I hope everyone is enjoying the winter of all winters. Our family is originally from Florida. We moved to the Kansas City area almost 11 years ago. It
Cedric Austin | Metro Voice Music Editor
has taken me quite a while to get use to midwest winters. My wife, on the other hand, says she was created to live in these types of temperatures. She looks forward to wearing her colored tights and winter clothing each year. Although I am now O.K. with the cold temperatures, I enjoy the snow a little more than just simply the cold weather. Relish the cold weather while you have a chance. Before you know it, we will be soaking up the rays of sunshine.
February New Releases
Donald Lawrence – Goshen – RCA Inspiration – Provident
for KING & COUNTRY – joy. (Remixes) – Word Records
Switch – Symphony – DREAM Worship – Capitol
Passion – Follow You Anywhere – sixsteprecords – Capitol
The Singing Contractors – Hymns & Gospel Classics – Springhouse – Capitol
7eventh Time Down – Brand New Day – BEC Recordings – New Day
Radiate Worship – Come Alive – Dream Records – Capitol
Corey Voss and Madison Street Worship – Songs of the House – Integrity Music
Neon Feather – Come To Life (feat. Matty Mullins) (Single) – Centricity Music
London Gatch – New Stories – BEC Worship – New Day
Upperroom – To the One – Fuel Music
Bethel Music – Victory
Many of you may have heard of Bethel Music and may even have heard or sung their music in your church or on your churches worship team. But some of us may not know where Bethel Music got their start.
Bethel Music is a worship ministry that formed out of Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. Over the last several years, Bethel Music has grown from being a local church music ministry to becoming a global outreach featuring a team of songwriters and worship leaders, with both online and on-campus worship schools. Together these artists have six acclaimed albums that all went to the top of Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart, in addition to four GMA Dove Awards and a GMA Covenant Award.
The heart of Bethel Music is to be a steward of the worship being created and released at Bethel Church, making it a resource available to the world. In addition to thousands of people that attend Bethel’s weekly worship services, another 350,000 plus people subscribe to the online stream of their services.
Bethel Music’s latest project is titled “Victory.” “This album is inspired by the story of King Jehoshaphat and the unlikely victory won by sending worshipers to the front lines of battle in 2 Chronicles 20,” they say in a press release. “In the face of extreme circumstances, we have learned to fight battles God’s way – with worship.”
On this album you will find songs such as “Raise a Hallelujah”, “Victory Is Your” and the powerful remake of “Ain’t No Grave.” Bethel Music is available on all digital media platforms.
Casey J – The Gathering – Live
Casey J is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. A self-proclaimed “flower child” and vegetarian, she attributes her creativity to her father, who died when she was five years old. Casey J recalls, “He was a carpenter by trade, very smart and creative”.
Both her mother and grandmother sang in the gospel choir at Lilly Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, and Casey J attended her grandmother’s basement Bible studies as a child.
“I used to think it was the normal way of life because that’s all I saw my grandmother and mother do,” she once said. “I grew up thinking that singing in the church choir is what all kids did because it was my way of life.”
At the age of 12, Casey J joined the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde and sang with them until she enrolled at the University of Georgia.
After graduating, she became an elementary school math teacher at Georgia Connections Academy Charter School in Duluth, Georgia and sang as a worship leader at Fresh Start Church in Duluth on Sunday mornings.
Casey J began to sing Will Reagan’s tune “Fill Me Up” at Fresh Start Church and it received such a positive response that the church’s pastor, Marquis Boone, decided to have Casey J record the song. It was released to the radio in spring 2014. It hit the top ten of the US Billboard Gospel Airplay chart that spring and reached the number 1 spot in 2015. The song “Fill Me Up” is featured on Casey J’s debut album, The Truth, released April 21, 2015 by Tyscot Records. The album has reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and 131 on the US Billboard 200.
Casey J’s latest project is titled “The Gathering.” Casey J’s newest offering, “The Gathering” is a collection of prayers-turned-songs focusing on setting aside the busyness of life to direct our hearts and minds toward God in worship. Download “The Gathering” on all digital platforms, and watch the official videos. “If God,” from “The Gathering” helps to provide peace and truth in the midst of life’s most troubling circumstances.
You can also watch the official video for “If God” on Youtube.
