Calling all music lovers. Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and revisit the first Christian music album that deeply resonated with your heart and soul. We'd like to hear whether it ignited your spiritual journey or struck a chord with you. Please share your experiences with us in the comments below. What album and music hold a special place in your heart?
Our staff writers are taking a reflective journey to share the first Christian music albums that deeply affected their lives. From Amy Grant's Heart In Motion to Jeremy Camp's Carried Me: The Worship Project, each writer recounts the album that touched their hearts and souls, sparking their spiritual journeys or leaving a lasting impression. Join us as we delve into their personal experiences and discover the music that holds a special place in their hearts.
Amy Grant – Heart In Motion
Christian music icon Amy Grant released her first mainstream album, Heart In Motion, over thirty years ago. I was 15 years old, exploring the wonderful world of music independently, separate from what my parents listened to. And in my search, I discovered Heart In Motion. I have so many memories of this album. I don’t remember how I became acquainted with it, but I remember that the album’s first single, “Baby Baby,” made me a fan. Eventually, I bought the album (the cassette).
After the release of "Every Heartbeat," I appreciated Heart In Motion more. But one thing I never realized was that the album itself marked my first genuine encounter with Christian music. The album had more than just mainstream fare. It had a few Christian songs, such as the single “Hope Set High.” “Ask Me” is what affected me the most.
Heart In Motion was an opportunity to introduce the mainstream world to Christian music. And she did just that. The album was certified five times platinum in the United States alone. She released five mainstream singles—all success stories. As Amy released single after single, the more I liked her music. Some songs, more than others, had a profound impact. - Paul Phillips
Amy Grant - Age to Age
Tell me the album and CD that got you down the Christian contemporary music (CCM) road that is just as good today as when you first heard it. I’ll go first—Amy Grant's Age to Age. I listen whenever it comes up on Spotify, Pandora, or any other music streamer. You understand CCM had little variety in the early ‘80s. However, several songs from this album had good long runs on the radio, such as “Sing Your Praise to the Lord,” “I Have Decided,” and the extremely popular “El Shaddai.” While my playlist has exploded since the ‘80s and doesn't contain much Amy Grant these days, the song that stops me dead in my tracks every time I hear it is “In A Little While.” Between Amy's tender voice and the way the song is written in conversation style, I can never listen to it too often. - Tommy G
Raze – Power
My first Christian album was by Jars of Clay when I hadn’t been saved yet—my story of the grace of when I was lost and Jesus found me happened in 1999. I was a DJ and avid music collector, and Jars of Clay, DC Talk, Third Day, and Audio Adrenaline hooked me on Christian music. I was in my car listening to Power by Christian pop group Raze, and at the end of the CD, there was a “hidden track” where the artist shared his testimony, which was also my story. I finally admitted to myself and God that I am a sinner and I can't save myself. I pulled to the side of the road and sobbed as I was invited to join in saying the sinner's prayer. I confessed my sins, begged for forgiveness, and accepted Jesus as my savior. I felt God there with me in my car, and I've never been the same. - Kevin Davis
Stephen Curtis Chapman - Declaration
Growing up, the only music I knew of was Christian music, and I was constantly surrounded by it. Although so many songs impacted me, and I still love them to this day, it wasn't until I heard Declaration by Christian contemporary veteran Steven Curtis Chapman. It was the first full album that hooked me. I loved Steven's songs, especially "Live Out Loud." So, years later, when I was a pre-teen, I finally listened to the whole album and was amazed.
Although I was primarily drawn to upbeat pop and rock songs, the album's words were something different to me. I had recently accepted Jesus for myself, so the message from the album about living our lives for Him and knowing His incredible love hit me and helped open my eyes to know Jesus personally. The songwriting was impressive, particularly Steven's ability to weave beautiful and often humorous stories through his lyrics. It blew my mind. Almost 23 years after its release, Declaration still holds up very well and has a place in my heart for being an essential part of pointing me to Jesus. - Bradden Ford
Downhere - Wide-Eyed and Mystified
I grew up hearing Christian music as the main soundtrack to my childhood. While I wasn't completely unaware of secular hits, the bulk of the musical sounds of my childhood were the likes of Christian music icons Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, Petra, Whiteheart, and Newsboys, among others. And while I enjoyed several songs I grew up with and look back fondly on them (arguably even more so now than when I was younger), I didn't have any Christian albums I knew by heart cover to cover. None of them felt like it was "my music."
That trend could have continued when my parents bought the rock band Downhere's album, Wide-Eyed and Mystified. But this was right around when I was coming of age and discovering music for myself. I was paying closer attention to lyrics, hooks, and melodies. For one, I connected with an album from start to finish on every level. It helped that this album was finishing a masterwork of contemporary pop and rock. It still ranks among my favorites of all time. Musically, its dynamics balanced the infectiously catchy energy of "The More" with emotional ballads like "A Better Way."
The dueling vocals of Marc Martel and Jason Germain offered a compelling musical experience that few artists today can replicate. Add to it the introspective lyrics reflecting on the challenges of everyday life that I was discovering in my adolescence, which made for a thought-provoking experience. "A Better Way" was a song I had sung during my wedding. And despite being over 15 years old as of this writing, I still pick up on new lyrical nuances and morsels of wisdom each time I return to it. - J.J. Francesco
KJ-52 - Collaborations
I started my faith walk at the beginning of 2000 at 24 years old. Previously, I was engulfed in ‘90s hip-hop. To this day, I have strong respect and appreciation for that era. Hip-hop icon Eminem was gaining notoriety and caught my ear when I heard him in the early 2000s. As a new Christian, I navigated message boards, and one thing led to another when someone I interacted with sent me a copy of KJ-52's 2002 album, Collaborations.
Christian hip-hopper KJ-52 opened my eyes to how my faith works in the hip-hop industry. Also, I was unaware of a movement known as "Holy Hip-Hop (HHH).” To me, "Christian rap" wasn't corny. I was intrigued that a rapper could be insightful yet not use constant profanity.
KJ’s song, "Dear Slim," a public message to Eminem, resonated with me because it wasn't judgmental or mean towards the rapper but encouraging and forgiving. Based on KJ's lyrics, I gained peace of mind about how Jesus moves. Oddly, KJ’s song "Nursery Rhymes" hit home with me since I was a preschool teacher. Quite a few tracks hit a personal story of mine here and there enough to make me dive deeper into this thing called HHH. KJ helped me bridge to Cross Movement, The Grits, L.A. Symphony, and DJ Maj, expanding to my all-out obsession with Christian rap presently. - Joshua Galla
Southeast Inspirational Choir - Inspire Me
Oh, man. Being a young kid, gospel music was one of my mainstays. I loved many genres, including the ‘70s and ‘80s rock and alternative, R&B, funk, and hip-hop. Gospel is something that could reach my soul like no other. The album Inspire Me, by gospel greats Southeast Inspirational Choir, is one that I will never forget. The title song, "Rejoice," "Higher Ground," and the Yolanda Adams' led (she killed it!) "You Made the Difference" were some fantastic songs on an album with no skippable tracks. It stirred me up and fueled my life for gospel music.
Gospel great Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ’s Praise in the House was a first of its kind. The album took songs from mostly white praise and worship leaders, giving them an urban fill. I appreciate artist Don Moen for tapping Fred Hammond to do this and for Fred Hammond answering the call. This album floored me, and I couldn’t get enough. Songs like "There Is None Like You," "You Alone," and "Be Magnified" were given a new edge without losing the essence of the original songs.
I was already growing closer to God before the album was released, but "Praise In the House” fueled me to spend even more time in worship. It also ignited a passion to see races and denominations unite. Why can't we worship God together? Take our cultural differences and mesh them to look like heaven. I will never forget the feeling that both albums gave me. - Dwayne Lacy
Jeremy Camp - Carried Me: The Worship Project
With Christian music, I grew up mainly listening to gospel, and many of the mainstream bands I listened to fell into the pop, rock, folk, and country genres. The mainstream artists sparked my interest in learning how to play the guitar. I was writing my own songs and wanted to find Christian artists with similar sounds. I wanted to learn to play guitar-driven and singer-songwriter music that I loved listening to. In high school, I stumbled across contemporary artist Jeremy Camp's Carried Me: The Worship Project album in the Christian music section of a record store. It was the first contemporary Christian album I had ever bought. To this day, it's still my favorite Christian album, and Jeremy is one of my favorite Christian artists and biggest inspirations. This album helped inspire in me a love for creating and supporting Christian music that continues today. - Jasmin Patterson
Matthew West - Into The Light
Back in the day, I never really knew Christian music. I would attend church and youth groups but never really paid attention to the music. One day, my youth group leaders announced we would go to Winter Jam. The choice was optional, but I went because I wanted to try something new. I googled it, and I found out about the lineup. I clicked on this artist named Matthew West. I went on YouTube and played his album “Into The Light.” I was hooked. Listening to all the stories that helped him write the songs impressed me and kept me engaged. The album contains many of my favorite songs, including "Hello, My Name Is" and "Forgiveness." It remains one of my all-time favorite albums. I occasionally play this collection from start to finish and reminisce about my first experience with Christian music. - Brendan Burke
OpenAI's ChatGPT provided some assistance with this article. Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
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