Todd Agnew’s musical journey has taken many twists and turns, he said, but he sees that journey as the fulfillment of his dual calling — to lead Christians into meaningful worship and to engage nonbelievers in asking the right questions.
“First and foremost we make sure that our goal is to lead people to the throne of God,” he said. “God is larger than any words we can use and music is something beyond words. Music is a gift that God has given us and it allows us to express beyond what we can actually say.
“As I’m writing songs I’m always thinking about the tough questions that will challenge people to take the next step and move forward in their walk with the Lord.”
While leading worship at events, his set list often includes a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary songs. Agnew enjoys sharing the history of the hymns with teenagers and helping them understand their rich meaning.
Teaching through songs
“I’m not someone who just gets up on stage and starts playing songs. When I’m leading worship I really try to teach about what worship is and also teach the songs — not just musically but conceptually. I’ll break down the phrases in hymns so teenagers can understand the meaning and I’ll share about how the song was written. I think it makes the songs so much richer when people know the story behind the song.”
Strong foundation
Agnew was adopted as a baby and credits his adoptive parents for his strong foundation in faith and knowledge, for his musical upbringing and for his understanding of “adoption by grace.”
“I’ve come to understand that the concept of adoption on earth is parallel to the concept of being adopted into the family of Christ, which is an incredibly powerful story of love and grace,” he said.
Furthermore Agnew hopes the songs on his album “How to be Loved” will encourage people to connect with messages about Christ’s love, acceptance, forgiveness and grace.
“Seeing people come into a relationship with the Lord is so special; it’s beyond words,” Agnew said. “We all have a need to be loved, to be rescued, to be restored, all these things. Those are the universal needs and they are all met in Jesus. I love sharing truth with people and helping them connect with God. Our goal each night is to step back while God works in people’s hearts and begins to change their lives.”
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