John Pape Online Blog

“When I write songs, I try to write in a way to reach as many people as I can, to be a lighthouse versus a flashlight,”
— Chris Tomlin

One of my favorite songwriters is Chris Tomlin. He is an incredibly gifted songwriter. I find that his insight and ability to craft worship songs that ministry to the body of Christ amazing. He is highly influential in today’s Church as we sing many of his songs. I wanted to take some time to take a look at his life and accomplishments.

Chris Tomlin is one of the leading worship and praise songwriter within contemporary Christian music. Not only is he a gifted songwriter he is also an excellent singer. He has written many popular songs that are being used worldwide in the church worship services. According to Christian Copyright Licensing International’s (CCLI) list of the top 25 worship songs in the United States as of February 2009, Tomlin held 6 spots with songs he has either written or co-written with other songwriters:

#1 How Great Is Our God
#7 Forever
#8 Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
#9 Holy Is The Lord
#14 Jesus Messiah
#18 We Fall Down

Chris was born in Garland TX in 1972. He grew up listening to country music and his father taught him to play the guitar. When he was nine, Chris accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. When he was only 14 he wrote his first praise song.

Chris Tomlin attended Texas A&M and became active in a Bible study group called Breakaway. The leader of that group was a pastor named Louie Giglio. Chris eventually became a worship leader for the group as well as performing his own compositions. The group Breakaway became Passion and ministry that ministered on college campuses. Chris’ pastor Louie started a record company Sixstep of which Chris became one of the first artist signed to the label.

As Tomlin’s songs and recordings found a wider audience, he was nominated for two Grammy Awards for his 2006 album See the Morning, but the songwriter continued to emphasize that his mission was more important than his own music.

Dove Award

• 2005: Praise and Worship Album of the Year – Arriving
• 2006: Song of the Year – “How Great Is Our God“
• 2006: Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2006: Artist of the Year
• 2006: Special Event Album of the Year – Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• 2006: Worship Song of the Year – “How Great Is Our God“
• 2007: Artist of the Year
• 2007: Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2007: Worship Song of the Year – “Holy Is the Lord”
• 2007: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year – See the Morning
• 2007: Special Event Album of the Year – Passion: Everything Glorious
• 2007: Praise & Worship Album of the Year – See the Morning
• 2008: Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2008: Worship Song of the Year – “How Great is our God“
• 2009: Worship Album of the Year – Hello Love
• 2009: Special Event Album of the Year – Passion: God of This City

Books

The Way I Was Made: Words and Music for an Unusual Life

Discography

• Hello Love September 2, 2008
• Arriving September 21, 2004
• See the Morning September 26, 2006
• Live from Austin Music Hall December 27, 2005
• The Early Years November 21, 2006
• Not to Us September 17, 2002
• The Noise We Make January 1, 2001

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