Music from the Church,for the Church
A Guide to Worship Music Written and Led by Local Church Communities
About This Resource
Why I Created This Resource
Worship music matters. What a congregation sings together shapes what it believes, and what it believes shapes how it lives. For pastors and church leaders who care about theological integrity in worship, choosing the right music is not a minor administrative task. It is a discipleship decision.
This guide is built around a simple conviction: the best worship music for the local church is music that comes from the local church. The artists listed here are not music industry acts that happen to use Christian themes. They are worship leaders, pastors, and musicians who lead their own congregations in worship week after week, and who write songs that overflow from that life together. Their music is tested in the context it was made for.
This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it a critique of all outside sources. Christian radio, for example, includes much that is genuinely edifying. But some of the most widely distributed worship music in recent years has come from organizations whose theological foundations and leadership credibility have raised serious concerns. When those concerns are present, pastors have every reason to look elsewhere.
The artists featured here represent a broad range of church contexts, from Southern Baptist to Lutheran to Church of England. What they share is a commitment to music that magnifies God, exalts Jesus, and serves the gathered church. I hope this resource makes it easier for pastors and worship leaders to find music they can trust and songs their congregations can sing with conviction.
Featured Artists
Each entry includes a description of the church, notes on theological emphasis, and links to music.
Fresh Life Worship
Fresh Life Church|Kalispell, MT (multiple locations)
Fresh Life Church was founded in 2007 by Pastor Levi and Jennie Lusko with just 14 people gathered in Kalispell, Montana. It has since grown into a multi-site church spanning Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Idaho. Fresh Life Worship is the musical expression of that congregation, creating songs that reflect the church's passion for the grace of Jesus and Scripture-grounded faith. The worship team writes and records music that is both congregationally accessible and theologically anchored, making it a strong resource for churches of all sizes.
Note: Fresh Life Church is affiliated with Calvary Chapel.
Hope Worship
Lutheran Church of Hope|West Des Moines, IA (multiple campuses)
Hope Worship is the music ministry of Lutheran Church of Hope, one of the largest Lutheran congregations in the United States. With multiple campuses across Iowa, the church is known for vibrant, Christ-centered worship that blends contemporary expressions with deep theological roots. Hope Worship releases original music written and performed by the church's own worship leaders and musicians, with a consistent focus on the person and work of Jesus. Their songs are built for congregational use, rooted in grace, and shaped by a community that takes both music and Scripture seriously.
Austin Ridge Worship (ARW)
Austin Ridge Bible Church|Austin, TX (multiple campuses)
Austin Ridge Bible Church exists to pursue people at all costs so they can know Jesus, grow in Him, and serve Him daily. With multiple campuses across the Austin area, the church has developed a worship culture that is both musically excellent and deeply rooted in Scripture. Austin Ridge Worship is a collective of worship leaders, songwriters, and musicians who write original songs that tell the story of what God is doing in their church. Their music is honest, congregationally focused, and built for singing together on Sunday mornings.
Mercy Hill Worship
Mercy Hill Church|Greensboro, NC (multiple campuses)
Mercy Hill Church is a gospel-centered, multi-campus Southern Baptist congregation in Greensboro, North Carolina, led by Pastor Andrew Hopper. The church has been one of the fastest-growing in the country. Mercy Hill Worship is the church's music ministry, writing songs that are rooted in Scripture and centered on the person and work of Jesus. Their stated conviction is that worship begins with remembering who God is and what He has done, turning eyes away from self and back to Him. Their music is theologically rich, congregationally accessible, and gospel-saturated.
Ovation Worship
Cornerstone Church|Midwest City, OK
Ovation Worship is the worship ministry of Cornerstone Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, led by Worship Pastors Colt and Kasey Straub. The church has been under the leadership of Pastors Ron and Carol McKey since 2002, with a focus on applying Christ's teachings to everyday life. Ovation Worship's stated mission is to write songs for the local church and make them accessible to the broader church at large. Their music is a blend of contemporary and rock-influenced worship, marked by a hunger for God's presence and lyrics that stay focused on who He is.
Gas Street Music
Gas Street Church|Birmingham, UK
Gas Street Church is a vibrant Church of England congregation in the heart of Birmingham, UK, with a deep commitment to worship, community, and seeing the kingdom of God come in their city. The church is led by Tim Hughes, a widely recognized worship leader and songwriter who has written songs sung by congregations around the world for more than two decades. Gas Street Music is the worship expression of the church community, featuring a diverse collective of songwriters and musicians who write songs that fuel both personal devotion and gathered worship. Their music is rooted in Scripture, marked by excellent craft, and shaped by a community that has made worship central to its identity.
Note: Lead Pastor Tim Hughes is a former recording artist with a long history of writing congregational worship music.
Highlands Worship
Church of the Highlands|Birmingham, AL (multiple campuses)
Church of the Highlands was founded in 2001 by Pastor Chris Hodges and has grown into one of the largest churches in the United States, with more than 20 campuses across Alabama. Highlands Worship is the music ministry of that congregation, a diverse collective of pastors, musicians, worship leaders, and songwriters who lead hundreds of thousands in worship every week. Their music is described as marked by the vertical, focused on the nature, character, and story of God rather than on the worshiper's experience. With over 900 active worship team members and a deep bench of gifted songwriters, Highlands Worship consistently produces music that is being used in churches across the country and around the world.
Church of the City
Church of the City|Nashville, TN (multiple campuses)
Church of the City is a family of churches across the Nashville, Tennessee area, founded in 2013 by Pastor Darren Whitehead. Because of its roots in Music City, the church naturally became a gathering place for many of the musicians, songwriters, and creatives who call Nashville home. Worship leaders Chris McClarney, Jon Reddick, Tasha Layton, and others have all served as part of the Church of the City worship community. Their music is written from within the life of a local church and reflects a genuine desire to see the fame and deeds of God renewed and known in their generation. The result is congregationally focused worship that is both artistically compelling and theologically grounded.
Royal Anthems
A Collective of Canadian Church Worship Leaders|Canada (multiple churches)
Royal Anthems is a national worship initiative launched by Crossroads, a Canadian Christian media organization, with a vision to unite and resource the Canadian church through original worship music. Rather than originating from a single congregation, Royal Anthems brings together worship leaders, songwriters, and pastors from churches across Canada to co-write songs that reflect the faith, diversity, and heart of the Canadian church. The initiative was inspired by Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17, and the resulting music is designed to be sung by congregations of all sizes and backgrounds. Songs are professionally recorded and released to the broader church as a resource, with a particular emphasis on Scripture-driven lyrics and congregational accessibility.
Note: Royal Anthems is a collaborative, multi-church initiative rather than a single congregation's worship team. It is included here because its music is written by and for the local church, with no commercial music industry involvement.
A Note on Using This Resource
This document is intended as a starting point, not a complete catalog. As you explore these artists, I encourage you to listen with your congregation in mind. Not every song from every artist will fit every church's context or convictions. But the artists listed here have demonstrated a consistent commitment to Scripture-centered, Christ-exalting worship that makes them trustworthy places to begin.
This resource will be updated as additional church-based worship artists are identified. If you know of an artist or church worship team that belongs on this list, I welcome your recommendations.