Directory of Contemporary Worship Musicians - Way of Life Literature

Assad converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 2007.Like her fellow Catholic musicians Matt Maher, KathyTroccoli, and John Michael Talbot, Assad is an ecumenicalbridge-builder. She says that “the response to her music fromProtestants is just as positive as it is from Catholics,” and,“radio has influenced and grown my Protestant fan base,which used to be more Catholic, but now it’s about half-andhalf” (“Audrey Assad: A convert whose spiritual walk is amelody,” Catholic Online, Nov. 10, 2010). In 2008 shedeveloped a relationship with fellow Roman Catholic MattMaher aer they met during Gospel Music Week. Shesubsequently moved to Phoenix and attends Our Lady of Mt.Carmel in Tempe, where she sings with the worship team.Her song “For Love of You” mentions the Roman CatholicSacred Heart of Jesus. When asked how her Catholic faithinspires her music, she replies: “e way that I see the worldhas been radically changed. I can’t emphasize enough how theSacramental union with God in the Eucharist has totallychanged the way I see the world” (“Audrey Assad: A convertwhose spiritual walk is a melody,” Catholic Online, Nov. 10,2010). She loves C.S. Lewis and one of her projects was toread all of his works chronologically. She observed that Lewiswas “a great bridge between Protestants and Catholics.”Ruis, David(For more on the the history of contemporary praise musicfrom its inception in the Jesus People movement and theintimate association of contemporary praise with thecharismatic movement in general as well as its most radicalaspect, the “latter rain apostolic miracle revival,” see “CalvaryChapel,” “Christ For e Nations,” “Lindell Cooley,”“International House of Prayer,” “Tim Hughes,” “IntegrityMusic,” “omas Miller,” “Kevin Prosch,” “Marsha Stevens,”“Michael W. Smith,” “John Talbot,” and “John Wimber.”)David Ruis has long been associated with the VineyardFellowship of Churches. His praise songs include “Every271