"Rapha," the impassioned new single from acclaimed singer/songwriter and worship leader Stephen McWhirter and GRAMMY® and Stellar Award nominee Jason Clayborn, is now available from Lula Street Records (Integrity Music). Penned by the duo and produced by McWhirter, "Rapha" is an anthemic celebration of the name and nature of God the Healer.
"The heart behind the song is a desire to strengthen our own trust in God as Healer--not just physically, but also emotionally and relationally--in our churches, in this country, and in the world," shares McWhirter. "Having been radically healed from a drug addiction myself, I know God heals. However, my dad died of cancer and didn't experience healing here on earth, so what do I do with that? We keep believing God, despite what we see with our own eyes. We keep worshipping Him through the trials, because either now or in eternity, He will keep His promise to be Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals."
"We pray that when others hear 'Rapha' they are stirred deep inside with real Hope, and a knowing that God hasn't changed," Clayborn adds. "He is still the God who heals. He is still healing marriages, relationships, and diseases. He is real!"
Drawing from a range of classic rock, Motown, pop, and Gospel grooves, Stephen McWhirter and Jason Clayborn's signature soul-drenched sound has been met with critical acclaim, carving a unique space in today's worship landscape. The duo's 2020 debut, Choir Sessions (feat. Jason Clayborn & The Atmosphere Changers), was followed by last year's full-length sophomore set, Highest Praise. McWhirter and Clayborn also wrote and recorded the Christmas anthem "Born A King," a single featured in 2020's Christmas special for the blockbuster series The Chosen.
"Proverbs 27:17 says, 'As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,' and that is exactly what God has done with us," explains Clayborn of the duo's mission. "We come from totally different church music backgrounds--me from the Gospel world and Stephen from the worship and contemporary Christian sphere. However, God has taught us both how to honor and encourage each other without changing the perspectives we bring to the table."
