Jesus Culture

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Jesus Culture
Formation1999
Purpose Christian revivalism
Headquarters Sacramento, California, U.S.
Website jesusculture.com

Jesus Culture is a Christian revivalist youth-oriented organization that was formed at the Bethel Church of Redding, California, in the United States. Jesus Culture Ministry hosts conferences and operates a record label, Jesus Culture Music. In 2013, Jesus Culture moved to plant a church in Sacramento. Meetings started on September 14, 2014.

Contents

Background

In late 1999, the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by youth pastor Banning Liebscher, launched the first Jesus Culture conference. Tony Cummings, music editor of Cross Rhythms, described the ministry as "one of the most significant Christian movements in post-war America". [1]

According to Jesus Culture's website, "The heart of these gatherings was to serve other churches and lead young people to experience the radical love of God." [2]

In 2013, Jesus Culture moved to Sacramento to plant a church, [3] and meetings started at Folsom High School on September 14, 2014. [4]

Conferences

Jesus Culture now hosts an annual conference in Sacramento, California and periodically host conferences around the globe. The conferences bring thousands of young people from around the world to the host cities. [5]

The conferences bring together a number of pastors and ministers to preach to the conference attendees. [5] Worship is led through song, featuring a number of worship leaders.

Jesus Culture Music

Jesus Culture performing in 2014 Jesus Culture Live 2014.jpg
Jesus Culture performing in 2014

Jesus Culture Music is the music label and Grammy-nominated worship music band of the Jesus Culture organization. Its albums feature the worship of the Jesus Culture Sacramento, performing a mix of original and cover songs. [6]

Youth worship leaders Kim Walker-Smith, Melissa How and Chris Quilala, long active with the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, became the core of the Jesus Culture band. [7] Jesus Culture states the purpose of music in their movement is to "ignite revival in the nations of the earth; to compel the Body of Christ to radically abandon itself to a lifestyle of worship; to encounter His extravagant love and raw power." [2]

Since 2006, the band has released a number of albums on the Jesus Culture Music label. Their 2011 album, Awakening (Live from Chicago), appeared at No. 133 on the Canadian SoundScan charts. [8] Christianity Today negatively reviewed the album, criticizing it for "amps of staggering sound leave little room for thoughtful reflection or deliberate contemplation", [9] while Jesus Freak Hideout praised it for its "very overt sense of passion for the LORD and worshiping him." [10]

The tenth album, Unstoppable Love, was released in June 2014. Some critics called it "one of their best", [11] "passionate", [12] and "powerful", [13] while others see this newest offering as "a missed opportunity for the band to push themselves a little more musically" other than another CD with musicality that "get[s] bigger and bigger, wider and wider." [14]

Jesus Culture's thirteenth album, Living With a Fire was nominated for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. [15]

Discography

  • Everything (2006)
  • We Cry Out (2007)
  • Here Is My Song (Kim Walker-Smith) (2008)
  • Your Love Never Fails (2008)
  • Those Who Dream (Kristene DiMarco) (2008)
  • Marked by Heaven (Jake Hamilton) (2009)
  • Consumed (2009)
  • My Passion (EP) (2010)
  • Come Away (2010)
  • Freedom Calling (Jake Hamilton) (2011)
  • Here On Earth (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2011)
  • Awakening: Live from Chicago (2011)
  • Safe Place (Kristene DiMarco) (2012)
  • Overcome (Heather Clark) (2012)
  • Emerging Voices (2012)
  • Live from New York with Martin Smith [16] (2012)
  • Still Believe (Kim Walker-Smith) (2013)
  • Home (Kim Walker-Smith & Skyler Smith) (2013)
  • Kingdom Come (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2013)
  • Our Love (EP) (Josh & Amberley Klinkenberg) (2013)
  • Jesus Culture Reconstructed Volume 1 (Remix Album) (2014)
  • Unstoppable Love (2014)
  • Atmospheres (Justin Jarvis) (2014)
  • When Christmas Comes (Kim Walker-Smith) (2014)
  • Children of Promise (Andrew Ehrenzeller) (2015)
  • Real Love (Derek Johnson) (2015)
  • This Is Jesus Culture (2015)
  • Esto Es Jesús Culture (2015)
  • Everything And Nothing Less (Chris McClarney) (2015)
  • Mighty (Kristene DiMarco) (2015)
  • Live at the Knight (John Mark McMillan) (2015)
  • Let It Echo (2016)
  • Let It Echo Unplugged (2016)
  • Champion (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2016)
  • Jesus Culture em Português (2016)
  • Split the Sky (Chris Quilala) (2016)
  • On My Side (Kim Walker-Smith) (2017)
  • Love Has a Name (2017)
  • Christmas (EP) (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2017)
  • On My Side Live (Kim Walker-Smith) (2018)
  • Breakthrough (Chris McClarney) (2018)
  • Living With a Fire (2018)
  • Praise Before My Breakthrough (EP) (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2018)
  • Anticipation (EP) (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2019)
  • Fill This Place (EP) (Chris McClarney) (2019)
  • Church (Volume 1/Live) (2020)
  • Church (Volume 2/Live) (2020)

Artists

Current members

Past members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Walker-Smith</span> Musical artist

Kim Walker-Smith is an American singer, songwriter, worship leader, and recording artist. She produced her first solo album, Here Is My Song, which was released in February 2008 through the Jesus Culture record label. Walker-Smith is best known as the worship leader for the Jesus Culture Band and Jesus Culture events, and as a worship pastor for Bethel Church in Redding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel Music</span> American music label

Bethel Music is an American music label and worship movement from Redding, California, originating out of Bethel Church where they started making music in 2001. Bethel Music has grown from being a local church music ministry to a global outreach made up of a collective of songwriters, artists and musicians. They focus on producing worship songs and albums that are largely written and recorded by members of their Artist Collective.

Bryan & Katie Torwalt are an American Christian music husband and wife duo from Sacramento, California who started their music recording careers in 2006. The first album, Here On Earth, was released in 2011 by Jesus Culture Music alongside Kingsway Music. It became their Billboard magazine breakthrough release. Their second album, Kingdom Come, was released by the aforementioned labels in 2013, and performed even better on the Billboard magazine charts. They released a self-titled album in 2015, Bryan & Katie Torwalt, again with the two labels mentioned earlier, although this album did not place on any Billboard magazine charts.

<i>Kingdom Come</i> (Bryan & Katie Torwalt album) 2013 studio album by Bryan & Katie Torwalt

Kingdom Come is the second studio album by Bryan & Katie Torwalt. Jesus Culture Music alongside Kingsway Music released the album on October 15, 2013. They worked with Jeremy Edwardson in the production of this album.

<i>This Is Jesus Culture</i> 2015 compilation album by Jesus Culture

This Is Jesus Culture is the first compilation album by American Christian worship band Jesus Culture. The album was released on April 7, 2015 by Jesus Culture Music alongside Sparrow Records. Jeremy Edwardson, Nathan Grubbs and Brian Johnson worked together on the production of the album.

<i>Unstoppable Love</i> 2014 live album by Jesus Culture

Unstoppable Love is a live album from Jesus Culture. Jesus Culture Music released the album on June 3, 2014.

Kristene DiMarco, is an American Christian musician. Her first album, Those Who Dream, was released by Jesus Culture Music in 2008, along with a re-release of the same album in 2010 by Kingsway Music. She released, Safe Place, in 2012 with Kingsway Music. Her next album Mighty was released July 31, 2015 by Jesus Culture Music alongside Sparrow Records.

<i>Everything and Nothing Less</i> 2015 live album by Chris McClarney

Everything and Nothing Less is the first live album by Chris McClarney. Sparrow Records and Jesus Culture Music released the album on June 9, 2015. McClarney worked with Jeremy Edwardson, in the production of this album.

The 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The ceremony recognized the accomplishments of musicians and other figures within the Christian music industry for the year 2014. The ceremony was produced by the Trinity Broadcasting Network and was hosted by musician Erica Campbell and television star Sadie Robertson. The awards show was broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network on October 18, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Quilala</span> Musical artist

Chris Quilala was born on November 22, 1982 in Redding, California. He is an American Christian musician and worship leader with the Jesus Culture band and formerly with the Bethel Music collective. He primarily plays Christian pop and contemporary worship music.

<i>Split the Sky</i> 2016 studio album by Chris Quilala

Split the Sky is the first solo studio album by Chris Quilala. The album was released on November 11, 2016, by Sparrow Records alongside Jesus Culture Music. Jeremy Edwardson and Daniel James Mackenzie worked together in the production of the album.

<i>For the Sake of the World</i> 2012 live album by Bethel Music

For the Sake of the World is the fourth album from American worship collective Bethel Music. The album, produced by Brian Johnson, Ian McIntosh and Jeffrey Kunde, was released on 1 October 2012 by the collective's imprint label, Bethel Music. The album was recorded live during the weekend services at Bethel Church in Redding, California.

<i>Starlight</i> (Bethel Music album) 2017 live album by Bethel Music

Starlight is the ninth live album and thirteenth album overall by California-based worship collective Bethel Music. The album was released on April 7, 2017, by the group's imprint label, Bethel Music. Chris Greely and Ran Jackson worked on the production of the album.

<i>Be Lifted High</i> 2011 live album by Bethel Music

Be Lifted High is the second live album by California-based worship collective Bethel Music. The album was released on February 15, 2011 by Kingsway Music alongside the group's imprint label, Bethel Music. Jeremy Edwardson worked on the production of the album. The album was recorded live at Bethel Church in Redding, California and includes a DVD containing interviews about worship with Bethel Church pastors Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton as well as Bethel Music artists such as Brian and Jenn Johnson, Jeremy Riddle and others.

<i>Here Is Love</i> 2010 live album by Bethel Music

Here Is Love is the first live album by California-based worship collective Bethel Music. The album was released on October 12, 2010 by Bethel Music alongside Integrity Music. Jeremy Edwardson worked on the production of the album.

<i>Love Has a Name</i> (Jesus Culture album) 2017 live album by Jesus Culture

Love Has a Name is the tenth live album and twelfth album overall by American worship group Jesus Culture. The album was released on August 11, 2017 by the group's imprint label, Jesus Culture Music alongside Capitol Christian Music Group and Sparrow Records. Jeremy Edwardson produced the album.

<i>Where His Light Was</i> 2017 studio album by Kristene DiMarco

Where His Light Was is the third studio album and fourth album overall by American Christian singer Kristene DiMarco. The album was released on September 22, 2017 by Bethel Music, her first release with the record label. Seth Mosley and Mike "X." O'Connor produced the album.

<i>Living With a Fire</i> 2018 live album by Jesus Culture

Living With a Fire is the eleventh live album and thirteenth album overall by American worship group Jesus Culture. The album was released on August 31, 2018 by the group's imprint label, Jesus Culture Music alongside Capitol Christian Music Group and Sparrow Records.

Jenn Johnson is an American Christian worship singer, songwriter and worship pastor. She is a co-founding member of Bethel Music, and is one-half of the husband-and-wife worship duo, Brian & Jenn Johnson. She is also a senior worship pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, California, and a Senior Overseer of WorshipU, an online school of worship under Bethel Music which she co-founded with Brian Johnson.

<i>Homecoming</i> (Bethel Music album) 2021 live album by Bethel Music

Homecoming is the thirteenth live album by California-based worship collective Bethel Music. The album was released through the collective's imprint label, Bethel Music, on September 24, 2021. The featured worship leaders on the album are Cory Asbury, Zahriya Zachary, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, David Funk, Dante Bowe, Hannah McClure, Brandon Lake, Paul McClure, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Josh Baldwin, Emmy Rose, Kristene DiMarco, and Bethany Wohrle, with guest appearances from Gable Price, Matt Redman, Naomi Raine and Chris Quilala.

References

  1. ""Cross Rhythms" Jesus Culture: Kim Walker speaks about the powerful worship ministry from California". Crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Jesus Culture website". Jesusculture.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  3. "JC Move: Jesus Culture is moving to sacramento". Jesus Culture. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  4. "Welcome - Jesus Culture". Jesus Culture. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Winters, Amanda (January 16, 2010). "Bethel burgeons under pastor's visions of prosperity". Record Searchlight. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010.
  6. Mahoney, Mike. "Jesus Culture – Come Away". The joint review. Retrieved September 28, 2011. It's also typical in that it's a mix of originals and cover songs.
  7. Quilala, Chris. "Encountering God in Jesus Culture". 700 Club Interview. CBN. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  8. "SoundScan Charts", Jam! Music, Canoe.
  9. "Awakening: Live in Chicago", Jesus Freak Hideout, November 2011, retrieved October 12, 2014.
  10. "Jesus Culture, "Awakening: Live From Chicago" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  11. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Jesus Culture, "Unstoppable Love" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  12. "Jesus Culture: Unstoppable Love". ccmmagazine.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  13. "Review: Jesus Culture – Unstoppable Love - Soul-Audio". soul-audio.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  14. Haydon Spenceley. "Jesus Culture - Unstoppable Love - The Phantom Tollbooth - The Phantom Tollbooth". tollbooth.org. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  15. Lynch, Joe (December 7, 2018). "2019 Grammy Nominations: Complete List | Billboard". Billboard . Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  16. "Live From New York - Jesus Culture". Jesus Culture. Retrieved March 17, 2016.