WORSHIP LEADERS
PAUL BALOCHE
Paul has written some of this generation’s most compelling worship songs, songs that have become the soundtrack for believers all over the world in times of worship both corporate and private. Familiar songs include: Above All, All for You, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord, Your Name, and Paul co-wrote Hosanna, Glorious, and Our God Saves with Brenton Brown.
HARVEST WORSHIP BAND (Harvest Christian Fellowship – Riverside, CA)
The Harvest Worship Band is one part of a whole team of worshippers who serve under Pastor Greg Laurie at Harvest Christian Fellowship. Primarily led by worship leaders Hanz Ives, Bill Batstone, Steve Wiggins, Raymond Gregory, and Tim Nienhuis the team leads music for the weekly worship services at both their Riverside and Orange County campuses. As a part of the outreach ministry of the church the team also leads at the Harvest Crusade events held yearly in Anaheim, CA, at Angel Stadium. Over the past 10 years the Harvest Worship Band has released multiple recording projects, the most recent release “Enter In” became available in 2010.
SHERRI YOUNGWARD (Special Music)
Becoming a Christian at 18 introduced Sherri Youngward to the concept of worship music. “It was so amazing to me, to be sitting with a group of people singing to God. I loved music before, but now I was experiencing why music was created.” Sherri’s songs are often written like stories, based on real experiences and people in her life. Her first performances at youth detention centers provided inspiration for much of her early lyric writing. “My style of writing started because I was thinking of these kids. I knew that I had one shot to sing a song. I wasn’t there to just entertain them. I wanted to present them with the same Truth that I learned about as a teenager. Singing about real people and real experiences made us connect right away. I have found the same to be true wherever I play. If the songs didn’t have true meaning attached to them I would have a hard time singing them over and over with any passion.” Over the course of six albums, Sherri Youngward has crafted songs that are as scriptural as they are emotionally resplendent, as deeply worshipful as they are genuinely artistic. Her music is full of passion and integrity. Each song communicates worshipful and reverent devotions of longing for and reliance of Christ in our lives. “There is a powerful stirring in our hearts when song and Word combine to lead us to the throne of Christ” (excerpt from HM Magazine). Sherri has been in music ministry full time for about nine years. She spends a large part of her year traveling and playing venues ranging from leading worship for churches and retreats to playing concerts for colleges and festivals.
SHOLA AKOGNON (C.C. Petaluma)
Shola is an Assistant Pastor and Worship Leader at Village Baptist Church in Marin City and Petaluma, CA. He grew up playing music and singing with his family members. From the age of 2 his parents could see he was destined to be a musician. They were amazed as they watched him play drums and actually stay on beat. Since that time, he has added keyboards and lead guitar to his musical talents. He has also been a part of various recordings. He played drums, keyboard, and sang on two of his mother’s gospel albums, “ In The Secret Place” and “ Your Heart’s Condition.” He also contributed to an album put out by Calvary Chapel Petaluma, as well as a CD of his own music along with a close friend in the ministry. In addition to leading worship, he serves on the Media Team, Mission Team, and is the leader of the Drama Team. He loves to preach and teach the Bible and is sometimes featured on the radio station 1640 KDIA at 3:30 on Sundays along with his father and senior pastor, Emmanuel O Akognon.
SARAH MACINTOSH
Sarah has years of experience in the music business including forming the band “Chasing Furies” that was signed to Sparrow Records, They toured extensively with various bands such as Jars of Clay and Burlap to Cashmere. After her band amicably dissolved, Sarah became an independent solo artist and has sung, toured, and collaborated with various artists such as Michael W. Smith, David Crowder, Brenton Brown, Tim Hughes, and Vicky Beeching, as well as recording her own solo CDs. She has just released her newest solo CD, “Current,” with Listener Records. While traveling and singing she also writes, sometimes it is a blog on her website (sarahmacintosh.com) and sometimes it is pieces of a book that she hopes to release next year. Sarah lives in Southern California with her husband and daughter.
SCOTT CUNNINGHAM, GIA LUCID, and the SCHOOL OF WORSHIP (C.C. Costa Mesa)
Scott Cunningham and band have been leading worship at CCCM for the last 11 years and also serve in the School of Worship, training and equipping worship leaders for ministry. The School of Worship is a one-year discipleship course focused on preparing worship leaders to serve in the local church, the mission field, or wherever the Lord would send them. Gia Lucid is a worship leader at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and also teaches vocal music at the School of Worship.
More Worship Leaders TBA …