With a unique ability to capture the attention of audiences and draw in young people to hear the gospel, David Crowder has been called “the Pied Piper of Christian music.”
Despite his appeal with audiences, becoming a worship leader and recording artist came as a surprise even to him.
“I still remember banging away on the piano when I was really young,” Crowder told The Alabama Baptist. “When my mom signed me up for lessons, I kicked and screamed the whole time. But in retrospect, I’m glad that I took those lessons. I picked up the guitar in college and couldn’t put it down.
“I’ve always loved music, and it felt like something that I would be doing for a long time, whether it paid the bills or not.”
Burden for lost
When Crowder was attending Baylor University in Waco, Texas, he was troubled by a campus survey that showed 8,000 of the 14,000 students said they never attended a church service while in college.
Desiring to help connect his peers to the gospel message and get them plugged into local churches, Crowder began leading worship at a church near the campus and started writing choruses to which students could relate.
“For me, songwriting happens when I’m not trying to write a song,” Crowder noted. “I spend a lot of time reading and listening to music. If you pay attention to those small moments in life that maybe others aren’t noticing, then you have a place to write from whenever the inspirational moment hits you.”
Among those inspired by Crowder’s lyrics was Louie Giglio, who founded Passion Conferences in 1995 and Sixsteps Records in 2000. This led to Crowder being signed to the Sixsteps label and performing at Passion Conferences and worship gatherings across the country.
Responding to God
“Whether it’s in a concert setting or through an album, my desire is to provide people the opportunity to express themselves to God through music,” Crowder said. “My intent is that these lyrics, sounds and these little constructions of songs would allow people to say things to God and respond to who He is and what He’s done in their lives — as well as for them to be shaped and to grow in the process.”
While performing concerts and leading worship Crowder also desires to help college students and young adults appreciate the rich theology found in old hymns, along with embracing modern worship songs.
By taking a creative approach to connect young adults with the gospel, Crowder looks for different ways to reach people with the big picture of God at work in their lives.
“I want to share with people the story of who God is and why we worship and adore Him,” Crowder said. “When we share the story through songs, we’re trying to paint the story with as many colors as we are able to and tell it in as grand a way that we can.
“I really think music is one of those unique things we have in the material world that lets us get a glimpse of something bigger.”
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