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ONE JAM NATION

His Love Will Never Fail Us, And Will Never Let Go

by Jennifer Alden February 1, 2025

written by Jennifer Alden

The definition of revival is the act of reviving, and to digest something is the process of absorbing it into the body, or information that the mind can absorb.

Just as with any other person in your life, communication is essential in strengthening your relationship with God. Understanding His laws, having this relational covenant with Him, helps us to understand Him, to learn His heart, and to, ultimately, allow Him to lead us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not unto our own understanding, but in ALL our ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct our paths.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are an important part of what it means to follow Him, and in having this relationship with Him.

As this world goes through this period, or instance, of reviving, there does seem to be a mutual understanding about this much-needed change. But if we’re not seeking revival in our hearts, how do we plan on changing anything that matters? And if it isn’t a heart-matter (at all), how do we expect to show this love?

Revival In Our Daily Prayer

Through regular prayer and study of the Bible, the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the understanding of God’s plan, and our part in it.

Hebrews 8:10 says, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

What’s happening today, the choices of the people on this earth, is taking a huge toll on our planet. With earthquakes, fires, and other worldly events taking place, our response has not been adequate. We’re in a season of reckoning in this world, and it is high time that we must all stop and fully pay attention.

What’s happening can be very troubling; but, we should never consider it a shortage of God’s love, or that somehow He has abandoned us.

Revival In Our Hearts

Through this daily prayer, and in reading His Holy Scripture, He is developing this heart-change (inside of us), and all while His Holy Spirit continues to sway our minds (to trust and follow Him).

We, as a human race, are living in a stark reality of what has taken place in the world, especially the last five years (with Covid). And as hate and anger are still trying to take the front seat of many lives, God is calling us to repent, and instead, love one another.

We’ve come to this moment in time, when every voice wants to be heard. My only hope is that as each one begins to speak, we will do so with grace, and for the purpose of this reconciliation and forgiveness.

It is true, we must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, and yes, all in choosing this solidarity. I believe that as we pursue this “path of peace,” solidarity will follow.

Let us pray that our minds will always be open to Him for this revival, and that our hearts will always be open to #morelove.♥️

Watch Studio 5 with Efrem Graham, as he shares this remarkable story of faith from one police officer (in 2020) who decided to follow his passion, and ultimately, started a movement.

The Casey And Cindy Cleveland Story: Discovering Your Strength In Times Of Unexpected Loss And Uncertainty

by Jennifer Alden November 1, 2024

written by Jennifer Alden

We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Background

Casey Cleveland was our guest before Christmas in 2015, when we had the privilege of sharing his story ON AIR for the very first time. He returned just a few years later with his wife, Cindy, and his dear friend and pastor, Mark Reynolds, to share new music, as well as some updates on his progress.

You see, Casey’s story is quite remarkable. In April 2014, at the young age of 40, Casey suffered a severe stroke from which many were concerned he would not recover. As Casey and his family trust in the healing power of God, Casey has continued to defy all expectations.

Quiet Strength

Cindy “Lou” Cleveland shared their miraculous story in the book, Quiet Strength: A True Story of Unexpected Loss and Unexplainable Peace, receiving rave reviews, both locally and internationally.

In Quiet Strength, Cindy shares how her fairytale life turns tragic, as she and her family navigate a quick succession of unexpected losses, financial woes, health hardships, and even death.

Cindy explains, “Ephesians 2:10 says, ‘We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, and that we should walk in them.’ We just knew that He had a bigger plan for us, and that involved all of us (our whole family). What we were going through with Casey, in being a witness to His ultimate healing, is just one part of this divine plan.”

The Cleveland Family

Casey Cleveland was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and has lived in Florida, since he was just two weeks old. His passions include music and ministry, as well as media production. Casey and Cindy married in April 2000. Together, they have five children (four boys), and a beautiful daughter in Heaven. They have spent more than twenty years leading worship in various denominations across the United States. Cindy adds, “We have also led community worship events called, Experience CommUNITY. We are very involved in our church, and appreciate doing this community outreach, whenever we can.”

Cindy and her family have not lost hope, as they each cling closely to their heavenly Father, finding renewed strength for each new challenge along their way. It’s in this place of full-surrender that they’ve experienced, as a family, this “unexplainable peace” that none of them can deny.

Cindy Cleveland has gone on to share a platform with her family in speaking to women’s groups, local and national conferences, sharing their extraordinary testimony of faith and courage, through their book, world-wide. They have continued to beat the odds of overcoming their life-obstacles, allowing God to take their ministry to a whole new level.

You, too, can discover your purpose in pain, discovering the source of your quiet strength, like the thousands of others who have also heard their story.

It is time to be inspired by your own journey, finding this hope in the “quiet strength” of your own lives.

A Daily Devotion – Like A Moth To The Flame

by Jennifer Alden July 1, 2024

written by Jennifer Alden

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. – Matthew 5:11

It’s amazing to me, this many years later, what can come out of a daily devotion. In early 2016, around the same time we had hard launched our radio ministry, ONE JAM NATION Radio, I subscribed to Greg Laurie’s Harvest Ministries. It was on my heart to follow, learning more about the heart of other ministries.

Every morning, I would receive a daily devotion from Greg Laurie, and the one he wrote for Saturday, April 30, 2016, was so very relevant to me. That day, I had written on the same topic. It was a powerful confirmation of what, I believe, God was also trying to show me.

Jesus, The Friend of Sinners

Greg Laurie shared, “How was Jesus known when He walked this earth? He was known as ‘the friend of sinners’. We might think that sounds like a compliment now, but it wasn’t meant as a compliment then.

Some members of the Jewish leadership establishment were appalled that Jesus would hang out with sinners. No, He never compromised—this was our Holy God in the flesh. But He loved these outcasts, this off-scouring of society, and they knew that He loved them. They were drawn by that love just like moths are drawn to a lantern…”

As Greg’s daily devotion encourages us to do, we need to love people in the same way. Since we’re going to be persecuted, let’s be persecuted for the right reasons… Not for being self-righteous, but for being righteous.

Being Human

Being human in nature, and in living by our flesh, we do tend to judge people based on this status quo. We measure their importance by how many “likes” or “follows” they may have, or maybe their position in life: doctor, lawyer, etc.

Do we consider, often enough, just helping someone for the sake of helping? Or what about loving someone for the sake of loving? And have we considered what our daily devotion may look like to God?

We are all in a different place in our walk with the Lord. Are we willing to be that help to someone, in their time of need? Are we willing to be that friend, when no one else will?

Peace within the Body

Peace within the body, truly, does require a peace within its many working parts. When we’re able to see past our own differences, focusing instead on what the Word of God has to say, understanding what He has revealed to us in our time of daily devotion, then, and only then, will we be able to help make this happen.

No matter what barriers the world may try to produce, we must all remember that we are created in His likeness – He puts us together, utilizing our gifts, our talents, and in a very special way. Being among others who do not always see eye to eye, can be a challenge; but, it should not hinder us from loving them, just the same.

Jesus is indeed the friend of sinners, and as we lead our lives as faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, we can help draw souls more near to Him.

And yes, just like a moth to the flame.

Burmese Leader Who Experienced An Extraordinary Miracle Is Leading His Village To Christ

by Jennifer Alden April 1, 2024

written by Jennifer Alden

Everyone loves to hear a story of an extraordinary miracle, when working in media, and I’ve had the privilege of hearing some of the most God-honoring testimonies.

This has been such an encouragement to me in my work with One Jam Nation, and as we’ve worked with other ministries through the airwaves, sharing the Gospel around the world.

These testimonies challenge us in our calling to fulfill the Great Commission, and this one from Burma/Myanmar is one that I’ve been encouraged to share again.

An Extraordinary Miracle of Healing and Salvation

The following story is of a Burmese village leader who experienced a Christmas miracle that led many of his villagers towards a new life in Jesus Christ.

Years ago, the Burmese leader’s son had contracted a debilitating illness that only grew worse with time. At the age of 11, the boy could barely eat or sleep due to severe fever. No doctor in the region could diagnose the child’s illness, and no medicine or mysticism was able to improve his health. After years of hoping and trying, the village leader had lost almost all hope for his son.

The Message Ministries & Missions’ team through their “Christmas Blessing Project” gave this Burmese village leader a new gleam of hope. One of their Burmese partners provided warm blankets and jackets for the unreached village, also conducting a special Christmas evangelistic meeting. During the meeting, the leader watched in awe as many of his villagers received healing in Jesus’ name, who were also hearing the Gospel for the very first time.

That night, the village leader visited the pastor in secret, asking him to pray for Jesus to heal his dear son. In response to that prayer, God accomplished what years of both mysticism and medicine could not. God healed his son!

In response to this miracle, the village leader and his whole family received Jesus Christ, as their Savior. When the village leader shared his testimony with the rest of the villagers, even more followed him to the Savior.

Today, the village’s inhabitants meet together every Sunday to receive Bible teaching, give testimony, and worship the Lord who saved and healed them. Many have abandoned drug abuse and opium harvesting, to follow their new-found Christ.

Message Ministries & Missions is an evangelical non-profit missions organization that exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving power and grace throughout the world. “The most effective way to reach a nation is by the loving labors of its native Christians,” founder Brian Mark Weller explains.

“Jesus died to save a world lost in the darkness of sin. We place the message of Jesus’ salvation at the forefront of all that we do. We reach the lost through local churches, dedicated evangelists, special outreaches, and by evangelism training,” Brian continues.

“We seek to love the whole world by providing practical needs. We do this through feeding centers, orphanages, job training, emergency relief and more.”

Living Everyday As If It Were Christmas

The spirit of Christmas is given each day in every act of kindness that we show one another. It’s in how we love our families, our spouses, our children, and in how we treat a perfect stranger.

It is true, peace on earth will come, when we choose to live everyday as if it were Christmas. Jesus is God’s perfect gift, and we can choose to share this most precious gift, every day of the year.

1 John 3:18 teaches us not to love with just words or speech, but with actions and in truth. As we are each being called to join the mission of bringing the lost back to Him, and in sharing this truth with all of His children, it is my heart to celebrate the many ministries who are in the trenches, and on the battlefields, bringing the wounded in.

It is “the Great Commission” that we are laboring together to accomplish. And as you go, preach, saying, “‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons” (see Matthew 10:7-8).

Let us acknowledge that as we’ve been freely given, let us also freely give.

They’re Living Out Their Mission To Be Unspoken Testimonies To God’s Love And Power

by Jennifer Alden February 26, 2022

written by Jennifer Alden

Unspoken Releases Its First Single Of 2022, “Love Is Everything We Need”; YouTube Premieres Video Featuring Cameos By Victoria Jackson, Richard Lee Jackson, And More

On February 18, Centricity Music recording artist Unspoken released “Love Is Everything We Need” to radio, digital retail and streaming outlets everywhere. The band’s debut single of 2022 is also the lead song from its first full-length album in three years, which is slated to release in July.

Receiving over 236 million on-demand streams, 125 million music video views, 457,000 album sales and 870,000 track sales, Unspoken’s music is as distinct as its roots. Its soulful, pop-flavored songs are led by the Adam Levine-esque vocals of Chad Mattson.

Unspoken: Love Is Everything We Need

With no fear of mixing it up, whether backed by a horn section, gospel choir or hip-hop rhythms, the band released its self-titled album in 2014. The album featured “Start A Fire,” the band’s first radio single and No. 1 AC hit that launched them into headliner positions on tour the following year. The band’s sophomore album, Follow Through (2016), debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Christian Album Chart while its current album, Reason (2019), sparked the band’s biggest, multiformat No. 1 hit song so far, “Reason.” Unspoken’s Top 10 AC hits include: “Who You Are,” “Lift My Life Up,” “Good Fight” and “You’ve Always Been.” Having toured with TobyMac, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Big Daddy Weave and more, Unspoken band members are living out their mission to be unspoken testimonies to God’s love and power, and to speak what oftentimes goes unspoken.

Revealing the impetus behind the new song, Unspoken’s lead vocalist Chad Mattson shares, “These last couple of years, we, as believers, have had to have some really strong conversations because in our culture, we find it hard to disagree on certain things, and still love and be kind to each other.”

“There is this polarization of beliefs, yet Jesus reveals to us in John chapter 13 that it’s love that identifies us with being his kids (his children). We can disagree, but we can all agree on the fact that we need to love and respect each other, even when we are at different places in our lives politically, socially, even religiously. ‘Love Is Everything We Need’ is a song of encouragement for believers, to find ways to love each other, even when we don’t see eye to eye on everything. Our love is one of the biggest testimonies we have,” explains Mattson.

A Song of Distinction

“Love Is Everything We Need” is a heartfelt and deeply enriched song, with lyrics that are lovingly written, simple in their understanding, and an encouragement to us all. They are an instant reminder of the twice-told tale of who we are as followers of Christ, and why we must press on in our journey.

I have personally followed Unspoken for many years of their career. I am especially grateful for the various artists who did not give up in the middle of this pandemic, instead pressing in and taking their music to this deeper place: a place of revelation.

We, as believers, need to hold fast to this truth of knowing who we are in Christ, Who we belong to, and why it is that we can never stop believing. Doubt can play many tricks on our mind, leading us down a rabbit hole of many untruths.

Unspoken’s “Love Is Everything We Need” speaks this truth to our current generation, and the many generations to come. It is a truth that will precede us, through all the ages.

Watch the “Love Is Everything We Need” YouTube Premieres feature here.

February 26, 2022 0 comments

Articles Faith Family Revival

Patrick Mayberry: An Artistic Journey Of Faith And Discovery, With A Transformational Awakening Like Never Before

by Jennifer Alden October 9, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

Singer/songwriter Patrick Mayberry never truly understood the power of worship music until he experienced it firsthand at a Passion conference. His YoungLife leader invited him to the annual gathering for college students, which has morphed into a larger movement that’s birthed some of Christian music’s most respected artists, such as Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Kristian Stanfill and Matt Redman. For many, Passion is a multi-day spiritual wake-up call to the things of God. For Mayberry, Passion was a transformational awakening to the intersection of faith and music.

That was nearly 15 years ago. Today, Patrick is on the cusp of embarking on an artistic journey he never quite felt qualified to pursue. Signed to Centricity Publishing as a writer since 2018, the Cookeville, Tennessee native has penned songs recorded by North Point Worship, David Leonard, Mack Brock, David Dunn, Jonny Diaz, Joel Vaughn and Chris Renzema, among others. In addition, he’s garnered sync placements with T-Mobile, NBA, the “TODAY” show and more. To date, Patrick Mayberry has released two EPs independently with 2018’s Joy and 2019’s Live In My Living Room, the latter of which he partnered with Centricity Music to re-release in 2020.

Patrick, his wife Jenny, and their four children recently relocated from Chicago to Franklin, Tennessee, where he now remotely serves as Executive Producer of Worship for Chicago’s Soul City Church. Patrick’s path to becoming an artist, however, has been a long and winding road.

A Pivotal Turn

Growing up in the Church of Christ denomination, Patrick was discouraged from enjoying music with instrumentation in worship settings. Therefore, his growing love of guitar felt disconnected from his growing love of Jesus. As he transitioned from middle school to high school while playing the guitar riffs of his idols, Jimi Hendrix and Grateful Dead, he found like-minded friends through his local YoungLife chapter, which consistently merged music and faith.

His collegiate years—a period of time Patrick calls a “dark season”—proved pivotal. “I was still very much figuring out faith and figuring out, really, what every college kid’s trying to figure out: What am I even here for? What’s my purpose?” he recalls.

The answer came at Passion 2006. “That was my first experience with corporate worship on a bigger scale. It’s funny, because I really was clueless and just kind of a sponge, wide-eyed, taking it all in,” Patrick says of the conference. “I felt like that’s when the Lord was showing me, ‘This is how you could use music for the Church. If you wanted to do this, I think this would be a cool way for you to use your music.’ So I fell in love with worship music.”

When he got home from Passion, he headed straight to his local Christian bookstore to purchase his first Christian CD, an album by Chris Tomlin. “I think it was, hands down, the most influential record of my life,” Patrick confesses, “because I’d never heard anything like that before.”

That Tomlin record instilled a hunger for worship in Patrick, who continued to hone his songwriting skills and began leading worship at his local college ministry. Eventually, a call to Soul City Church in Chicago led him away from Tennessee, but still, the husband and father continued to write and soon began building an arsenal of demos initially intended to teach his church band how to play the original songs he was crafting.

“I felt like in Chicago I was creating in a vacuum,” Patrick observes. “I don’t feel like the writing culture in worship that exists now was as prevalent 15 years ago.”

The Call to Centricity Music

Following an offer from a friend, Patrick Mayberry attended Centricity’s invitation-only artist retreat in Washington, held every two years. It was there where he met some kindred spirits and future collaborators. “It’s like I found my people. It was like Niagara Falls to my soul,” he says of the week-long event. “I had all these things in common with these people. They were into the same recording gear I was into, and they were interested in the same music. It was unbelievable. I didn’t want it to end.”

A publishing deal with Centricity followed a few months later, affirming his talent as a lyricist. Yet, Patrick continued to wrestle with even entertaining the thought of transitioning from songwriter to artist. He felt stuck, if not ill-prepared.

“I think I was waiting for somebody who was really good at being an artist and that I respected to tell me, ‘Hey, you’re good at this.’ I didn’t think I was good enough. That will probably be something I always carry with me,” he confesses. “I’m definitely not as qualified or as polished as some people, and I feel like, in some ways, I self-sabotaged this thing that the Lord was interested in doing in my life.”

Regardless, little by little, Patrick received confirmation that he was meant to personally steward some of the songs he was writing. “Really, God’s been doing a lot in me the last year to reshape and rewire how I think about myself and also how He thinks about me,” he admits.

Breakthrough Miracle Power

Patrick Mayberry’s debut single, “Breakthrough Miracle Power,” was conceived as Patrick continued to wrestle with feelings of inadequacy that were at odds with a clear calling from God to pursue the path of an artist. He also had some friends in the back of his mind who needed a breakthrough—one who was struggling in a marriage, another who was battling debilitating back pain—two examples of how life never stops being hard.

“It started on my own, and it was super personal,” he says of writing the building anthem that will serve as his official introduction as an artist with Centricity Music. “It’s essentially a desperate song of when your back’s against the wall and there’s no way out, and, ultimately you’re just desperate for the Lord to show up.”

Patrick asked Capitol CMG writer Bede Benjamin-Korporaal to help him finish the track. In a full circle moment, his demo ended up in the hands of the Passion camp, who instantly fell in love with the vulnerable, pleading lyric. Already leading the song at Atlanta’s Passion City Church, Kristian Stanfill and Mayberry rewrote the bridge.

Patrick’s earnest vocal on the song implores God to do what only He can do. But, for the humble songwriter, “Breakthrough Miracle Power” is more than a raw prayer petitioning a divine move of God. It’s the culmination of years of doubt, hard work and obedience.

“I feel like I’m getting to put the flag in the moon, because to me, it’s not just this song; it’s the last 10 years of traveling back and forth to Franklin, staying up way too late working on demos, and being a grumpy dad in the morning because I stayed up too late,” he shares. “There’s been a lot of sweat equity, and this song is kind of the Ebenezer that marks the start of something really beautiful that’s come from all of that.”

Newly Featured Single, Holy Spirit Come

On September 17, 2021, Patrick Mayberry released his debut Centricity Music concept music video and Air1-premiered it. “Holy Spirit Come” is remarkably beautiful, and truly conveys the message of the hope and faith that resides in all of us.

“This is one track we have been waiting for, and one you will be playing on repeat as you sing the words, O Holy Spirit come!” exclaims Air1. “‘Holy Spirit Come’ is a high-energy invitation for the presence of God to dwell among the Church,” adds Worship Leader.

Through this diligent pursuit of faith and music, Patrick has crafted songs steeped in community and with a language that does inspire a wide spectrum of worshippers to join in this heavenward chorus.

To learn more about Patrick Mayberry, his tour, or to download his music, please visit Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Courtesy of Hoganson Media Relations

Oh Lord Lead Us: A Continuing Journey Of Faith

by Jennifer Alden August 2, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

On July 23, Jonathan Cain, singer and songwriter of the highly acclaimed group, Journey, released his first solo single of 2021, “Oh Lord Lead Us,” to digital outlets worldwide. Jonathan shares, “Being beaten down, closed up, and churches shuttered. The lockdown. Quarantine. All this stuff. It seemed like this is a new season. We’ve got to make ourselves brand new again. The song was a prayer for a reset and renewal. I just thought we needed something that had a little joy in it.”

As an aspiring singer/songwriter in Los Angeles, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and longtime Journey member Jonathan Cain was advised by record executives to pursue a different vocation.

“They told me that I couldn’t sing and I couldn’t really write and I should get a day job,” Jonathan recalls. “Somebody asked me, ‘What are you going to do now, Jon?’ and I told him, ‘I’m going to find somebody to sing my songs’.”

Encouraged by his father’s words to “don’t stop believin’,” Jonathan pressed forward, eventually writing, touring and recording two albums with The Babys before joining Journey, rounding out the lineup and songwriting prowess on the band’s defining 10X Multi-Platinum album, Escape, which fittingly opens with the 5X Platinum single, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Along with penning Journey’s mega hit “Faithfully,” as well as co-creating huge anthems like “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now” and many more, Jonathan’s musical contributions along the way, including with Bad English, have earned him numerous Billboard hits; multiple Gold, Platinum and Diamond-selling records; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and a GRAMMY® nomination, among other accolades.

Jonathan Cain

Now, more than 40 years into his career, Jonathan Cain continues with Journey, contributing a wealth of new songs to the band’s forthcoming studio album. In addition, Jonathan is a seasoned solo artist—a venture that allows him to come out from behind his keyboard and step into the shoes of a lead vocalist, proving those early critics wrong on every front.

Following a transformational encounter with God, Jonathan committed time and space to begin writing songs about his growing faith, culminating in five albums in five years: What God Wants to Hear (2016), Unsung Noel (2017), The Songs You Leave Behind (2018), More Like Jesus (2019) and Piano Worship (2020). Continuing his tradition of crafting a new solo project each year, Jonathan is currently working on a worship record slated to drop in the Fall of 2021.

The collection’s lead single, “Oh Lord Lead Us,” could very well be a post-pandemic anthem, but the story that led to the song itself was a lifetime in the making.

A Journey of Faith

Jonathan Cain’s personal journey of faith, which he chronicles in his 2018 memoir named after Journey’s career-defining song, Don’t Stop Believin’, began when he was a kid growing up in Chicago. As a young choir boy, he entertained thoughts of going into the ministry, but when his school caught fire killing 92 of his peers and three nuns, Jonathan, only in third grade at the time, found his faith on shaky ground.

Decades later, after experiencing both personal and professional success and watching it all come crashing down, Jonathan found himself in Florida crying out to that same God of his youth. He soon discovered redemption and, ultimately, unconditional love when he met his now wife, Paula White-Cain, who serves as the senior pastor at City of Destiny church in Central Florida.

“I started out wanting to be a priest when I was 8-years-old,” Jonathan shares of the way his life has come full circle,” and I ended up marrying a pastor. I was a choir boy, and now I’m leading worship.”

Music, Ministry, and More

Jonathan leads worship weekly at City of Destiny, the first place he often debuts his new music. “It’s always been the testing grounds. When I write something, I will usually play it at church and see if it moves people. I don’t force my music on our people. I just kind of drop it on them once in a while,” he says. “I’ve enjoyed getting away from the piano and just leading worship and getting people to connect. That’s our job, really. My wife, Paula, she always teaches that God rides on the waves of sound.”

“Oh Lord Lead Us” rides a powerful wave with the help of a wealth of studio pros who brought the driving track to life. Produced by Jonathan Cain, mixed by David Kalmusky (Justin Bieber, The Fray, Keith Urban), mastered by GRAMMY® Award-winning Adam Ayans (Paul McCartney, Carrie Underwood, Foo Fighters), and featuring Journey background vocalist Jason Derlatka, “Oh Lord Lead Us” was recorded at Jonathan’s state-of-the-art Addiction Sound Studios in Nashville with select parts crafted remotely due to the pandemic.

Jonathan wrote the track as a prayer for the new year, as 2021 came into sharp focus following a season of hardship echoed around the world. Inspired by a passage in 1 Chronicles 16:11, “Oh Lord Lead Us” takes its lyrics directly from Scripture. “Being around all this Bible teaching, I get excited when I see something that triggers my imagination,” remarks Jonathan, who grew up Catholic.

Oh Lord Lead Us

The joyful single’s artwork, capturing the sun setting behind the mountains with Jonathan Cain in the forefront, was shot at Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon. “That valley has been unchanged for close to a million years,” Jonathan explains. “It’s just exactly the way God intended it to be. So it just seemed like a holy place to go.”

It also felt like the ideal setting for the song’s music video, but weather delays and rental car shortages prevented Jonathan from getting to the location on time. Arriving later than originally planned but determined to use the area’s natural beauty as the video’s backdrop, Jonathan and the director got up before dawn to shoot against the bright blue sky now seen in the official clip. Right as they wrapped, the skies promptly darkened, brewing up a storm.

The experience could very well be a metaphor for Jonathan’s life—a story of stormy skies and vast horizon, perfect timing and God’s faithfulness, and the subject of much of his new music. While “Oh Lord Lead Us” previews his next studio effort, which Jonathan says will boast more vertical lyrics and congregational-friendly choruses, it’s only one brick in the ministry he’s building. He is also the host of the “Anchored” podcast, where he discusses everything from faith, family and marriage to manhood and music. And he regularly appears on his wife’s television shows, “Paula Today” and “Faithfully,” seen on the Life Network for Women and Daystar Television. In addition, he’s working on new Journey music, with the band also headlining this summer’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

Don’t Stop Believin’

Whether he’s ministering with his wife, testing out new songs on his congregation or playing to millions alongside his Journey bandmates, Jonathan Cain’s faith always takes center stage. “During Journey events I can minister to people who haven’t considered Jesus and who can see the light in my life. I always say, ‘When all else fails, consider Jesus.’ It’s a game changer, absolutely. There are not very many rock ‘n’ rollers praising the name, shouting hallelujah. I take my spiritual life to Journey and have the confidence of being Spirit-filled,” he attests. “Now, more than ever, it’s time to be transparent and stand up for what you believe. If you’re a follower of Jesus, it’s OK to say so. I’m not out there evangelizing. If people can just see my Jesus on me, that’d be fine.”

That’s one reason Jonathan Cain is so grateful to be able to craft solo music that more explicitly displays his faith, while simultaneously continuing to record and tour with Journey. No matter the genre his music is classified under, Jonathan strives to create songs that are both hopeful and timeless. “When you write songs for God, they’re time posts,” he offers. “I’ve found that out as I go back into my old catalog and sing songs. They’re still relevant. They don’t get old, and that’s kind of neat as a writer. They’re there forever, and if somebody wants to sing them, they can,” Jonathan explains.

Although he’s been playing music for four decades, Jonathan Cain continues to climb to the next level, showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, he’s writing some of the best music of his career—music marked by a changed life. “I continue to grow in lots of ways,” he says. “I’m looking forward to seeing where God’s going to take me next.”

Courtesy of Hoganson Media Relations

Sinach: Original Recording Artist, Singer And Songwriter Of ‘Way Maker,’ Being Recognized Across The Globe

by Jennifer Alden May 30, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

Sinach—⁠a physics major whose pastor called her to sing—⁠is now one of the most recognized artists in worship music across the globe.

Topping the Charts

Sinach is a multi-award-winning Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter, recording artist, stage performer, and philanthropist. In her 30+ year career, she has recorded ten albums and has won numerous awards. Sinach is known globally for writing and recording several hits, such as “Way Maker,” “I Know Who I Am,” “Rejoice,” “The Name of Jesus,” “There’s An Overflow,” and so much more.

Sinach is the first singer-songwriter to top the Billboard Christian Songwriter chart for twelve weeks in a row and the only woman known to consecutively hold this No. 1 spot. Her writings have ministered to millions bringing healing, hope and encouragement, and in strengthening their faith.

“Way Maker,” which has truly made a global impact, has been covered by more than 60 recording artists, such as Leeland, Michael W. Smith (whose version went No. 1 at radio), Mandisa, Bethel, Passion (feat. Kristian Stanfill, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes), Maranda Curtis, American Idol contestants Genevieve Linkowski and David Archuletta, and REVERE featuring Darlene Zschech and William McDowell.

Sinach

In her career, Sinach has performed in several countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, U.S, Antigua, Barbuda, Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Uganda, Barbados and the U.K.

This Nigeria-based songwriter, recording artist Sinach, whose full name is Osinachi Okoro Egbu, has eight siblings, including two sets of twins, and at one time, her music was just a hobby. Sinach was a physics major pursuing a different line of work until her pastor encouraged her that she was called to share her music. Today, Sinach is one of the most recognizable names and faces in worship music across the globe.

Sinach’s “Way Maker,” which has over 175M views on her YouTube channel alone, became an anthem during the rise of the pandemic, winning the 2020 GMA Dove Award® Song of the Year. With a total of over 562 million views on YouTube and 1.58 million subscribers, she has written more than 200 songs in her career.

Greatest Lord

This acclaimed artist released her latest album, Greatest Lord, April 1 from Integrity Music. The powerful, 13-song worship album includes guest features from artists spanning three continents, including: Darlene Zschech, Jekalyn Carr, Nathaniel Bassey, Micah Stampley, Leeland, Maranda Curtis, and more.

A worship project declaring God’s sovereignty and Lordship over all situations and circumstances the world is currently going through, Sinach created Greatest Lord to help Christians all over the world recognize Jesus as the solution to today’s hurting world. It is her hope that each song will be an inspiration to worship and declare the Word of God in praise, worship and faith proclamations.

You can check out last year’s Christianity Today story at this link. And be sure to watch Sinach, along with Mandisa and Leeland, sing “Way Maker” during last fall’s GMA Dove Awards (below).

To learn more, please visit www.sinachmusic.com.

Courtesy of Hoganson Media Relations

Cross Point Music’s ‘Oh The Wonder’: Everyone’s Welcome, Nobody’s Perfect And Anything Is Possible!

by Jennifer Alden March 26, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

In the heart of Music City sits a church that believes everyone’s welcome, nobody’s perfect and anything’s possible. It’s a mantra that’s carried Cross Point Church across the past 15 years of its existence and a vision that’s shaped its primary musical expression, Cross Point Music, into a collective that seeks out collaboration both inside and outside the walls of their church.

Never Going Back

Nashville’s Cross Point Music soon releases its first-ever LP, Never Going Back. It comes out on July 23 from Centricity Music. This collective includes nearly 400 volunteer musicians, vocalists, and songwriters. Worship leaders Mike Grayson and Cheryl Stark anchor the initiative. The new seven-song LP features the lead single, “Oh The Wonder,” available now on digital and streaming outlets everywhere.

Led by Grayson and co-written by Grayson, Stark, Heath Balltzglier (North Point Worship), and Matt Armstrong, “Oh The Wonder” is a song full of joy, and this never-ending hope that we each receive in His death on the cross. It was written during the pandemic last August, as members of the Cross Point Music worship team were prayerfully asking God, “Where are we and where do we need to go? What’s next? Lord, give us a song for where you are taking us!”

“There was a moment, a sense of freedom to move,” reflects Grayson, who is the former frontman of MIKESCHAIR. “We felt like the Lord was saying, ‘Joy is coming, and help people see it.’ It felt so weird to still be on Zoom – we weren’t even in the same room – writing a song about joy and acknowledging the joy we have because of what Jesus has done. Even in the midst of the pandemic, this is still true.”

I’ve got joy that’s found in a heavenly hope
Peace like a river down in my soul
I’m held by the power of the Holy Ghost
Oh what a wonder
(“Oh The Wonder” bridge)

“I remember when we wrote the bridge of the song, Mike said, ‘That was the moment for me where the skies began to part’,” recalls Stark, who previously served as a country writer for Sony/ATV and is married to Apollo LTD member Adam Stark.

“I knew that for him this was a huge moment of perspective shift. Hey, we are not going to be stuck here forever. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus, and this is where we are going,” Stark explains.

“My prayer is that our church and the people of God would see that His faithfulness has gotten them to where they are,” adds Stark, calling attention to Psalm 126, “…and the prayers that they prayed in their darkest moments, they will return back home with armfuls of laughter and blessing.”

Cross Point Music Team

Along with the new single, the full Never Going Back LP is the result of the Cross Point Music team realizing that God has been propelling them forward, even through this incredibly tough pandemic season that began right after their main downtown Nashville church campus was largely destroyed by a tornado. (A story we shared in a previous article.)

“We have learned so much about worship and who God is that we never want to go back,” affirms Grayson. “We all learned how to worship again from a place of ‘I’ve got nothing but me and my room.’ No stage, no lights, no people even. You’re singing to a phone and it’s like, ‘Lord, I trust that you are going to use it.”

“I’m so pumped for people to experience what came from these songs and these recordings,” continues Grayson. “The fact that this recording all happened in the last year is only a God thing. That we were able to write, record and videotape songs…it is a celebration of what God did and what He is continuing to do.”

Cross Point Church

Cross Point is a multi-site church for the spiritually curious. It is a place for people to find and follow Jesus. Moreover, their robust web presence reaches people all around the world, through this digital discipleship and online evangelism.

The new single, “Oh The Wonder,” and upcoming LP, Never Going Back, follows Cross Point Music’s debut EP Never Stop Singing that was released in January, featuring the title track along with three more original songs. Each song was organically birthed from the worship emanating from Cross Point Church, which serves about 10,000 people across six campuses in and around Music City.

Finally, for all the latest Cross Point Music news and more, please be sure to visit here.

Courtesy of Hoganson Media Relations

There’s A ‘Sound of Revival’ Coming, All Over The World!

by Jennifer Alden March 18, 2021

written by Jennifer Alden

As the nations of the world begin this process of restoration, I can’t help but consider the words in the Book of Jeremiah. In chapter 33, verse 6, it says, “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.” Do you hear the sound of revival coming? Let me explain…

We have all experienced this season of needing more hope, peace and truth. The Sound of Revival is the cry of many of our hearts. We’ve witnessed so much despair and discouragement. It is refreshing to hear this song, as just doing so is causing this stir within my own soul, and as He continues to reach the innermost parts of my being for it.

Written by Esteban Ramos and Jose’ Garraffa, the lyrics of this song come on like waves of this much-needed hope and encouragement. Esteban shares, “Words cannot express how thankful I am for this amazing team who have helped me bring this vision to life. I believe that there is a generation rising up and crying for revival for our families, our nation, and for the Church.”

Esteban continues, “I am extremely excited to share ‘Sound of Revival’ with the world. But I cannot move on without thanking each and every one of them who have sowed their time, gifts/talents, anointing, and hearts into it!”

About Esteban Ramos

Esteban Ramos is a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, currently residing in Waterbury, CT. He was married in 2009 to Ruth Flores and is the father to two beautiful daughters, Noemi and Rachel.

Esteban is known for his cross-cultural prophetic sound. Raised in a Spanish Pentecostal church, he developed his love for music at a very young age and continued to develop his gift while in school becoming a multi-instrumentalist.

Esteban began leading worship in his local church at the age of 16. As Esteban continued to grow and develop as a worship leader, God began opening doors for Esteban to travel to many churches within New England to lead worship, workshops, and develop worship teams within his community.

A Sound of Revival

Esteban Ramos releases his debut single, “Sound of Revival,” to radio on March 22, 2021, being distributed to networks all around the world. His heart’s desire is to release the sound of Heaven on earth, for every nation, and for every people. He explains, “When I wrote ‘Sound of Revival,’ I wrote it because that’s what my heart was crying out for. Now, to see how God is using this sound and message to touch so many hearts all over the world… It’s amazing!”

Sound of Revival has already hit six countries, including the United States. Like a Mighty Wind, His Holy Spirit continues to move, as we do each get to be a witness to this. Where the deserts were running dry, and the land was parched, we are each being replenished, as His refreshing waters flow, replenishing all the land.

For more information on this up-and-coming artist, please visit his website at www.estebanramosmusic.com.

Sound of Revival is available for streaming on all digital platforms. Stream now on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube, by clicking the links to subscribe.

Read more on the GOD TV blog, and watch GOD TV here.

March 18, 2021 0 comments

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