Christian Contemporary Music

Christian Music
and Broadcasting Links

 While you read and surf,
Listen to CHRI-FM
Ottawa's Christian music station

News and Links

  • CCM Magazine
  • David MacDonald.com
  • Movable Feast Resources - Glen Soderholm's project encouraging the people of God to participate in vibrant worship through music, theology and the arts
  • The Jubilate Group - The site for worship planners & Christian musicians, e.g.  Steve James
  • Rock Rebel.com - Christian rock e-magazine
  • Rick Altizer
  • Audible Faith.com
  • American Christian Network, 24 hour Christian broadcasting (Live audio)
  • CHRI-FM 99.1
  • CKCU-FM 93.1 - Radio Carleton - broadcaster of "Over my Head," 8 am every Sunday since July 1979. 613 area code. Contains real-audio feed.
  • Delirious?
  • Delirious at Creation 99 (we were there!)
  • Out of the Grey
  • Rebecca St.James
  • Terry McAlmon Ministries
    Why do we sing songs of praise? It is one of the ways we can express our love for the Lord, and thank him for all the things he has done for us. Worship leaders and musicians have a very special and important role to play and it is much more than mere musicianship. In playing, they glorify the Lord and in a sense preview Heaven. Marc Dupont says this much better in a prophetic word. Laurie-Ann and I play (less now than we used to) in a praise and worship band: Kenosis, in local churches and other venues. We have provided much of the music at Alpha courses we have run since 1998.

    In the US, gospel music among African-Americans has been a part of their life for generations, influencing rock'n'roll, soul and other musical forms. An example is Al Green, converted in 1973, who became a minister within a couple of years. Twenty five years later he played the Ottawa Bluesfest (we were there; see review). Since the mid 70's, Christian contemporary music has become more prominent across the world, through the efforts of many pioneers, including Graham Kendrick, G. Baker, Christina Tanner, Ron and Kris Klusmeier, and Keith and Melody Green. In 1997, Christian popular music accounted for 4.7% of all US music sales, and it is the sixth biggest music category, behind pop, and ahead of classical. Gospel groups are playing before sold-out audiences in concerts everywhere. Even Pope John Paul has tapped his toes to the soulful voice of Queen Esher Marrow & the Harlem Gospel Singers, who opened and closed a papal show in October 1997 before 300,000 people. Christian composers are writing across the spectrum of popular forms from heavy metal to choral, and it's very clear that the best Christian writers and performers are as accomplished as their mainstream colleagues. Young people are tuning into Christian stations because they like the music and the beat, and are then being exposed to the message, and liking what they hear. There are several huge annual Chritstian music festivals. The excellent new British Christian group 'Delirious?' is following the trails laid by U2 and capturing both the Christian and the secular audience at once.

    My first exposure was to the songs and choruses supplementing hymns in the more progresive churches in UK in the late seventies. I would choose a church visit based on whether they had an overhead projector installed! Then in 1984 I entered QPR stadium in London to the unforgettable (for me) sound of "Oh for a thousand tongues to sing", and then so much enjoyed the songs and hymns at the Luis Palau Mission to London, led by Dave Pope and the Saltmine Band, that I bought the tapes and the music and play them still. This was also the occasion when for the first time I accepted the call to come forward, walk down onto the pitch, and receive the Lord in my heart in prayer with a ministry team. On coming to Canada in 1987, the Christian songs were all different, but great, and now since the mid nineties I begin to hear some of the songs imported from England sung by Marilla Ness and others.

    Some of these songs will become the hymns of the future. Some of the best modern hymns in the United Church hymnals were written by Ron Klusmeier. Pentecostal and black churches sing for an hour to get the congregation receptive to God before the message. CHRI-FM in Ottawa plays great Christian songs 24 hours a day. My own Christian selection is the fastest growing part of my music collection. Christian contemporary music is not only hear to stay; it is a key element in the conversion process, mainly because singers like Keith Green, Rebecca St. James, Deborah Klassen, and many many more have combined music with worship and evangelism from the stage; indeed they are all evangelists. No wonder the Billy Graham Association brings in the best acts for their missions, as they did in Ottawa '98.

    Concerts and worship events attended