Word to Release WOW Worship (Purple) on March 2

Newest title in the multi-platinum series features worship songs
by favorite Christian artists with three brand new recordings

Word Entertainment is proud to announce its continued partnership in the WOW brand with the March 2 release of WOW Worship (Purple). This new collection compiles the biggest worship songs of the Church, sung by the most popular artists in Christian music.

Featuring 30 songs on two CDs, WOW Worship (Purple)’s songlist includes “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” by Chris Tomlin, “Mighty To Save (Live)” from Hillsong United, MercyMe’s “You Reign,” “Everything Glorious” by David Crowder*Band, Casting Crowns’ “All Because Of Jesus” and “Shout Unto God” from Michael W. Smith. In addition to these popular songs, this project also features three brand new recordings – Francesca Battistelli singing “Lead Me To The Cross,” Leeland covering Delirious?’s “Majesty (Here I Am)” and Matthew West’s version of “The Wonderful Cross.”

This newest title in the WOW series will see promotional support from various partners in the retail, radio and online communities. National account retailers and independent Christian stores are promoting WOW Worship (Purple) as a key traffic-driver for the Easter selling season by providing ideal positioning and aggressive sale pricing. On the radio front, the KLOVE radio network will host several radio contests sponsored by WOW, including fly-aways and private concerts with WOW artists. And the online space will be spearheaded by HereItFirst.com and the re-designed WOWiloveChristianmusic.com, the home for the entire WOW brand. Aggressive marketing though Tangle.com, social media networks like Facebook and various Christian music blogs brings significant online awareness to this release.

The Word Entertainment-distributed release is part of the multi-platinum WOW brand series. Created through the partnership between the three largest Christian music/entertainment companies in the industry, including, EMI Christian Music Group, Provident Music Group and Word Entertainment, the marketing and distribution of WOW projects are shared among the companies, with Word leading efforts for Wow Worship (Purple). The entire WOW branded series (Worship, Gospel, Hits and specialty releases) now tops 22 million units in sales.

For more information, visit the official WOW website at WOWiloveChristianmusic.com.


WOW Worship (Purple) Track Listing:
DISC 1:
1. Your Grace Is Enough – Matt Maher
2. Everlasting God – Lincoln Brewster
3. Shout Unto God – Michael W. Smith
4. You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
5. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
6. Mighty To Save – Hillsong United
7. Revelation Song – Kari Jobe
8. Lead Me To The Cross – Francesca Battistelli
9. Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) – Brenton Brown
10. All Because Of Jesus – Casting Crowns
11. The Wonderful Cross – Matthew West
12. Your Name – Paul Baloche
13. You Reign – MercyMe
14. New Song We Sing – Meredith Andrews
15. Beautiful Jesus – Kristian Stanfill

DISC 2:
1. I Am Free – Newsboys
2. Everything Glorious – David Crowder*Band
3. How Great Is Our God – Hillsong London
4. God Of This City – Passion
5. Majesty (Here I Am) – Leeland
6. Give Us Clean Hands – Kutless
7. Hosanna – Selah
8. Marvelous Light – Charlie Hall
9. Song Of Hope (Heaven Come Down) – Robbie Seay Band
10. Desert Song – Natalie Grant
11. You’re Worthy Of My Praise – Big Daddy Weave/BarlowGirl
12. My Savior My God – Aaron Shust
13. You Are Good – Israel Houghton
14. Happy Day – Tim Hughes
15. Forever Reign – One Sonic Society


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Meet Joel Houston and his rock band Hillsong United, bigger than Delta Goodrem and Powderfinger

HE FRONTS a band that has sold more records worldwide than Delta Goodrem and Powderfinger but most people have never heard of him.


Around the world, fans mob Joel Houston and his rock band Hillsong United, but back on home turf he is barely recognised.

It is surprising, considering the band's album Tear Down The Walls last year debuted on iTunes at No. 2 on its album download chart, just behind rapper megastar Eminem.

But founder and creative director Houston, 30, isn't phased by the band's little-known profile. He measures success in other ways.

"You put music out there and people choose to recognise it or not, and that's ultimately up to them ... that's the beauty of music," he said. "Not everybody has to love it, not everybody has to understand it, but it seems like there are people who are connecting, and that's the coolest thing in the world."

Born from the Hillsong Church's youth group, the band's success stems back to when they were just a group of mates playing a bit of music at church each week. They have since sold more than 1.9 million albums and DVDs worldwide.

Houston is the son of the Hillsong Church's founder and senior pastor Brian Houston. The group of friends used to jazz things up at each service.

"We grew up in the church and loved it, and loved music and found ourselves playing and writing music for the church, and out of that all these opportunities came," Houston said. "I write songs about what I'm passionate about and what's important to me. I didn't envisage people getting into it and a big future in it."

The band is a sensation, just like the church they started in, which is now Australia's fastest-growing.

But if not in Australia yet, somewhere someone is connecting to Hillsong United. On YouTube, the band's page has been viewed more than 60 million times. "If no one was buying it or listening to it [the music], I think we'd still be doing what we're doing," he said.

The band has played in stadiums and arenas in Asia, Africa, the US and beyond. "I can't describe what it is like to play in front of people like that and get the message across to so many people all over the world," Houston said.


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Big gigs in January

PARACHUTE PRESENTS TWO AUSSIE SHOWS
Christian music fans in Sydney and Brisbane have the opportunity to experience three incredible US acts this month.
Three-time Grammy nominated band Leeland, plus Family Force 5 and NewWorldSon are heading to Australia for shows at Brisbane’s Citipointe Church on January 26 and C3 Oxford Falls on January 28. That’s ahead of massive shows at Parachute 2010 in New Zealand.
Headlining the Kiwi festival are Switchfoot, Underoath, Hillsong United, Falling Up, Parachute Band, and Rapture Ruckus.
Australia’s Original Liberty, New Empire, and Citipointe Live will join some of NZ’s best talent including the Glory Sea, Edwin Derricutt and juliagrace to perform at the event which attracts around 25 000 punters each year.
The Parachute Festival will held at Hamilton’s Mystery Creek January 29 to February 1.


GRAMMY UPDATE, THIRD DAY TOPS GOSPEL NODS
Third Day has topped the nominations in the Gospel categories of the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards announced by The Recording Academy.
Third Day scored three nods for:
Best Gospel Performance for Born Again. [Francesca Battistelli’s Free To Be Me was also nominated in this category.]
Born Again in the Best Gospel Song category [along with MaryMary’s God In Me, and tobyMac’s City On Our Knees], and
Live Revelations in the Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album category. [Red and Decyfer Down were also nominated.]
In the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album – probably the main section for contemporary Christian music - the nominations were Speaking Louder Than Before (Jeremy Camp), The Power Of One (Israel Houghton), The Long Fall Back To Earth (Jars Of Clay), Love Is On The Move (Leeland), and Freedom (Mandisa).
The Grammy ceremony will be held 31 January 2010.
More details: www.grammy.com


FINAL CURTAIN FOR DELIRIOUS?
UK band Delirious has played its final farewell concert in London.
Known as the forerunners of the modern worship movement, and as one of the sector’s best live bands, Delirious’ highlights include playing for the Pope in front of a million people in Germany, performing to hundreds of thousands of people in India, and headlining the 2004 Olympic Celebrations in Athens.
Over the years the group has toured with Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Matchbox 20, and has scored a string of mainstream hits in the UK.
Since the early 90s, it has released 14 albums and sold nearly three million records.
A DVD of the final concert is scheduled for release after Easter.


AUSSIE IDOL FOR EASTERFEST
Easterfest has secured the 2009 Australian Idol winner Stan Walker for an exclusive appearance at Australia's largest Christian festival, Easterfest 2010.
The 19 year old R&B singer who stole the hearts of millions of Australians and stunned audiences with the depth of his talent and his mature soulful voice will appear at the Mainstage on Easter Saturday night.
Stan’s appearance at Easterfest will mark the first Australian Idol winner to perform at the festival since Guy Sebastian in 2004.
Easterfest will be held in Toowoomba 2-4 April 2010.
More details: http://www.easterfest.com.au/


SONGS THAT UNITE
Entries close soon for Songs that Unite, the song writing competition of the Uniting Church in Australia that is seeking to encourage and develop Australian Christian music.
The focus of the competition is congregational singing, rather than songs for individual performance.
Judges are seeking contemporary music (both music and lyrics) that:
o Gathers the people (praise and adoration, confession)
o Opens people to God (in the Scriptures, through the Holy Spirit)
o Responds to God (discipleship, mission, service, intercession, etc.) and
o Sends (blessing).
More details are available on the Assembly website
Please note the clause on copyright.
Entries close on 26 February 2010


OWL CITY, PRICELESS CONNECTION
As 2009 draws to a close, Owl City’s album Ocean Eyes has been certified gold making this year a HUGE success for Minnesota’s Adam Young.
What started as a project in the basement of his parent’s house has turned into an international phenomenon, sending Adam to the top of the charts, and playing to energetic crowds in renowned venues across the US, China, and Japan!
Not only has Ocean Eyes gone gold, but the album's lead single Fireflies – which features Matt Thiessen from Relient K - has reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 twice! It’s already sold more than 2 million downloads.
Young says he’s “overwhelmed” by the response.
“I’m just totally thrilled and overjoyed to be able to sit back and kind of watch things happen on their own,” Young says. “And as an artist, the knowledge of knowing that people are out there listening [to] the art you work so hard at – poured your heart and soul into [and it] is connecting with people -that’s priceless. It’s entirely breathtaking.”
Owl City will be in Australia and New Zealand in March.


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Top things to do in Fort Collins: A three-day planner

Here are some major events the next three days in our city.

Today

Art – Art in Nature, an exhibit that showcases the works of more than 40 photographers from around the world, is on display through Thursday at The Center for Fine Art Photography, 40 N. College Ave. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; admission is free. Info: www.c4fap.org.

Basketball – The CSU women’s basketball team opens Mountain West Conference by hosting Border War rival Wyoming at 6 p.m. at Moby Arena. Tickets are $8 reserved, $6 adult general admission and $4 youths 3-17 general admission. Info: www.csurams.com.

Basketball – The city’s high school teams are back in action after Christmas break. Games in town include ThunderRidge at Fort Collins (boys), 3400 Lambkin Way; Kennedy at Poudre (boys), 201 Impala Drive; Chaparral at Rocky Mountain (boys), 1300 W. Swallow Road; and Silver Creek at Fossil Ridge (girls), 5400 Ziegler Road. All games start at 7 p.m.; admission is $5 adults and $4 youths.

Government – The Fort Collins City Council holds its first meeting of 2010 starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall West, 300 LaPorte Ave. Topics of discussion include new ordinances relating to dogs and a Fossil Creek area annexation; the public is welcome and can offer comments. Info: www.fcgov.com.

Wednesday

Art – Art in Nature, an exhibit that showcases the works of more than 40 photographers from around the world, is on display through Thursday at The Center for Fine Art Photography, 40 N. College Ave. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; admission is free. Info: www.c4fap.org.

Basketball – The Fort Collins High School boys basketball team, which has just one loss this season, hosts Pomona at 7 p.m. in the Lambkins’ gym, 3400 Lambkin Way. Tickets are $5 adults and $4 youths.


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Passion Twenty Ten Conference uniting young Christians in Atlanta

The Passion Twenty Ten conference designed for Christian college students has drawn over 20,000 people to Atlanta this week.

The Passion movement was started by evangelist Louie Giglio to engage Christian young adults in ministry outreach.

The conference is operating under the slogan of “Do Something Now” with the aim of helping domestic and international non-profits as an outreach of faith. Giglio launched the Passion movement in 1995.

“When we began planning for Passion Twenty Ten, we had one thought in our minds: that a generation would awaken,” said Giglio. “We’re not just at an event or a conference with really cool bands. There’s a heartbeat here and that heartbeat is that you and I would awaken to the same thing: that it’s good to trade something small for something huge. And that something small is lives that you and I ‘run’ and that we would trade that in for a life that is part of a grand epic that is God. That we would awaken to the face of Jesus.”

Passion Twenty Ten is being held at Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. Leading the worship, teaching and prayer gathering are well-known speakers Giglio, John Piper, Beth Moore, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley as well as acclaimed lead worshipers, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill, Christy Nockels, Fee and Hillsong United.

The main sessions will be available online at http://www.268generation.com/passion2010 at the conclusion of each session and will be available online for 24 hours.


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Switchfoot, TobyMAC to perform at BigChurchDayOut

GRAMMY-award winning Christian music acts TobyMAC and Switchfoot are just some of the acts that will perform at the Christian music festival, the BigChurchDayOut, from 29 to 31 May 2010.

In May this year, around 15,000 people attended the fun family event in West Sussex which featured live music from some of the top Christian music bands, a 24-7 Prayer team, a B-stage for younger bands, a programme for the 5-11 year olds and lots of food and drinks.

Next year's event will take place at two locations, Stanford Hall, Leicestershire and Winston House, West Sussex. The event organisers say that the BigChurchDayOut is a good way to build relationships and strengthen connections between the church and people.

Other artists performing at thebigchurchdayout include Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton, Hillsong United, Brenton Brown, L27, Graham Kendrick, Tom & Olly, Lou Fellingham and much more.


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Hillsong United turns lens on world's neediest

Christian band's movie is a call to action


Imagine finding yourself in the center of an African clinic one day, a Malaysian orphanage a day later, a Brazilian slum the next, and a Los Angeles soup kitchen the following day.

These drop-in visits continue, day after day, for three years in a row as you circle the globe, coming face to face with the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the orphaned, the abandoned in 93 cities on six continents.

In between the heartwrenching scenarios, you and your buddies go on stage and lead thousands of Christians in a few hours of praise and worship music.

Then it's on to the next location.

That's the sort of daily schedule the members of Australian band Hillsong United experienced over the last few years and which they have documented in the new movie The I Heart Revolution: We're All in this Together.

The two-hour documentary premiered in the United States and Canada Wednesday for a one-night-only showing, including the Cinema De Lux theaters in Maumee.

Preceding the movie debut, band members discussed the project and played a few songs in a live video sent by satellite from their home turf in Sydney, Australia. The program, which was not advertised much in the Toledo area, drew about 50 people locally.

Joel Houston, one of the founders of Hillsong United and son of Hillsong Church's pastor Brian Houston, said the initial idea for the movie was to tell the stories of people they encountered in their travels.

But like many creative projects, the concept shifted and evolved as the filming progressed.

It became something more. Much more.

We're All in this Together is not just a bunch of individual stories strung together, it's a call to action.

Filmed in a fast-changing, often frenetic pace of scenes and viewpoints that are hallmarks of buster-generation filmography, the movie will push American audiences way out of their comfort zones.

Early on, we see grainy images of Hillsong United musicians and crew hauling luggage, waiting in lines, staring wearily at airline arrival and departure screens, wondering even where they are.

A blur of city signs whips across the screen: Sao Paolo, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London, Rio, Phoenix, Paris, Quezon City. …

Disjointed at first and occasionally rambling, the film's big-hearted message starts coming to life with Robert F. Kennedy's eloquent and visionary speech - given at Cape Town University in 1966 - cutting through the chaos.

"Everywhere new technology and communications [bring] men and nations closer together, the concerns of one inevitably [become] the concerns of all. And our new closeness is stripping away the false masks, the illusion of differences which is the root of injustice and of hate and of war. Only earthbound man still clings to the dark and poisoning superstition that his world is bounded by the nearest hill, his universe ends at river shore, his common humanity is enclosed in the tight circle of those who share his town or his views and the color of his skin.

"It is - It is your job, the task of young people in this world, to strip the last remnants of that ancient, cruel belief from the civilization of man," Kennedy says in his famously nasal Bostonian voice.

Condensed history lessons, presented with flashy graphics and voice-overs, pop up throughout the film, explaining such landmark events as the British abolition movement, the Little Rock 9, and the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The most compelling scenes, by far, are when the camera zeroes in on the forlorn faces and ragged clothes of children living on the streets, apparently in every major city and nation the band visits.

The contrasts are striking. One moment Hillsong United is at a press conference being treated like rock stars, or performing concerts before tens of thousands of fans. Then we see them walking along dirt paths holding hands with emaciated orphans, or playing soccer with street kids.

Martin Smith of the British band Delirious?, who is interviewed several times in the film, said it "messes with your head" to be feeding the poor and destitute during the day and then jetting off to spend the night in a luxury hotel.

Hillsong United's band members, wearing their fashionable skinny jeans, T shirts, and hoodies, express the questions and feelings that will be weighing on the minds of everyone watching.

What can one person do? The needs are overwhelming. I feel so inept.

The only antidote they can think of is love.

"From the beggar to the king, from the famous to the faceless, everybody needs love," one voice-over states.

That leads into some Bible verses and "the one story," as Joel Houston says of Jesus' death on the cross.

"To be honest, I feel I don't know anything except the one thing - God is love," he says.

Another voice offers this compelling insight: "Jesus didn't die to give us religion. He died to show us love."

The Christian message of the movie is clear and fitting for a documentary about a globe-trotting Christian rock band. But the goal of the filmmakers has no religious or social boundaries or limits: Get off the couch, get out of the house, get involved.

More information on The I Heart Revolution: We're All in this Together is available online at i-heart.org.

- David Yonke


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