Three different artists representing three different worship entities — Abbie Gamboa, Jenn Johnson and Kristian Stanfill — join forces for a new, all-star version of UPPERROOM’s “The Church.” All three vocalists hold co-writing credit on the ballad that extols the beauty of the body of Christ.
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Johnson helms the first verse and harmonizes with Stanfill on the second, while Gamboa commandeers lead vocals on the bridge. The apropos original feels like a clarion call to believers at a time when Christians are divided on so many politically charged issues.
“I once heard somebody say that if you ever want to see what the Lord is doing, just look at what the enemy’s doing; and it’s the exact opposite. I think about that when I think about this song,” UPPERROOM member Jonathan Lewis told Air1 during a recent interview. “If you look at what’s trying to infiltrate every part of culture — society, politics, church, family — it’s division. And so that’s what the enemy’s doing. It’s so clear. You don’t have to have a microscope to figure out what he’s doing. And so what is the Lord doing? It’s the exact opposite. He’s trying to unify and bridge places of separation. So I feel like this is a real unifying song for the church right now.”
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A live version of “The Church” — led by Gamboa — originally appeared on the Dallas-based collective’s latest project, “1350 (Live).” While the respective ministries Gamboa, Johnson and Stanfill are a part of each have their own unique philosophies on worship and ministry, their collaboration is a portrait of unity, in and of itself, as these artists come together under the banner of one name — the name of Jesus.
“We surrender our agendas, our preferences, our plans. Would You help us work together to be Your feet and hands?” they sing alongside urgent strings. “Our heart is just to know You, to show them who You are. That the Gospel’s still the answer for every searching heart.”
