The Michael Gungor Band

Like frontier revivals and spiritual awakenings of bygone days, the worship revolution of the 21st century is defining a new era for the Church. As a generation around the world rediscovers intimacy with Christ through worship, Michael Gungor reflects on his role in this historical season, motivated by an even broader aspiration for the movement. "If our worship simply becomes about 'Jesus and me,' and doesn't have any real impact on broken humanity, then I don't think we are fully joining into the story," he says. Honest insight - no doubt, but Michael has an unwavering vision for what this marriage of worship and social justice should look like - a vision shaped by his experiences as a seasoned worship leader, songwriter and artist. Recruited at just 20-years-old to oversee the worship ministry at Grand Rapids mega-church Resurrection Life, Michael is also an accomplished songwriter, co-penning the popular worship song "Friend Of God" with acclaimed artist and worship leader Israel Houghton. After a six-year tenure at Resurrection Life and two solo projects with Vertical Records, Michael is now fronting a band of friends and family who share a unified mission. Comprised of Michael, his wife Lisa and brother David, as well as friends Michael Rossback, John Arndt, Josh Eatmon and Daniel Grothe, the Denver-based ensemble is anything but a stereotypical worship band. Rooted in the progressive worship vein of David Crowder*Band or Hillsong United, the Michael Gungor Band's unique musical identity is further shaped by such diverse influences as Pete Yorn, Sigur Ros, and Chris Thile, among others. The group's creative pulse alone has earned them a respected platform from which to share their message. The Michael Gungor Band's debut, All I Need Is Here - a partnership with EMI's pioneering Worship Together franchise - is knit-together by the thread of faith in action. "Most of these songs were written for my congregation, but they are not all strictly congregational songs. All of them, however, are aimed at inspiring us to bring the Kingdom of God to earth by revealing who He is and who we are in Him," Michael says of the album. "His influence, His peace and His justice should begin to come to the earth as we begin to be restored personally. We are just the beginnings of the new creation, and if we let this restoration go in the directions God desires, the world around us will be changed." Michael wrote or co-wrote all 12 selections on All I Need Is Here, a project characterized by his impassioned lead vocals atop an organic, often experimental, rock style. While tracks such as the electric guitar-driven opener, "Be Praised," the catchy "Never Stop," and the ethereal "Ancient Skies," a modern interpretation of Psalm 68, are among several full-on worship selections, the extraordinary sonic ride of "Fly" offers a mid-album creative release, inviting listeners to Free your mind/To all this splendor. "Song For My Family," the reflective bonus cut, issues a parting challenge: Please forgive our selfishness/For hiding in our pews while the/world bleeds/While the world needs us/To be what we should be. "If all I am doing is getting goose-bumps while singing to Jesus about how much I love him, and I don't care about what's happening in Darfur, there's something very incomplete about that," Michael says, reiterating the band's primary desire to merge authentic worship with hands-on ministry. Ultimately, the overarching theme of All I Need Is Here is found in the bigger picture of life. "We long for what's not fully here yet - Heaven - and the way we think things should be, but at the same time, we have all we need right here in order to be happy," Michael explains. "Eternity is touching the present, and all we need is here at the moment; His grace is enough; it's sufficient for right now. Heaven is here, but it's not yet." Living out their message close to home, Michael and the band have begun a series of outreach events in the Denver area called "Bloom." These evenings of worship and teaching are meant to bring the community together for a greater purpose. "How can we become more effective in equipping the Body of Christ to be the Body of Christ in the world, to really live like the Church - the people, their passion, their lives - rather than one centralized structure?" he asks. "We hope 'Bloom' can be a way for people who are part of different house churches or communities around the area to come together to equip, celebrate and synergize with what God is doing in the city." In addition to "Bloom," the Michael Gungor Band is frequently on the road, leading worship at churches and events around the country. They've been featured at various Teen Mania "Acquire the Fire" youth conferences in the past couple of years, and the group has witnessed some profound moments with teens along the way. "I love worshipping with youth," Michael says. "They're at a very formative time in their lives of figuring out for themselves who God is, beyond what their parents have taught them, and we've shared a lot of really powerful experiences with teenagers that are discovering this God of love." "With every service, our end goal is not just to play our songs, it's to experience the love of God and perhaps see who He is a bit more clearly, and discover ourselves more clearly in Him," Michael relates. "What is God already doing in this place and how can we serve these people where they are and invite them into a fresh experience with the living God? Whether it's a huge youth conference or a tiny church full of 60 and 70-somethings, that's our end goal." When the final chapters of history are written, the worship movement of our time will assuredly earn its rightful place among the pages. Yet it's the Michael Gungor Band's greatest hope that the legacy of this awakening will have immeasurable implications for years to come, as true worshippers learn to swing wide the doors of the Church and go outside, serving those in need - both in the neighborhood and around the world.