was happening in that time in my life really just set my path forward . I went to University of South Carolina as a business major . I went to the Passion Conferences as a college student , and that ’ s kind of where I got down underneath the songs , underneath the music and thought , “ God ’ s working on a big story all about His glory . It ’ s all about lifting up Jesus in the earth .” And he wants me to be a part of that ! That actually will bring satisfaction and purpose to my life .
And so I think I was experiencing God so powerfully in those settings and loved music , and I loved the impact of music growing up . I remember watching a Beatles documentary as a middle school student and that was the first picture I had of music going around the world and touching people everywhere . And I think that image has always stuck with me . I was always plugged in at my church , serving in a musical capacity . I ended up moving to New York City and serving with a church plant in the mid or late 2,000 ’ s and then found my way back to Atlanta . We had a group of guys that would start playing at any youth event . I got married to my wife Aynsley . And right then is when Passion City Church started and that ’ s when all my heroes like Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman moved to my hometown . I got to see and learn from them , and I got a little closer to people like Louie and Shelley ( Giglio ). I just really saw their love for Jesus , their commitment to the Gospel and I wanted to see the city of Atlanta experience that . So that ’ s where Aynsley and I have been plugged in ever since . And we ’ ve got three kids now and a dog , so we ’ re loving it .
[ WM ] Thanks for that great backstory . A couple things come to mind that you just mentioned . The power of words is one of them . You mentioned how your youth pastor said some words over you . That is so critically impactful ! I ’ ve experienced that same thing in my life . The other thing that came to mind was that you talked about Matt and Chris and Louie . I was in a Hobby Lobby last night . I rarely go there but there was something I had to get . And I thought how strange that I was listening to instrumental music that was originally passionate and risky worship music . And now I was listening to it as easy listening , shopping , music , and I didn ’ t know what to think .
[ Brett ] Yeah , who knew that was the little path it was going to go on .
[ WM ] That ’ s right . So was there a worship song or a release , an album release that was critically important to your beginnings in worship ?
[ Brett ] Oh , it ’ s hard to pick one . I mean , I think a lot of those early Passion songs . I was actually just thinking this morning about Charlie Hall ’ s “ Give Us Clean Hands .” It ’ s a real simple prayer , but it ’ ll turn your life upside down to say , “ Give us clean hands . We want to be a generation that seeks the face of God ”. And I think “ We
Fall Down ” from Chris is definitely one of those . “ Better Is One Day ” from Matt would also be . So I think some of those songs have just so much desperation for God , hunger for God , a laying down of self to embrace the goodness of Jesus in your life . I think those would be a handful of early choruses that just really made an impact on me .
[ WM ] Good to know . Good to hear you say that . Well , the annual Passion gathering in Atlanta has become an important yearly launchpad for many things . And this year ’ s recording Call on Heaven from it , is an exceptionally good recording that has recently been released . What can you tell us about the project overall ? I ’ ll ask you about some of the individual songs next .
[ Brett ] Great ! I would like to back up to when
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