In this conversation with Charity Gayle, she shares insights about her journey in worship music and her commitment to keeping worship sacred. Charity discusses how she was introduced to worship music through her family’s deeply spiritual upbringing and her early exposure to choir and worship in church. She emphasizes the importance of worshipping in secret as a way to maintain the authenticity of worship and its significance in her life.
Charity also reflects on the labels associated with music genres and emphasizes that the primary identity should be as disciples of Christ. She discusses her unique approach to worship, blending different styles and focusing on the authenticity of the church’s song. She believes that when individual identities are rooted in Christ, a beautiful and unified sound emerges, much like the diverse sounds of creation.
Towards the end, Charity offers words of encouragement to local church leaders dealing with burnout. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and seeking guidance from experienced elders in the church. She also shares her excitement about the next generation of young leaders who value authenticity and believes they hold something unique for the future. Lastly, she highlights the significance of accountability in her life, particularly through her pastor, her husband, her parents, and fellow worship team members.
Overall, Charity Gayle’s conversation highlights the importance of authenticity in worship, the unity of the church’s song, and the value of accountability and guidance in one’s spiritual journey.
Key Takeaways:
- Charity Gayle emphasizes the importance of keeping worship sacred by practicing it in secret, understanding its weight, and realizing that it’s a testimony shared with the Lord and the congregation.
- She believes that labels in music genres should take a back seat to the primary identity of being disciples of Christ.
- Charity discusses her unique approach to worship, blending various musical styles and focusing on the authenticity of the church’s song.
- She offers words of encouragement to local church leaders, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and seeking guidance from experienced elders in the church to combat burnout.
- Charity is excited about the next generation of young leaders who value authenticity and believes they bring something unique to the future of worship.
- Accountability plays a vital role in her life through her pastor, her husband, her parents, and fellow worship team members.
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Read the transcript here
Who is Charity Gayle?
Charity houses a powerful voice that has a fresh yet reminiscent sound. She loves the Lord with fierce faith and was raised in a home full of worship and has been involved in ministry since she was a child. Growing up in Buffalo, NY, Charity was a part of a culture that thrives in the spirit of unity while celebrating diversity. Surrounded by worship and the Word, her love for praising Jesus through music grew as she did. One of her favorite things growing up was watching her mom direct choir at Thursday night choir practice and by the age of 16, she was directing multiple choirs herself. “I love harmonies in gospel music. I think about Heaven being full of every type of voice from every nation, finding their part and praising God at the top of their lungs together around the Throne.”
She spent two years in Nashville in 2014 and 2015 where she fell more in love with the art of writing songs for the church. Focusing on bridging the gap between worship and gospel music, she has authored songs like ‘Amen’ ‘Psalm 100 (Enter In), Cleansed and ‘New Name Written Down in Glory’. Her first record, ‘Lord, You are my Song, debuted at #1 in the Christian and gospel genre in January 2018. She recently released her sophomore album ‘Endless Praise’ in Sept. 2021, featuring the song ‘Thank You Jesus for the Blood’ also debuting at #1.
Most recently, Charity received a Dove Award for the song ‘Benediction (As You Go)’ on Selah’s record, “Firm Foundation”.
Charity lives and leads worship with her husband, Ryan Kennedy. They are cultivating a movement for 24-hour prayer and worship called GatherHouse, and are continuing to write and spread the gospel in the US and globally.
Who Is Gatherhouse?
Gatherhouse is a movement out of Houston, Texas that states, “We are a people unapologetically in love with Jesus, committed to partnering with heaven in 24/7 prayer and worship, determined to give our lives to the work of seeing His Kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven through the life-altering love and presence of Jesus.”
Listen To This Conversation with Charity Gayle On YouTube
What Is Planning Center?
Planning Center is a set of software tools to help you organize information, coordinate events, communicate with your team, and connect with your congregation.
