NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — A new creative team is featured in the five new songs for LifeWay’s VBS 2013 theme, “Colossal Coaster World: Facing Fear, Trusting God.”
Dove Award-winning artist Jamie Grace will sing three of the five songs that teach biblical truths to the next generation.
Grace, 20, from Atlanta, won the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year for the smash hit, “Hold Me,” released last year.
Growing up in church and attending VBS, Grace credits the evangelistic outreach as a pivotal time in her faith. LifeWay’s VBS gave her “some of the best summers of my life — filled with moments that encouraged me and have made me want to give back.”
“We are thrilled to have Jamie Grace adding not only her award-winning talent but her passion and love for VBS to our project,” said Jerry Wooley, VBS specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Also joining the creative team are songwriters Paul Marino and Jeremy Johnson.
“For more than 20 years, Paul has been quietly making a name for himself in music,” Wooley said. “His expertise and experience makes him one of the top consultants in the areas of producing, writing, publishing, leading worship and concert performance.”
As a songwriter, Marino has penned many chart-topping hits, including 16 top 10 national radio singles. He wrote the theme song for the movie “Road to Redemption,” produced by Billy Graham’s World Wide Pictures.
While Marino isn’t an employee at LifeWay, he has been crafting songs for LifeWay Worship since 2004 and was named LifeWay songwriter of the year for 2010 and 2011.
As a performer, Marino has sung with the vocal trio, River, for 20 years and has served as the group’s producer and primary songwriter. River has performed more than 1,500 concerts around the world and amassed numerous top 10 national radio hits.
Johnson, originally from Shreveport, La., moved to Nashville in 1994 to attend Belmont University. He signed an exclusive publishing contract with LifeWay in 2004 when his songs gained the attention of producer/songwriter Greg Nelson.
“While he isn’t a LifeWay employee either, Jeremy is a full-time songwriter for LifeWay Worship Music Group,” Wooley said.
Since signing with LifeWay, Johnson’s songs have been recorded by Steve Green, Michael W. Smith, Elliott Yamin (“American Idol” finalist), Brian Free and Assurance. His music has been featured in more than 200 choral and print projects.
Three of Johnson’s songs were included in the 2008 Baptist Hymnal.
Samples of the VBS music can be heard at LifeWay.com/vbs2013. For information about this summer’s VBS, “Amazing Wonders Aviation,” visit LifeWay.com/VBS.
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Reported by the staff of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
