The Worship Network

Some of Christian music's most acclaimed songwriters gathered together in Scotland last January to create a new 15-song album and accompanying book. Because these artists--Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Israel Houghton, Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zscech, and others--are among worship music's most famous, the songs will likely receive wide airplay and adaptation in church services. Because this acceptance could mean generations-long royalty payments to the songwriters, the project will probably make a lot of money. And because every person associated with the project--from artists to recording company executives to studio musicians--donated his contribution, every penny from this CompassionArt initiative will go to alleviate poverty around the world.

After the songwriting retreat, the artists recorded the songs at London's Abbey Road studios, home to many of The Beatles' original recordings--a lifetime dream for many of the musicians. 

They also brainstormed together on distribution of the money. "The original dozen songwriters arranged to distribute the proceeds from the project equally in two areas: one half to a set of projects they agreed on collaboratively, and the other half to individual causes close to their hearts," reports Lucas Hendrickson in his Tennessean article.

"We all know that if you get a song into the 'church system,' which is a blessing and a curse to the church; it's wonderful and it can be distracting," said project coordinator Martin Smith, front man for the group Delirious?. "If two or three of these become (like) 'Amazing Grace' and are still being sung in a hundred years' time, what an amazing result that could be. Not just financially, but in terms of leaving the church songs that came out of this retreat, together with this spirit of wanting to give everything away."

For more information on the new project, visit CompassionArt.tv.