Documentary: The Jesus Music

In the early 1960s, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash were the first rock and roll artists to release Gospel albums to the mainstream, but it was more to appease their parents and not their record labels. There was no industry to support these releases. By mid 1980s, musical acts like Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W Smith, Rich were not only giants of contemporary Christian music, Christopher Walker, Matt Redman and Michael Joncas had also entered the rarified air of superstardom. Some of them signed with major secular labels, hoping their PR muscle would take them into the stratosphere. And it did. Their albums are now sold in the millions, not in the thousands. What happened between 1960 and the mid 1980's provided a platform for these artists and their songs to flourish. The new documentary The Jesus Music explores the journey that Christian Contemporary Music took and uncovered the origins of some of the music we now love and cherish and played a part in so many folks' journeys to faith.

With stirring songs of faith, love, and hope, this fascinating documentary reveals the music's uplifting and untold story - from its humble beginnings at the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California through its transformation into the multibillion-dollar industry of Christian Contemporary Music today. Directed by the Erwin Brothers ('I Can Only Imagine', 'I Still Believe'), THE JESUS MUSIC is the definitive love letter to fans that features intimate interviews with the genre's biggest stars. With stories of trials and triumphs, the universal power of music from these artists shine through from their messages of passion, sacrifice, and redemption that inspire millions of devoted listeners.

Andy Erwin, director of the documentary states: "I think for me a lot of our history is rooted in Christian music for our career and it's something that we hold dear. So this was our love letter to the music that shaped the stories that we tell. I think the important thing for us to look at was not just to, you know, look at it from a musical standpoint, but from an idea of a trailblazer standpoint, that these were incredibly rebellious individuals that started this music, that fought for their voice to be heard based on an experience they had...I think it's a story that not many people know the origins of, and it's incredibly romantic and beautiful to tell that origin story."

Speaking to the former President of the London School of theology, Krish Kandiah comments that he was: "excited to hear about a new documentary film from Lionsgate exploring the origins of contemporary Christian music. I particularly liked the way the film helped to contextualise the changes in culture, music and politics and the church's worship. If you are someone that appreciates Christian worship music you will enjoy the backstory behind some of the songs you love. If you are someone who doesn't know much about the scene then maybe like me, the little boy listening to the Salvation Army band outside of my house, this film might help you to encounter the God that can inspire both the musical genius of Mozart, and Handel but also crashing guitar chords and pop based worship songs."

This documentary is worth a look - especially as we continue to seek to be relevant to secular markets and pursue those opportunities to engage people of all faiths in conversations about Christianity.

The filmmakers have produced the following Faith Guide to accompany the documentary.

The Jesus Music is available to stream on all good digital platforms from 13 December.