In the spring of 2009, Josh White decided to take a huge step of faith. Previously the lead singer of the band Telecast, White quickly became a church planter and worship leader in Portland, Ore. His church is located in the Hawthorne District of Southeast Portland, a bohemian part of town, known more for its hippies and hipsters than churches.

“I met my wife, Darcy, in this neighborhood 14 years ago,” recounts White. “We know the culture and the people. Which in turn fuels the heart and vision of the church: to preach the gospel to the some of the most un-churched people in the country.” His church, Door of Hope, offers the inspiration for White’s solo debut Achor, a folk/bluegrass project with BEC Recordings.

The meaning behind both the church name and the album title come from Hosea 2:15. The valley of Achor is the valley of trouble; so named after Achan’s sin was discovered and judged in the days of Joshua. The prophet Hosea proclaimed that the God’s restoration would transform the valley of trouble into a door of hope. It is this restoration that White and Door of Hope aim to see in their neighborhood.

The songs on Achor are the songs of the church, written for Door of Hope and used in its worship services. “Where I did the Brit rock sound with Telecast, these songs reflect the acoustic, folk music of Hawthorne. It’s a mix of folk and bluegrass in worship, almost like a Jesus Movement folk worship revival,” says White. The freshness of recording reflects the content of the songs, which seek an intimate, new relationship with Christ. White is passionate about the experience of living Christ both in the church and through the music.

Josh White wants to see people come alive in Christ and would believe Achor is but one piece contributing to this awakening. “There is a prophetic element to worship; it is necessary and powerful. Hearts open through music, stirring emotions and inserting a message into hearts. These songs come out of what we’re experiencing at Door of Hope; they are part of a movement to turn this city upside down.”

I had the great privilege to interview Josh about his song “The Wall,” and the various inspirations behind it.

Regarding “The Wall,” do you have any personal application regarding your walk as a Christian in the song? Please describe the message behind the song.

“The Wall” came out of the realization from being a pastor of a church and dealing with a lot of new believers. They are often trying to find God and feeling that there is a barrier between themselves and Him. I point people to the beautiful passage in Ephesians 2, which talks about how God has torn down the middle wall of separation. Personally, I was going through a period of feeling distant from God. I needed to remember as I wrote the song that if there’s a wall between us and God, He’s already torn down that wall. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can have the boldness to approach the throne of grace. Sometimes we put walls back up by allowing sin and doubt to creep in and cause us to lose confidence in the character of God. We end up blinded to His presence and His reality. The song is a remember that in the midst of doubt that Christ has already removed that separation, and it's a plea to the Holy Spirit that we would see Him more clearly in our lives.

Which Bible verses go with the song? Do you have a life verse?

Ephesians 2:13-16: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."