[WM] You were a voice major at Anderson at Elevation was important to him. He made
University, and student worship leader at it clear early on that he wanted a sound to
NewSpring Church, simultaneously. Was there accompany what God was doing and wanted
a “tension” between your academic life and to do through the church, and part of that was
your service to the church? Did your formal writing original songs to reflect it. Since then,
education help to facilitate your ministry? we’ve tried our best year-after-year to follow
what God wants Elevation’s voice to sound like
[Chris] Yea. When I knew I really wanted to
Graves into Gardens
and how we can continue serving the Church
be serious about music, I decided to focus on
at large with songs of faith.
it in college and study voice full time. It was a [WM] My understanding is that you are part of traditional music school, so it was important the original Elevation church plant in Charlotte, [WM] Elevation Worship just released Graves
to be plugged into a strong local church that NC. Along with Pastor Steven Furtick and into Gardens, a new live recording. The title
I loved and could grow in as a worship leader. several others, you collectively embraced song was penned by yourself, Brandon Lake,
NewSpring Church was that for me and Lee indigenous worship by capturing the worship Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hammer. In fact,
McDermott was pivotal in helping me grow up, life and songwriting from within the church, as Brandon was a guest worship leader on the
understand God’s word, and my role in serving important values. I think that’s unique. Tell us recording and video. Tell us about this and the
a local ministry. I loved the pairing I had between about those early days and the excitement of recording.
the academic side and spending as much time capturing the fresh times of worship from within as possible volunteering at church. Setting up your own tribe?
[Chris] The day we wrote “Graves into
mic stands, running cables, and printing chord
Gardens” was a whole lot of fun. That same
charts for Lee’s band rehearsal was my happy [Chris] My wife and I moved here about a year day, we wrote another song on this project
place. But I’ll equally say, I wouldn’t trade the into Elevation launching. I knew Pastor Steven called “My Testimony” and both of them just
four years of vocal training I received. Both from high school and knew him as a singer/ have such life and energy to them. We’d never
have greatly impacted my life and ministry songwriter back then. It was no surprise that written with Brandon before, so we didn’t know
since then. worship and building a strong musical culture what to expect - but he’s just a giant ball of
May 2020
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