ALM:uk’s First CD, Name Above All Names, to Release in June
MOBILE, Ala. and BRADFORD, England – For more than two decades, Integrity Music has introduced new worship songs emerging from churches around the world including Gateway, New Life and Lakewood in the U.S. and Hillsong in Australia. The label’s latest discovery is Abundant Life Ministries a dynamic, multi-cultural church based in Bradford, England and led by pastor and renowned speaker/author Paul Scanlon.
“I’ve been challenged by Abundant Life’s passion for the lost and really believe that they model excellence in both worship and in the ‘hands and feet’ ministry that will be useful to other churches worldwide,” says Chris Springer, Integrity’s senior director of A&R. “It’s truly an honor for us to represent them.”
Integrity and Abundant Life have entered a long-term publishing and recording agreement for the church’s two worship entities, ALM:uk and RPM, their youth worship band.
The debut CD from ALM:uk, Name Above All Names, is slated for an international release to more than 160 countries with a U.S. street date of June 15. The album features new songs written by the Abundant Life staff including worship leaders Mark Stevens, Matt Hooper and Jock James, who chronicled the recording process at http://www.youtube.com/user/abundantlifeworship.
To resource the Church, Integrity created companion resources for Name Above All Names including CD tracks, a songbook and a digital songbook, all of which will release with the album in June.
“Our heart and our mission behind our album is to provide great congregational songs that help the local church and local church worship teams connect with God in a really strong, faith-filled and practical way,” said Matt Hooper. (Previously, the ALM:uk worship team released independent albums in the UK, including its most recent Send Me, in 2007.)
Name Above All Names was recorded in-studio in Nashville, Tenn. and in Bradford, England with the help of Dove Award-winning producer Bernie Herms, known for his work with Casting Crowns, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Selah and Brad Paisley.
Herms and his wife Natalie Grant often attend Abundant Life’s services when they visit England and it was Herms who introduced Integrity to the ALM:uk staff. Understanding the label’s heart for sharing new worship songs with the global community, he immediately connected the two.
Says Herms of the church, “Each time I’ve had the privilege of being at Abundant Life, I’ve encountered an awesome move of God’s spirit that I believe is the direct fruit of an uncommonly passionate church body. They are radically devoted to reaching their city and the world with an authentic brand of 21st century Christianity.”
Integrity’s UK office director, Jonathan Bugden adds: “If ever there was a church that expresses its life and worship through loving their neighbors, this is it! And with the economic and social needs in Bradford, they are a light on a hill, bringing the good news to desperate people who need to know Jesus.”
Abundant Life is a growing congregation that includes a wide mix of ages, backgrounds and cultures. Their three campus locations are the main church in Bradford, an economically depressed area in northern England that is home to the country’s second largest Muslim community, as well as campuses in Leeds (England) and in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The church is known for its outreaches into each area, including spiritual and practical help for their communities.
Additional information on ALM:uk can be found at http://www.abundantlifeworship.co.uk. RPM can be found online at http://www.myspace.com/rpmlive.