Christian Retailing

'Jesus Calling' album released Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 14 March 2011 02:39 PM America/New_York

Thomas Nelson and EMI CMG Label Group have partnered together to release Jesus Calling: Songs Inspired By.

Released March 8, the album features three new songs from Luminate, Matthew West and Robbie Seay Band, as well as tracks from Amy Grant, Audrey Assad, Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, David Crowder Band, Hillsong United, Mandisa, Sanctus Real and Steven Curtis Chapman. The project capitalizes on the popularity of Sarah Young's devotional Jesus Calling, which has sold more than a million copies since it was published in 2004.

"This was a book designed for me to stop and listen—to hear God speak directly to me as I meditated on scripture and truth," said Robbie Seay, who wrote "O Great Love" for the CD.

Matthew West, who wrote and recorded "Rest" for the album, was recovering from a possibly career-ending vocal chord surgery a few years ago when a friend gave him a copy of Jesus Calling. "Every day it felt as though God was speaking directly to me, and directly to my circumstances," West said. "Rest" was inspired by "the book's daily call to do just that—rest in the presence of a God who longs to spend time with his children."

Thomas Nelson and EMI CMG Label Group also simultaneously released Jesus Calling: Instrumental Songs for Devotion—an album featuring well-known worship songs "with peaceful arrangements for quiet devotional times."

"This rich devotional book continues to inspire and encourage thousands of believers who long to have a more intimate and dynamic relationship with Christ," said Peter York, president of EMI CMG Label Group. "We deeply appreciate the opportunity for our music to provide a soundtrack for this important book."

The Jesus Calling Devotional Bible will be released by Nelson in October, incorporating material from Jesus Calling as well as new writing. In the last 12 months, Jesus Calling has sold more than 700,000 copies, Nelson said.