick)
Preventing African schoolgoers from getting caught in a culture of gangs and violence. Restore The Sound uses music as a means to better themselves and their community.
www.restoringthesound.com
Baby Watoto (nominated by Chris Tomlin)
In Uganda, abandoned children—from newborns to two-year-olds—are given care, medical support and a loving environment and a future in a family as part of the Watoto Community.
www.watoto.com
Living Hope Community Centre (nominated by Michael W Smith)
Plays a vital role in the prevention, care, treatment and support of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, and other chronic illnesses in Cape Town, South Africa.
www.livinghope.co.za
Lakewood Missions (nominated by Israel Houghton)
Reaches out with hope and compassion through medical and humanitarian efforts, to assist people in great need.
www.lakewoodmissions.org
Links International (nominated by Martin & Anna Smith)
From micro-enterprise to clean water, Links International has been serving and inspiring the church to impact local communities around the world since 1985.
www.linksinternational.org.uk
(Nashville, TN) December 16, 2008 – The award-winning CompassionArt charity is giving away 100 million brand new songs from its upcoming CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty CD/DVD beginning today and through a limited time download via http://widget.nabbr.com/compassion_art.html. This groundbreaking giveaway features six songs written collectively by 12 acclaimed songwriters and recorded by the most well-known artists in the whole genre of Christian/Gospel music. Requesting donations for the songs, the goal is to engage people everywhere to help end world poverty.
The proceeds from the donations received for the CompassionArt songs’ downloads will go directly to supporting the relief of suffering around the planet. Anyone with a blog, MySpace or other social network website is also welcome to embed the widget found at http://widget.nabbr.com/compassion_art.html into their own sites to share the songs and donation opportunity with their online visitors.
The songs, including the current radio single “King of Wonders” being heard on the K-LOVE Radio Network and other stations across the country, will also be featured on the 14-song charity album, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty. The album, which includes a 50-minute DVD CompassionArt documentary, will be available at both physical and digital retail outlets everywhere beginning Jan. 27, 2009 in the US through EMI CMG. The recording also released last month in Europe and Scandinavia through Fierce!/Kingsway, Asia, Africa and South America through Integrity and Australia and New Zealand through Crossroads.
The 19 genre-defining songwriters/guest vocalists featured on the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty recording include: (Songwriters) Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech; and (Guest Vocalists) Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac and CeCe Winans. Together, they combine for: 101 million albums sold, 103 No. 1 songs, 32 GRAMMY Awards and 9 GRAMMY nominations this month alone, 202 Dove Awards, 18 Stellar Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and 116 CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
Remarkably, all 19 of these artists have come together to help the poorest of the poor through the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty songs. None of them will ever receive a dime for their efforts. And this is not just a one-time offering, but will be a forever offering for the life of the songs through CompassionArt. In addition to the songwriters and guest vocalists, the publishers, managers, record labels, copyright institutes and agents involved are donating their efforts on this project to CompassionArt.
“We started with 12 of the best-known Christian recording artists, who have come together to create an album and a book, with all proceeds and royalties going to break the hold of poverty on people’s lives around the world,” says CompassionArt founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith. “But we’re not stopping there; CompassionArt is evolving to connect, inspire and release compassion all over the world. You are an integral part of this process. Please join us in this next step by downloading and donating what you can for these songs.”
Four collective projects were chosen to receive 50% of the proceeds from these songs: Hand of Hope, offering relief and restoration for families caught up in Mumbai, India’s sex trade and food and education for children scraping survival on a rubbish dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/HandofHope); Stop The Traffik, a global movement against the trafficking of people that has more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries and a grassroots following of ordinary activists around the world (www.stopthetraffik.org); Ray of Hope, a team of people in remote parts of Brazil that meets the needs of children; food, education, support, advice, clothing, medical aid (www.rayofhopeamazon.com); and Watoto, a charity helping orphaned children to abused mothers, and helping to restore hope to people whose lives have been devastated by suffering, providing creative life centers, encouraging artistic education and plans for a better future for all (www.watoto.com).
The 12 projects being supported by the 12 CompassionArt songwriters receive the other 50% of the proceeds: For The Silent (forthesilent.org, Paul Baloche); Shaohannah’s Hope (www.shaohannahshope.org, Steven Curtis Chapman); Beanz Meanz Livez (www.beanzmeanzlivez.com, Stu G); Lakewood Missions (www.lakewoodmissions.org, Israel Houghton); Caring for Ex-Offenders and The Regeneration Trust (www.caringforexoffenders.org, Tim Hughes); Restoring the Sound (www.restoringthesound.com, Graham Kendrick); Compassion UK (www.compassionuk.org, Matt Redman); St Stephen’s (www.ststephenssociety.com, Andy Park); Links International (www.linksinternational.org.uk, Martin Smith); Living Hope Community Centre (www.livinghope.co.za, Michael W. Smith); Baby Watoto (www.watoto.com, Chris Tomlin); and Hope Rwanda (www.hoperwanda.org, Darlene Zschech).
CompassionArt, a charity based in Littlehampton, England, held a songwriters’ retreat in January 2008. The 12 songwriters worked together toward a common goal to write 10-12 songs for charity, but by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. The CompassionArt songwriters began recording the songs for the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty album in February at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England, with later recording sessions in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. Joining the songwriters and guest vocalists to work on the album were such acclaimed musicians, producers and engineers as Josiah Bell, Matt Bronleewe, Danny Duncan, Sam Gibson, Andy Hunt, Ted Jensen, Lakewood Choir, Dan Needham, Paul Moak, Jack Joseph Puig, The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Tommy Sims, Akil Thompson and the Watoto African Children’s Choir.
In addition to the recording and documentary, the 12 CompassionArt songwriters have written compelling, candid stories for a companion book, The Art of Compassion (FaithWords/Hachette Book Group, Hodder & Stoughton), releasing simultaneously with the album. This book tells firsthand accounts of extreme poverty around our planet as these songwriters move from ignorance and apathy through paralyzing awareness and end with a call to action, showing us the brutal cost of comfort in the Western world.
CompassionArt is not associated or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed by, Compassion International, Inc. Compassion® is a registered trademark of Compassion International, Inc.
More information on CompassionArt, including song clips, sheet music, news and more can be found at http://CompassionArt.tv.
(Nashville, TN) November 19, 2008 – Twelve CompassionArt songwriters, joined by seven genre-defining guest vocalists, have come together for an unprecedented offering to help the poorest of the poor through the 14-song charity album, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty. This groundbreaking recording, which includes a compelling 50-minute DVD CompassionArt documentary, will be available at both physical and digital retail outlets everywhere beginning Jan. 27, 2009 in the US through EMI CMG, and Nov. 24, 2008 in Europe and Scandinavia through Fierce!/Kingsway, Asia, Africa and South America through Integrity, and Australia and New Zealand through Crossroads.
Nineteen of the most well-known artists in the whole genre of Christian/Gospel music are featured on the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty recording: (Songwriters) Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, and Darlene Zschech; and (Guest Vocalists) Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac and CeCe Winans. Together, they combine for: 101 million albums sold, 103 No. 1 songs, 32 GRAMMY Awards, 202 Dove Awards, 18 Stellar Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and 116 CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
The goal of CompassionArt and this recording, including the current radio single “King of Wonders” being heard on the K-LOVE Radio Network and other stations across the country, is to engage people everywhere to help end world poverty. None of these artists will ever receive a dime for their efforts. And this is not just a one-time offering, but will be a forever offering for the life of the songs through CompassionArt. In addition to the songwriters and guest vocalists, the publishers, managers, record labels, copyright institutes and agents involved are donating their efforts on this project to CompassionArt.
CompassionArt is not a one-time Live Aid (1985 multi-venue rock concert benefit) concert, nor just one We Are The World (1985 charity radio song)-type song, but a whole album of original songs forever donated to the poor. Songs can be heard, recorded, re-recorded and sung for generations, earning royalties for publishers when the songs are played and through a variety of other outlets over many years. The song, “Happy Birthday,” generates an estimated $2 million a year for its publisher. That is the hope for these CompassionArt songs, except all the proceeds go to charity.
“We are a global community, an underground adventure, a map being drawn as we speak that connects wealth with poverty, art with hope, compassion with despair,” says CompassionArt founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith. “We have united ourselves as a community of artists and songwriters to give it all away. Please join us by purchasing the album, playing these songs and singing them in your church services.
“Every CompassionArt songwriter has nominated a charitable project that will share in half the proceeds that these songs raise,” continues Smith. “The projects supported include those that offer people primary healthcare, clean water, education and more. But we also wanted to do something together; we wanted to invest the other half of the proceeds in projects that would join the dots between art and compassion.”
Four collective projects were chosen to receive 50% of the proceeds from these songs: Hand of Hope, offering relief and restoration for families caught up in Mumbai, India’s sex trade and food and education for children scraping for survival on a rubbish dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/HandofHope); Stop The Traffik, a global movement against the trafficking of people that has more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries and a grassroots following of ordinary activists around the world (www.stopthetraffik.org); Ray of Hope, a team of people in remote parts of Brazil that meets the needs of children; food, education, support, advice, clothing and medical aid (www.rayofhopeamazon.com); and Watoto, a charity helping orphaned children to abused mothers, and helping to restore hope to people whose lives have been devastated by suffering, providing creative life centers, encouraging artistic education and plans for a better future for all (www.watoto.com).
The 12 projects being supported by the CompassionArt songwriters are: For The Silent (forthesilent.org, Paul Baloche); Shaohannah’s Hope (www.shaohannahshope.org, Steven Curtis Chapman); Beanz Meanz Livez (www.beanzmeanzlivez.com, Stu G); Lakewood Missions (www.lakewoodmissions.org, Israel Houghton); Caring for Ex-Offenders and The Regeneration Trust (www.caringforexoffenders.org, Tim Hughes); Restoring the Sound (www.restoringthesound.com, Graham Kendrick); Compassion UK (www.compassionuk.org, Matt Redman); St Stephen’s (www.ststephenssociety.com, Andy Park); Links International (www.linksinternational.org.uk, Martin Smith); Living Hope Community Centre (www.livinghope.co.za, Michael W Smith); Baby Watoto (www.watoto.com, Chris Tomlin); and Hope Rwanda (www.hoperwanda.org, Darlene Zschech).
CompassionArt, a charity based in Littlehampton, England, held a songwriters’ retreat in January 2008. The 12 songwriters worked together toward a common goal to write 10-12 songs for charity, but by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. The CompassionArt songwriters began recording the songs for the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty album in February at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England, with later recording sessions in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. Joining the songwriters and guest vocalists to work on the album were such acclaimed musicians, producers and engineers as Josiah Bell, Matt Bronleewe, Danny Duncan, Sam Gibson, Andy Hunt, Ted Jensen, Lakewood Choir, Dan Needham, Paul Moak, Jack Joseph Puig, The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Tommy Sims, Akil Thompson and the Watoto African Children’s Choir.
Catching the vision of CompassionArt early, several music festivals this past summer, including a couple of the largest festivals, Creation and Cornerstone, ran a three-minute CompassionArt promotional video on their JumboTrons in support of this movement. To preview the video, go to: www.CompassionArt.tv or CompassionArt: Creating Freedom from Poverty EPK Link. The full 50-minute CompassionArt documentary, featured with the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty recording, is being considered now by several networks for broadcast.
Notably, the Barnes & Noble of England, WH Smith, has chosen CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty to be a featured holiday release to promote in its 486 stores. Additionally, Covenant and Family Christian Stores have committed in advance to a full year of marketing and promotion around the album’s release, considering the recording the biggest upcoming release of 2009.
Recognized already for its charity work, CompassionArt became the recipient of the inaugural “Gospel Angel Award” presented by the Gospel Music Channel during the network's telecast of this year’s Dove Awards. With news about CompassionArt covered by the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, MTV.com, MSN, Canadian Press, ChristianMusicToday.com, Worship Musician, and hundreds of other publications across the U.S. and internationally, more information can be found at http://CompassionArt.tv.
CompassionArt Songwriter/Guest Vocalist Quotes:
“From beginning to end, the CompassionArt project has felt like the heart of God expressed through music, friendship, and charity. I’ve never experienced such a sense of unity as we spent the week writing songs and recording them for the benefit of others. I pray that the church will get behind this as all the royalties will go to help the poorest of the poor.” – Paul Baloche
“It is an honour for me to be involved in CompassionArt. I’ve been on the journey with Martin over the last few years having experienced first hand with Delirious the effects of extreme poverty and social injustice around the world. Writing these songs is just one way of helping to make a difference.” – Stu G (Delirious?)
“Hands down the best writing and recording experience of my life...Great interaction with the other writers and just incredible ‘God moments’ surrounding the whole process. My expectation is that those who hear it feel what we feel and help further our heart around this project.” – Israel Houghton
“There is something so special and exciting about CompassionArt. Combining great creativity with a heart and passion for the poorest of the poor and issues of justice seems to be a powerful combination. I really hope and pray this album will bless and inspire many people and will also raise money, resources and awareness to make a real impact in this world. This is God’s heart.” – Tim Hughes
“It is always such a joy to be a part of something so much bigger than yourself! I was humbled that Martin Smith gave me the opportunity to sing on this record! James 1:27 says 'religion that God accepts is caring for the widow and the orphan in there time of need.' So to me, anytime we take part in caring for the hopeless and the needy, we’re practicing being the body of Christ!” – Leeland Mooring
“I love the team dynamic of CompassionArt. The common dream we have to reach out to the world’s poor through this vision has made for lots of inspiring moments in both the songwriting stages and the studio. One of my favorite moments was gathering around the piano with Martin Smith, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes and Paul Baloche writing the ‘King of Wonders’ song - a song which started off when Steven Curtis Chapman and I wrote together. It was a great memory - friendship, worship, music and compassion all blended into one. I hope this music is going to travel all around the world, lifting up the name of Jesus in song, and lifting up the poor in His name.” – Matt Redman
“The time spent writing and recording these songs was one of the highlights of my life, and my hope is that these songs on the CompassionArt album will help feed the poor, satisfy the needs of the oppressed and reach out to the downtrodden.” – Michael W. Smith
“When we look at the need in the world individually, it is a bit overwhelming and can cause us throw up our hands and say, ‘What could I ever do to make a difference?’ But together we are strong and can create ripples of change. That’s why I am happy to be a part of CompassionArt. I hope the music inspires and increases the vision for what can be done when we come together.” – Chris Tomlin
“My prayer to God The Father is to have a heart like His, full of love and compassion. Being a part of the CompassionArt project is a great honor because its mission is the heart of God.” – CeCe Winans
“The recording process might be over, but the real work of CompassionArt has just begun. Our heart and mission to relieve human suffering means for the rest of our lives we will live with our hearts fuelled in worship to have our lives poured out in service. I pray for continued wisdom and revelation, and for great grace and kindness, as justice makes a way for those who until now have only known grave suffering.” – Darlene Zschech
Tenth
Avenue North (Reunion
Records) is proud to announce its new partnership with child sponsorship
organization, Compassion International. Mike Donehey, lead vocalist and
songwriter for Tenth Avenue North, stated, “One of the things we love most
about Compassion is that it’s not about Compassion. If you go to one of their
sites you won’t see a Compassion banner, but instead you’ll see the church in
that area giving to their community exactly what it needs. The empowering of
the local church to be the hands and feet of Jesus is what we want to be about,
and its what we feel Compassion does best.” Wess Stafford, President,
Compassion International commented, “I’m thrilled that Tenth Avenue North will
be joining Compassion’s effort to release children from the evil of poverty
throughout the world in Jesus name. I’m confident that the Lord will use the
message and example of Tenth Avenue North in a mighty way to draw caring
sponsors into the lives of children who so desperately need to hear His message
of love and hope.” For more information on Tenth Avenue North, please visit www.tenthavenuenorth.com.
ATLANTA (October 8, 2008) – Passionate and spirit-filled musical
performances are the hallmark of Tye Tribbett & G.A. (Greater
Anointing) and they do not disappoint in their dynamic Front Row Live
concert world premiering on Sunday, Oct. 12 on Gospel Music Channel.
Front Row Live: Tye Tribbett will premiere at 10 PM ET on Oct. 12
with an encore broadcast Monday 2 AM ET and again Wednesday, Oct. 15 at
9 PM ET/PT. Front Row Live is GMC’s original series featuring
powerhouse artists hosting their own performances while sharing their
musical inspirations in front of specially-invited audiences. Front Row
Live saves fans the cost of gas and a concert ticket for an
extraordinary hour of entertainment.
A riveting, joyful and challenging hour of high energy music and
choreography, Front Row Live: Tye Tribbett showcases music from
Tribbett’s latest CD StandOUT.
The critically acclaimed and chart-topping CD was described by
GospelMusicChannel.com: “Tribbett & G.A. definitely have another
winner here with StandOUT. This team holds nothing back,
continually pushing the boundaries of the contemporary gospel genre.
There is no doubt this album will be another chart-topper, and
rightfully so.”
Tribbett & G.A. perform the new CD’s title track, “Stand Out,”
as well as “Hold On,” “Bless The Lord,” “I Need You,” “Let Us Worship,”
and “So Amazing.” The Stellar Award winner also performs “Victory,”
“Still Have Joy” and “Everything” from his hit-making CD Victory Live.
Tye Tribbett is a husband, father, Gospel singer, songwriter, and
producer who is widely known for his high energy, dramatic performances
and choreography. His first two albums, Life (2004) and Victory Live!
(2006) propelled Tye & G.A. to the top of the Gospel music charts
and garnered three GRAMMY nominations and multiple Stellar Gospel
Awards. His latest StandOUT solidified Tribbett’s position as
one of the hottest gospel artists today by debuting at #1 on the Gospel
charts and remains in the top 10 since its release in May.
Upcoming world premiere Front Row Live concerts include: the Gospel
Music Channel debut of Wynonna (Oct. 18), newsboys on Oct. 25 and
Newworldson on Nov. 1. For complete Gospel Music Channel programming,
visit http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule.
Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com)
is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in
more than 40 million homes nationwide and on DIRECTV on channel 338.
For the first time, live messages from the founder of the Passion movement are available in retail outlets. Louie Giglio, Visionary Architect and Director of Passion Conferences/sixstepsrecords, shares three of his most compelling talks in The Passion Talk Series (Sparrow/sixstepsrecords), which arrive in retail stores April 29, 2008. The three sought-after DVDs, entitled Indescribable, How Great is Our God, and Hope—When Life Hurts Most, are each accompanied by a corresponding music CD.
Each Passion Talk Series DVD is a live video talk containing a full-length message from Giglio, as well as a bonus music CD. Each DVD combo will retail for $14.99 and feature five songs from Passion/sixsteprecords artists, which complement the accompanying DVD talk.
"The amazing thing about this series, is that without any real promotion more than 100,000 copies have already been sold directly through Passion's website," says Peter York, EMI CMG Label Group president. "We believe making these talks available through wider retail distribution will finally allow us to begin meeting the growing demand for this message."
More than 500,000 students have attended a Passion event during the past decade, and more than 1.6 million copies of live Passion event albums have been sold. Passion and Louie Giglio have been featured in many media outlets including The New York Times and the cover of Christianity Today.
Indescribable, recorded during Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable Tour” in 2005, features a 45-minute talk from Giglio. Using powerful imagery, Giglio stuns the audience with God’s unfathomable expanse and ultimate sacrifice. The DVD’s companion CD features five songs:
· “Indescribable” - Chris Tomlin
· “Center” - Charlie Hall
· “Shine” - Matt Redman
· “Famous One” - Chris Tomlin
· “Stars” - David Crowder*Band
How Great is Our God was recorded during Chris Tomlin’s 2007 “How Great is Our God” tour. In this talk, Giglio reveals how God’s creative power is big enough to create the stars, yet intricate enough to fashion together the trillions of cells that make up every facet of human life. The DVD’s companion CD features five songs:
· “Remedy” - David Crowder*Band
· “You Never Let Go” - Matt Redman
· “Glory in the Highest” - Chris Tomlin
· “On the Road to Beautiful” - Charlie Hall
· “How Great is Our God” - Chris Tomlin
Hope—When Life Hurts Most features a two-part message from Giglio on the unparalleled hope and peace found in the cross of Jesus. Giglio reveals that it’s in the midst of life’s darkest moments that lives can be leveraged most for His fame. The DVD’s companion CD features five songs:
· “Blessed Be Your Name” - Matt Redman
· “Here is Our King” - David Crowder*Band
· “You are God” - Charlie Hall
· “Never Let Go” - David Crowder*Band
· “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” - Chris Tomlin
Louie Giglio is the director of Passion Conferences, a movement among 18-25 year olds that is challenging this collegiate generation to live lives that amplify the glory and majesty of Jesus. Giglio has earned degrees from Georgia State University and Southwestern Theological Seminary, and is a passionate communicator who desires to glorify God in all things. Giglio lives in Atlanta with his wife Shelley. For more on the Passion Talk Series and Passion Conferences, go to www.268generation.com.
COMPASSIONART SONGWRITERS RECORD IN NASHVILLE, JOINED BY GUEST VOCALISTS TOBYMAC, LEELAND MOORING
Record Labels Discuss Jointly Releasing Upcoming Album To Benefit The World’s Poorest Of The Poor
(Nashville, TN) March 19, 2008 – Compassionart songwriters, Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Andy Park, Martin Smith and Michael W. Smith continued to record songs last week that were written during a retreat in January. Meeting at Pentavarit Studio in Nashville, the studio hummed with activity as the songwriters were joined by guest vocalists tobyMac and Leeland Mooring (of the band Leeland), each putting down their signature vocals on tracks that were started at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. Friends like Charlie Peacock and Eddie DeGarmo dropped by to spend time with the songwriters, as well as listen to the progression of the Compassionart songs. Guiding the tracks at the production helm for this recording session was Matt Bronleewe (Natalie Imbruglia, “Evan Almighty” [Soundtrack], dc Talk, “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere) and Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Shane & Shane, Derek Webb), and engineering was Andy Hunt (Jars of Clay, Good Charlotte, Buddy Guy).
Nashville’s top daily paper, The Tennessean, broke the news Wednesday about the recording session and a meeting that Compassionart founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith was to have with record labels about jointly releasing the upcoming Compassionart album. Martin was quoted as saying, “This is a challenge for the industry, as I am talking to the labels now about how to put this album out together.” Following the meeting that included EMI CMG President and CEO Bill Hearn, Provident Music Group President and CEO Terry Hemmings and Integrity Media Chief Marketing Officer Daniel McGuffey, Martin was encouraged, saying, “There was a real spirit of wanting to work together.” The resulting Compassionart studio album is being planned for a late fall release.
Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, hosted a songwriter’s retreat in Scotland, UK. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the songwriters set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. In addition to those recording this week, Compassionart songwriters include Stu Garrard (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and Darlene Zschech. Together the songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
The first Compassionart song that will be released is “So Great,” recorded by Michael W. Smith, Christy Nockels and Israel Houghton and to be featured on the WOW Hits 1 release in April.
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.
For more information on Compassionart, go to http://compassionart.co.uk/.
(Littlehampton, England) February 29, 2008 – Compassionart hosted several internationally recognized songwriters last week at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England to record songs written collectively at a retreat in January to benefit the poorest of the poor. Joining the recording were songwriters Paul Baloche, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Michael W. Smith and Chris Tomlin, as well as acclaimed drummer Dan Needham (Amy Grant, Vanessa Williams, Michael McDonald), GRAMMY winning bassist Tommy Sims (Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, James Morrison), and guitarist/keyboardist Akil Thompson (Mandisa, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen). Engineering the sessions at Abbey Road were Sam Gibson (Pearl Jam, Natalie Imbruglia, Hillsongs United, Crowded House), Danny Duncan (Bruce Springsteen, Usher) and Josiah Bell (Vickie Winans, Smokie Norful). The resulting music will be heard in a Compassionart studio album being planned for a late fall release.
“Wow, we’re in ‘The Beatles’ room. We had four songs to track today and we’ve done it!” remarks Compassionart founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith on the last day at Abbey Road Studios. “It was an amazing week, I’ll never forget it. No egos, no arguments. There was definitely a united feeling; a real sense of love for what is being accomplished.”
“A deep camaraderie has developed between us as we are joining our energies to serve the Kingdom of God through this unique project,” confirms Baloche. “Please pray that our efforts will be multiplied many times in the months and years to come.”
Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, hosted an unprecedented gathering of award winning songwriters in Scotland, UK Jan 7 – 11, including the aforementioned songwriters and Steven Curtis Chapman, Tim Hughes, Andy Park and Darlene Zschech. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the songwriters set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs.
Of these 22 songs, 13 songs have been recorded to date, 12 from last week’s studio sessions at Abbey Road, plus the song “So Great” that was recorded earlier by Michael W. Smith and Israel Houghton for an April release on the popular WOW Hits 1 brand. Future Compassionart recording sessions are being planned now.
Together the Compassionart songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.
For more information on Compassionart, go to http://compassionart.co.uk/.
Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton Record Compassionart Song
“So Great” for April’s WOW Hits 1 Release
Chris Tomlin Joins Songwriters for Recording
(Littlehampton, England) February 18, 2008 – Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England and dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor, has reserved the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England this week to begin recording songs written collectively at a retreat in January by a team of internationally recognized songwriters. Several of these songwriters are re-grouping in the UK today for the recording, including: Paul Baloche, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Graham Kendrick, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?) and Michael W. Smith. The resulting music will be for a Compassionart studio album being planned for a late fall release.
Although not able to attend last month’s retreat, 2006/2007 Gospel Music Association Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Tomlin contributed to one of the songs written at the retreat and will be joining the others at Abbey Road to record.
“I know that Compassionart is in the heart of God,” says Tomlin. “I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of it. What an amazing gathering of people and songwriters.”
While all of the Compassionart songwriters will not be able to gather in London for this recording session, future recording opportunities are being planned now. Additionally, Michael W. Smith, who has called the recent Compassionart retreat “one of the most significant weeks of his life,” and 2008 GRAMMY winner, Israel Houghton, have already recorded the song, “So Great.” The song will become the first from the Compassionart retreat to be released to the public in April and on the popular WOW Hits 1 brand.
“There are two amazing forces that exist in the world: Compassion for those in need and Art that helps us see beyond ourselves,” notes Martin Smith, Delirious? lead vocalist and Compassionart writer/founder. “What could happen if you brought the two together? What could happen if you gathered some of the top songwriters in our scene to bring their art to the table for the sole reason of raising money for the poorest of the poor? Well I can tell you, it was amazing! 'So Great' is taken from the forthcoming Compassionart record and I hope it gives you a taste of what’s to come.”
Compassionart hosted an unprecedented gathering of award winning songwriters in Scotland, UK Jan 7 – 11, including the aforementioned songwriters and Steven Curtis Chapman, Tim Hughes, Andy Park and Darlene Zschech. Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, the songwriters set out to write 10-12 songs and, by the end of the retreat, had completed 22 new songs. Together these songwriters account for at least 42 million albums sold, 82 No. 1 songs, 10 GRAMMY Awards, 110 Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, two American Music Awards, and 98 current CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world.
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart. The songs are to be given through Compassionart to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved.
For more information on Compassionart, go to http://compassionart.co.uk/.
North America: For more information contact: Rick Hoganson, Hoganson Media Relations, 615-459-9870, Hoganson@comcast.net.
UK/Europe: For more information contact: Paul Smith, Compassionart, paulsmith@compassionart.co.uk.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Jan. 24, 2008 –sixstepsrecords presents the latest of its award-winning live offerings, Passion: God of This City, on Feb. 5. With Passion event CDs selling more than 1.6 million copies, its long-awaited eleventh disc includes moments from Passion’07 in Atlanta and Passion Regional: USA Gatherings in Boston and Chicago last fall as well as a new live recording of Chris Tomlin’s recent No. 1 radio hit “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).”
Passion: God of This City, Passion's first new recording in almost two years, features songs from Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and Fee. Partially recorded at Passion ’07 in Atlanta last Jan. 1-4, Passion’s largest indoor gathering to date with more than 23,000 students, the project includes songs never-before-recorded by Passion or sixstepsrecords such as “God of This City,” “Hosanna,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Beautiful Jesus,” “Walk the World,” and “God Of Our Yesterdays.” (see full track list below)
A first in Passion’s 11-year history, the movement is hosting gatherings in six major collegiate cities through April 2008. Among the first tour stops were Boston and Chicago, where songs like “Dancing Generation,” “God Of Our Yesterdays,” and “We Shine” were recorded. Also special to Passion: God of This City are two new Chris Tomlin songs, “Sing, Sing, Sing” and title track “God of This City,” written by Belfast, Ireland band Bluetree as a prayer for one of the world’s darkest cities, Padia, Thailand. Tomlin additionally recorded a live version of his radio hit “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” last week at No. 1 on the Radio & Records Christian AC Monitored chart and the Mediabase Christian AC chart for a second consecutive week.
“Passion: God Of This City is more than just another collection of ‘Passion songs,’ although I couldn’t be more excited about the breadth of the artists represented and the new music this release will offer to the church worldwide,” says Louie Giglio, Passion Conferences and sixstepsrecords founder and director. “But more, this project captures the pulse of the Passion Movement as we prepare to circle the globe in 2008. The title track, “God Of This City,” is a powerful declaration of hope to people everywhere that greater things have yet to come, and exactly the message we want to carry to the students of London, Sao Paulo, Jakarta, Seoul and beyond.”
“With God Of This City, the Passion movement continues to set the standard for live recordings and also finds some new inspiration,” says Brad O’Donnell, vice president of A&R for EMI CMG. “There are a number of new songs that we believe will be important to the Church and many incredible moments captured here. This record really benefited from a few things we haven’t had for the last few Passion records: the energy that comes from being in smaller venues and the ability to choose between multiple performances of songs from different cities. We were able to look for the moments that something truly unexpected happened. We couldn’t be happier with how the record came out.”
Produced by Nathan Nockels (Tim Hughes, Watermark, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman), Passion: God of This City poignantly captures the voices of students crying out for God to move powerfully among their generation and throughout the globe. Appropriately, the music of Passion: God of This City will also play an important role in Passion Conferences’ first world tour. Kicking off this spring, the tour will gather university students in 18 influential cities around the world, including Kiev, Stockholm, Sao Paulo, Kampala (Uganda), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Paris, London, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Jakarta (Indonesia), Sydney, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mexico City, Vancouver, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong (list tentative and subject to change). The album’s songs and artists will be involved along with Passion founder/director Louie Giglio. Additional information is forthcoming.
For more information on Passion: God of This City, visit www.sixstepsrecords.com or www.268generation.com.
Let God Arise – Chris Tomlin
You Are God – Charlie Hall
God Of This City – Chris Tomlin
O, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing – David Crowder*Band
Hosanna – Christy Nockels
Sing, Sing, Sing – Chris Tomlin
Beautiful Jesus – Kristian Stanfill
Walk The World – Charlie Hall
We Shine – Fee
God Of Our Yesterdays – Matt Redman
The Glory Of It All – David Crowder*Band
Shine – Matt Redman
Dancing Generation – Matt Redman
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
(Littlehampton, England) January 14, 2008 – What began as a vision for
Delirious? frontman Martin Smith and his wife Anna over a year ago has finally came to fruition this past week. Some of the world’s greatest songwriters were brought together for the Compassionart songwriter’s retreat in an effort to create ongoing global relief for the poorest of the poor. Setting out to write 10-12 songs, these songwriters far surpassed that goal completing 22 new songs during the retreat held last week at the House of Cantle in Perthshire, Scotland. The songs are to be given to the world not just to sing, but also to raise money for the relief of suffering around the planet. One hundred percent of the proceeds derived from the songs will go directly to charity.
Working together toward a common goal involving no personal gain, internationally recognized songwriters attending the retreat included: Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu Garrard (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech. While many of the writers were only professional acquaintances at the beginning of the week, by the end of the week they not only created what may come to be world changing songs, but also life-long friendships.
“I can’t even tell you how rewarding it was to hang out with people who really get you and what you’re about,” Paul Baloche says. “It’s a great way to start a new year, that’s for sure. That deep connection has made all the difference in collaborating together.”
“With an unabashed sense of anticipation about the future of these new worship songs, everyone from Steven Curtis Chapman to Darlene Zschech to Matt Redman is holed up in the studios at the House of Cantle, laying down track after track,” writes journalist Christa Banister on the last day of the gathering. “And even though the pace has been nearly non-stop, the excitement in the studio has yet to fade. These artists clearly love working together, and the challenge of accomplishing so much in such a short time seems to have invigorated them.”
“We’ve done it; we just need to record these songs now,” confirms Martin. “It’s been awesome. I’m proud, in awe, exhilarated and tired. Good days, great days.”
In addition to the songwriters, the publishers, managers, copyright institutes and agents involved have all waived their rights and are donating their efforts on this project to Compassionart, a charity based in Littlehampton, England that is dedicated to seeing works of art generate income for the poorest of the poor. One half of the monies received over the songs’ lifetimes will go to the songwriters’ charity of choice, and the other 50% will go to a charitable project agreed upon by all the songwriters involved, which is still being discussed.
For more information on the Compassionart songwriter’s retreat, go to
http://compassionart.co.uk or
www.delirious.co.uk/livingroom/blog.php
(Littlehampton, England) January 11, 2008 – The Compassionart songwriter’s retreat began Monday with the admirable goal of receiving 10-12 songs to be given to the world not just to sing, but to raise money for the relief of suffering for the poorest of the poor around the planet. On target to surpass that initial goal, Compassionart founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith says, “We now have 21 songs; all are strong.”
“There are times in history when people join together to do something great and lay down their own agenda, their own territory,” continues Martin. “It’s been especially touching to see everyone be themselves and be vulnerable in front of each other. Yet when a group plays its song, the whole room erupts. It’s just pure Christianity. It’s a team thing of people lifting each other up.”
“In a word, this week has simply been ‘unbelievable,’” says Michael W. Smith. “It’s incredible to be working with all of these artists for a worthy cause. Laying down your own agenda really frees you in so many ways, and this week has been a pure joy.”
Compassionart is hosting internationally recognized songwriters Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu Garrard (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech in Perthshire, Scotland.
The latest blog from author and journalist Christa Banister, who is attending the retreat that ends today, can be found at www.delirious.co.uk/livingroom/blog.php. One fellow blogger, after reading her posting, wrote, “There are those moments in history that changed history and you just hear about them. It is amazing that I am seeing history being made in my lifetime. One day I won’t just tell the historians I heard about the great evangelists of the 1800's, but I will be telling the next generations about the worship revolution that happened in my time.”
For more information on the Compassionart songwriter’s retreat, go to www.compassionart.co.uk.
*** Below is a blog by journalist Christa Banister.
January 10, 2008
Perthshire, Scotland—It’s been four days, and there’s still a pervasive sense of wonder for every artist involved in the CompassionArt event.
For Delirious frontman Martin Smith and his wife Anna, it was a longtime dream fulfilled that has far surpassed their wildest expectations. “When I was getting to bed the first night, I still couldn’t believe that everyone here was really under the same roof,” Smith says. “I was nervous and excited. And now that we’re inching toward the end of the week, the electricity was more than I could’ve ever imagined.”
That “electricity” has resulted in one successful collaboration after the next—a process that starts in the early morning and continues into the wee hours of the evening. And while these artists could technically call it “work,” the laughter that emerges from the practice rooms seems to indicate that work and play seamlessly go hand and hand.
“In a word, this week has simply been unbelievable,” says Michael W. Smith. “It’s incredible to be working with all of these artists for a worthy cause. Laying down your own agenda really frees you in so many ways, and this week has been a pure joy.”
Speaking of pure joy, the picturesque Scotland scenery was the perfect backdrop for the creative process. Following a tour of the sights in Glencoe, including lunch at a proper Scottish pub, the falling snow inspired a spontaneous snowball fight. In case you ever wondered, Darlene Zschech may have a cherubic face, but she’s got a killer instinct. Who knew, right?
All joking aside, Martin can’t help but be proud of what’s resulted from these artists’ time together.
“There are times in history when people join together to do something great and lay down their own agenda, their own territory. It’s been especially touching to see everyone be themselves and be vulnerable in front of each other. Yet when a group plays its song, the whole room erupts. It’s just pure Christianity. It’s a team thing of people lifting each other up.”
ChristianMusicToday.com says PASSION: EVERYTHING GLORIOUS, recorded live at the recent Passion 06 worship gathering, "could well be the best in the series to date."
PASSION: EVERYTHING GLORIOUS features exclusive new in-concert songs from Chris Tomlin ("Glorious," "Party"), David Crowder*Band (title track), and Matt Redman ("You Never Let Go") plus inspiring performances by Charlie Hall, Christy Nockels, and Kristian Stanfill.
The online review continues: "While it seemed like an impossible task for this disc to top last year's fantastically crafted HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD, this new disc outshines its predecessor with well-written, heartfelt songs that are produced with excellence (by Watermark's Nathan Nockels) and performed with panache (and sheer enthusiasm) that should result from worshipping God . . . It's this attention to detail that really sets this disc apart from the usual worship fare . . . there's still something fresh, exciting and passionate to be contributed to the modern worship arena."
Read the full review here, and be sure to see and share the PASSION: EVERYTHING GLORIOUS e-card.
