Contemporary worship leader roots songwriting in Scripture

Contemporary worship leader roots songwriting in Scripture

Music helps us relate emotionally and spiritually to people in ways we would normally not be able to — it also helps us relate to and worship the Lord. Behind great songs are great songwriters and 30-year-old Stephen Fryrear is one of those songwriters. 

Fryrear, in his second year as contemporary worship leader at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, Birmingham, recently released his album, “The Badlands.” The album is a mix of worship songs for church services and songs that people can relate to on a personal level.

“There’s a lot of pressure as a worship leader because you put words into people’s mouths,” he said. “So the words better be right and better be true because these are the songs that people are going to be singing. So the songs better be honest and about who God is, not just songs that sound good.”

While the majority of Fryrear’s songs are written for a congregation to be able to sing on Sundays, the title track of “The Badlands” is not written in that way. 

“The song ‘The Badlands’ tells a story but  … is still full of Scripture and truth,” he said.

Fryrear wrote “The Badlands” with a specific story in mind. “The song came because my brother-in-law’s mother passed away from complications with cervical cancer. The death was completely unexpected and I did not know what to do or say, so I just wrote,” he said.

“The song is all about who God is in times of suffering and trials and going through the dark, dark times. We know that He is faithful and that He loves and that He has put us in these trials for our good. I wrote the song so that I, and others, can know that we are not alone in Christ.”

Songs touch people in unexpected ways, he said as he read a text from his brother-in-law.

Connecting with Jesus

The text read, “I listened to ‘Badlands’ for the first time today and the song hits exactly every feeling that I was going through when I lost my mom. [The song] has helped me with my anxiety and to grow closer to God. It has also helped me mourn and grieve over the loss of my mother. I have regained the faith I lost when she passed and I’m so thankful for what God has been teaching and showing me through the song.”

Fryrear, who came to Mountain Brook Baptist from Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, Texas, said he pulls from Scripture as much as possible when writing worship songs. They carry more weight than normal songs because they help people connect with Jesus, he said.

“I try to put Scripture to music because that is the best way to write songs that will stand forever,” he said. “For example one of my favorite songs that I have ever written, ‘Sweet Exchange,’ was pulled from Ephesians 2 and Isaiah 53. We must put Scripture to music because that is what will change hearts and minds and that is what the Church needs to be singing.”

Mary Splawn, minister of connections at Mountain Brook Baptist, said, “Stephen is passionate about helping the Church sing theologically rich songs, full of Scripture in order to build up the body of Christ.”