Rock & Worship Roadshow
olate times.
“I felt lost in that moment of feeling ‘What am I if I can’t do this?’ That’s when God came in. It’s not just I remember specifically that I felt God’s presence in the room, but I felt he spoke to my heart in such a way that is one of those beyond a shadow of a doubt (moments). I believe that God is my shepherd, and if you really think about that, then God is in control and keeping you safe like a shepherd does.
“Man, I’m totally content. I know that God is my father, and I just found that identity in a whole new way.”
Those experiences “are where the rec- What: A Christian-music festival featuring Phil Wickham, the Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Mandisa, Audio Adrenaline and Family Force 5.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27. Where: Grand Canyon University Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix.
Admission: $10-$100.
Details: 877-552-7362, gcuarena.com. ord title came from,” says Wickham, referring to “Children of God,” due Friday, April 8. It is his first album post-surgery and since 2013’s “The Ascension,” his biggest-selling effort. This time, with his voice renewed, he approached the material in a new way.
“So many songs were written out of this place, this freedom and this sense of identity,” he says. “This record — maybe it’s a combination of everything, where God really gave me something to say and sing about. Not in a prideful way, but I’m so proud of this work. Such a big team makes a record happen, and I can’t wait to share it with people. Whether it sells or not, I believe in it so much, and we kind of accomplished what we set out to do.”
“Your Love Awakens Me,” the first single, is a ringing, anthemic profession of faith: “Hear the song awaken / All creation singing / We’re alive cause You’re alive.” Wickham is very clear-eyed about his role as a songwriter.
“Most of the time, I think I’ve always kind of walked the line between artistic expression and corporate worship,” he says. “I love that songs are intimate enough to have been written by a singersongwriter but also wide enough that any person who believes in the same god could come along and sing them, as if they wrote them.”
Wickham is married and the father of three children. One wonders if he ever writes songs about the more secular aspects of his life.
“I do write them,” he says with a laugh. “I just showed my wife one I wrote recently. It’s called ‘Kiss You,’ about the first time we kissed. I’ve got a lot of songs, but I don’t know if they’ll ever see the light of day. I’m not opposed to that ever happening, but I just don’t know.” Why not? “Putting records together is a big investment of time and money. You do it every two or three years and you go out and play to connect with people. Keeping my job going, let alone the ministry aspect, is a beautiful thing. I thank the Lord it’s my one job. I don’t have to be a barista on the side. But with that, part of me feels like I’ve been entrusted with a ministry of my music. I love it. I want to keep pursuing it, because there is so much salvation and meaning and purpose. It keeps growing. If it was time to do something else, I think those doors would be obvious.
“That’s how I first got started as a worship leader. I was leading worship for my youth group at church and those songs started spreading to other churches in the area. I didn’t have a bunch of money; I was a19-year-old kid. It felt beautiful to follow the blessing of God rather than trying to kick your way through the door.”
Reach the reporter at randy.cordo va@arizonarepublic.com.