After four critically acclaimed albums, the Desperation Band returns Sept. 15 with Light Up the World, a new 16-track CD inspired by the selflessness of young members of the group's home church.

Born out of the student ministries at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., the band took its name from the church's Desperation student conferences. The group "has always been and always will be about the presence of God," said Jon Egan, frontman and co-producer.

"We exist to bring Him glory and reveal His truth to a broken world. If we know who He is, we know who we are," he added. "If we know who we are, we can live as God meant us to live. ... It's all about His purposes."

On Light Up the World, Egan and his bandmates dig deeper into those purposes, reflecting on the type of worship that spurs the church to compassionate action. Much of the inspiration for the album came from New Life's student-driven effort to change the lives of children by building orphan homes in Uganda and Kenya.

The students went far beyond donating pocket change and weekly allowances, Egan noted, with many of them taking on odd jobs or second jobs to reach their goal.

"As I watched the students give all that they had, I started to realize that the best way to reach a young person in Colorado Springs was to help them reach a young person in Uganda," Egan said.

The youth worship pastor at New Life, Egan penned most of the songs for the new project, including the title track, "Be the Change" and "Holy Ground," which he co-wrote with Hillsong Music's Mia Fieldes.

With a companion digital songbook, the enhanced studio CD features new songs, plus bonus live versions of the band's hits "Rescue" and "I Am Free." Also included is a bonus video.

To order the CD and digital songbook (0-00768-46910-1), call 800-333-9000, or go to www.provident-integrity.com.

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