By Leann Callaway
Singer/songwriter Phil Wickham hopes the songs on his newest album, “The Ascension” — which were inspired by the Songs of Ascent passages found in the Book of Psalms — will take listeners higher and draw them closer to the Lord as the lyrics drive home the gospel message.
“After listening to these songs, my prayer is that people will want to know more about the message they just heard,” Wickham said. “The theme of this album is a longing to know more about God and a desire to run toward Him.”
During its first week of sales, the album claimed the No. 2 spot on the Soundscan Christian Albums Chart and also placed in the Top 40 on the Billboard 200.
But the accolades and achievements aren’t what motivate Wickham.
By sharing the gospel through music, he has been given many opportunities to share the plan of salvation at his concerts.
“My desire is that these songs are effective in leading people to Christ,” he said. “My priority at concerts is to share the reality of the gospel, the importance of the cross and about the excitement and the hope we have in heaven. By the end of the concert, I hope that people are thinking about God’s grace, love and mercy, and I hope that they are also thinking about the sacrifice that has been given to us through Christ.”
As a teenager, Wickham learned to play the guitar from his father. After a few months of lessons, he started leading worship for his youth group at church.
“From there, doors started opening for me to play at different events and eventually led me to where I am today,” he said. “For a while, I was really hesitant to pursue music on a full-time basis because I knew it was a huge responsibility to lead people in worship and write songs that would convey the right message. I didn’t want to mess up, and I didn’t want to take things into my own hands.
“So I spent a long time praying that my desires and musical abilities would always remain focused on the Lord and used for His glory. That continues to be my prayer today, as I’ve found that one of the best ways of connecting with people is to share the truth of God’s Word by putting it in a song.”
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