Family Worship Guide
These are some of the most well-known songwriters/performers on the Children’s / Family worship circuit. Some can all be seen at such events as Spring Harvest running the children’s programme, or at Praise parties and training seminars around the country. All of the names on this list have been road tested by the kids of Brun’ singing their songs
This guide will be added to over the coming weeks. If you'd like to see any other names included here, then let me know. worship.guide@newark0.demon.co.uk
If you're wondering how I managed to find out about all of these people, then wonder no further. I like to buy the Spring Harvest Kid's Praise CD every year - it's a selection of recent songs, usually from people who will be at the event. It's always a good starting point for finding out what's happening in Children's/Family Worship. I do also tend to buy loads of other CD's and tapes of similar music, so that I can find the right song for the right occasion. I hope that through this page, I at least point someone in the right direction.
As the list of available resources grows, I will keep adding to this page. Having just returned from Spring Harvest 2003, I have a bag full of new CD's to listen to, so watch out for frequent updates over the next few months.
Famous for “We Want To See Jesus Lifted High” – but has written songs ranging from dance beats to something like the Lion King. Doug works largely with 8-11 year olds. Not to be restricted by music, Doug has produces a multimedia CD with a short film by Harry & Larry, his two puppets. Look out for some top class illusions at his praise parties.
Doug's Praise parties are great evangelistic events. Both of my children made commitments to Jesus at these events. It really is the place to take children who are close to the Kingdom of God.
Dug has continued his excellent run of albums with "Whoopah Wahey" and "Lovely Jubbly". On top of this, ther'e some new teaching material called "God Stuff".
Web Site: www.duggiedugdug.co.uk
Trevor’s Choice – “King Of Heaven”
Dave has fun-filled songs in a variety of styles. Our fave is "Ace Foundations", an updated version of "The Wise Man Built..", with the title track of my choice close behind, but just listen to the whole of one of his CD's for the full scope. This year, Dave has brought out "Dependence Day", with sheep on the cover. See if you can find out why!
Web Site: www.iccrecords.com
Trevor’s Choice – “Heaven's No. 1”
We sing “As For Me And My House” in Church occasionally – indeed, it managed to get into the Spring Harvest grown-up’s songbook. Other than that, Jim has written many songs used by Children’s worship leaders. Occupying a similar territory to Doug, namely 8-11’s, Jim has opted for the Spicy Camels as his puppet support act.
I listened to Jim deliver a seminar aboout Children's/Family worship - he has a great understanding of the drivers of kids, a great grasp of the biblical truths relating to it, and he taught me all I know about flag-waving.
Web Site: http://www.jimbailey.org/
Trevor’s Choice – “All Over Again”
Ishmael :
The father of modern kids worship songs. His most famous song is "Father God I Wonder", but this man has put out so many albums, it's difficult to keep track of them. Check out his new projects with lesser known songwriters.
If you haven't witnessed the high-energy manic worship led by Ishmael, then try to catch up with him on the road. Ishmael is indeed one of the Modern Wonders of the World.
Web Site: www.ishmael.org.uk
Trevor's Choice: Ishmael has just re-released his 3 CD's "Little Songs for Little Children", "Praise Songs for Little Children" & "Worship Songs for Little Children" as a boxed set... this would be a good place to start.
John's outfit is called "Creative Communications", but he also works with "Children Worldwide" and "Counties". John someimes appears as himself and somtimes as a clown. We have been using his song "God's People (aren't super brave super-heroes)" for several years, which makes it a modern classic.
John has a new album called "Bible Explosion"
Web Site: www.johnhardwick.org.uk
Trevor's Choice - "34 Songs for all Occasions" (a double album containing the CD's "Double Impact" and "I'm No Cartoon")
Steve Morgan-Gurr
Steve and his wife Kay are part of "Whizz Kids", as is Albert the monkey. We sing The Greatest Miracle (He changed water into wine), and have been known to do a little line-dancing to it. Steve & Kay's "Children Worldwide" ministries have added a CD "Why Should The Adults Have All The Good Music" - they don'e.
Trevor's Choice: "Live 'n' Growing"
Two brothers from Australia who I've never met, but they have some great songs. Pick of the bunch is "No-One Else", which is a song that can be sung with any age group. They also have a song which I regard as the Australian version of "Be Bold" - it's called "Don't Be A Chicken". The web site has free downloads of mp3's and sheet music.
Web Site: http://www.gaslight.net.au/scooter
Trevor's Choice: "Don't Be A Chicken" or "What Was Impossible"
Darren Chubb
Darren has written "He Will Rock You" - based on, yes, you've guessed it. It's on his Rock Solid "On The Beach" 2002 album, together with "I Reach Up High" and "Hallelujah - Your Love Is Amazing", which we often sing, usually to the CD.
Darren leads worship for the 8-10's age group at New Wine. Here is his description on if...
"I guess there are two distinctive differences from most kid orientated worship. "
"Firstly we get ordinary christian 10 - 14 year olds with a heart for worship, train them up (during school holidays!) to be in our band 'Shades' and put them on stage at New Wine to sing in front of 500 kids! Very nervewracking but it DOES work! We use the backing tracks from the CDs in an 'S-Club/Steps' style with actions and deaf sign language. In an amazing way it engages hundreds of children in worship that you would never think possible."
"The second difference is that most of our songs are 'adult' worship songs which are contemporised to make them more appealing to the children. We see this as a positive way of bridging the gap between adult and child orientated worship. "
As well as Rock Solid "On the Beach", there is now "In Jerusalem" and (coming soon) "In Bethlehem.
The CD's are available at St. Andrews Bookshop
Trevor's Choice: "On The Beach" (but "In Jerusalem" loks pretty good!)
Dave IS "Rocky Kids" - the CD's are adventures into a world of strange characters and fun worship songs. We often use "Be Strong And Put On The Armour Of God" in our children's worship.
Web Site: http://www.rockykids.com
Trevor's Choice: Rocky Kids 2
Other names you should know - this is not a "B" list, but I currently have less info on them
Writer of "I Declare", lead singer of The Electrics, producer of the StreetSide Project, etc. etc. you'll find something about him at www.iccrecords.com
Capt. Alan Price
Of "Captain's Crew" fame. Prolific author and compiler of the KidSource song book. I'm pretty sure there must be a web site out there somewhere.
Some of Alan's CD's over the last few years... "Now Is The Time", "Ready To Go", "Keep On Growing".
Andy Pickford
He wrote "Hello, Welcome", which was my favourite song for many a month.
Andrew & Pauline Pearson
Writers of "We're gonna build our lives on a solid rock" - excellent song if you want to sing Elvis-style.
Richard Hubbard
I haven't seen any songs from him recently, but we used to sing "Except The Lord"...
Paul Field
I have a copy of the "Fit For Life" songbook - we used the title trach in a Holiday Club.
Chris Jackson, Robert Critchley, Ron Sivers,
... all appear in a PowerPack Trust collection called "Mighty Warrior". We have used a couple of songs out of this collection... I've recently picked up a couple more CD's called "Chasing God, Shaking Nations" and "Enter the God Zone". There is a web site at www.powerpackministries.co.uk