Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

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Jared Anderson did not always see himself writing worship music. The career of one of the most distinct and celebrated voices in modern worshipā€”with songs like ā€œGlorified,ā€ ā€œAmazed,ā€ ā€œRescueā€ and ā€œGreat I Amā€ widely sung in churches around the worldā€”almost never happened.

ā€œI grew up playing the piano in church and singing in youth meetings. But by the time I was in college, I saw my music going in a different direction,ā€ says Anderson.

In fact, Jared considered distancing himself from worship music entirely, but always felt a pull to write something for the church. ā€œGod revealed to me, and it was a slow process, that worship isnā€™t just a genre of music,ā€ he explains. ā€œWorship songs are prayers. Weā€™re reciting the word of God back to him, and pretty soon weā€™re not just reciting it or singing it, weā€™re living it.ā€

Jared now embraces his calling as a worship leader and songwriter.  But he's very honest about what that means for anyone in that role. ā€œWeā€™re in the foot washing business,ā€ he says. ā€œIf you want to lead, you have to serve. And if you want to serve, you have to surrender. And if you surrender youā€™re going to have to die.ā€

These arenā€™t empty words. Dying to some of his dreams paved the way for God to do something bigger.  It's a narrow road, but it's the path Jared has chosen to travel.

And that path has led him into an effective ministry. From his former work with the Desperation Band, to his role as a songwriter/leader for New Life Worshipā€™s live CD/DVDs and his own recordings including Where To Begin, Where Faith Comes From and Live From My Church.

Whatever the setting ā€“ whether itā€™s a coffee shop, a church sanctuary or an amphitheater, Jared takes a simple song and turns it into a journey.

This fall, heā€™ll take listeners on a new journey with the release of The Narrow Road, his first ā€œsoloā€ worship album in over three years. The project features some of the common themes in Jaredā€™s best work, while carving out new ground based on a favorite literary work.

ā€œOne of the inspirations for the album is Pilgrimā€™s Progress,ā€ Jared explains. Like John Bunyanā€™s allegorical masterpiece, this album, ā€œtells the stories of trials... they shouldnā€™t define us. Instead, they prepare us for the destination.ā€

Pointing to the title song, Jared continues: ā€œThe enemy is the distracter ...he wants to kill our focus. He wants to destroy the unity between us and God. So walking ā€˜the narrow roadā€™ isnā€™t an option for followers of Jesus. Matthew 7:13-14 tells us plainly that itā€™s a necessity.ā€

In addition to a host of new songs inspired by Jaredā€™s own pilgrimage such as ā€œAccording to His Wordā€ and ā€œImpossible Possible,ā€ The Narrow Road also features two favorites, the worship anthem ā€œGreat I Amā€ and the Desperation classic ā€œI Am Free,ā€ which features his former bandmates Glenn Packiam and Jon Egan.

ā€œIt was fun to work on a recording with Jon and Glenn again, even if it was just for one song. Including this version of ā€˜I Am Freeā€™ was a chance to celebrate a song thatā€™s been meaningful to us personally and to church congregations for years.ā€

In addition to recording The Narrow Road, Jared continues to work on a series of inspirational albums that feature piano driven, folk-rock songs centering on everything from love to literature to lifeā€™s big questions. And he continues to serve as a worship team member at his home church, New Life, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, while also making time to lead worship at churches and conferences around the country.

Amidst the pulls of ministry and creative pursuits, it is the love of his family that grounds Jared. Most recently, he and his wife Megan, along with their four children (Everet, Becket, Francie, and Lyla) decided to enlarge their already full family. After much prayer, the Andersons have begun the process of adopting two orphans, John Diego and Christine, from Haiti. ļæ¼

ā€œWe canā€™t wait until theyā€™re home with us in Colorado,ā€ says Jared. ā€œGod is doing something in our ļæ¼home and our family. Weā€™re just trying to be obedient to him.ā€

ļæ¼All of these experiences add to Jaredā€™s understanding that life is much larger than what happens in the ļæ¼church pews on a Sunday. ā€œSunday is just the rehearsal,ā€ Jared says. ā€œItā€™s during the rest of the week ļæ¼that we walk out our faith.ā€

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