by Allyson O'Bryant, Student Public Relations Writer
Under the bright lights of the Christian music industry, where fame can sometimes outshine faith, a few artists are working to bring worship back to its roots. Amid a culture increasingly driven by commercial success, they’re writing songs that reflect authentic worship and biblical truth.
Alumnus Leads Effort to Restore Authentic Worship
Chad Winder, a 2006 church music graduate from Cedarville University and worship pastor at 5 Bridges Church in Panama City Beach, Florida, is among those leading the effort to reclaim Christian music’s original purpose.
Winder recently served on the advisory board for “The Sing! Hymnal,” produced by Keith and Kristyn Getty, and is now collaborating with Ben Calhoun, founder and lead vocalist of Citizen Way, on a new worship album.
Winder credits his lifelong love of music to his parents. “Music surrounded my life growing up,” said Winder. As a freshman at Cedarville, after a late-night talk with his roommate, Winder was reminded of a promise he had made to God: “If the Lord called me to full-time ministry, I would be willing to do that.”
After a summer of prayer, Winder changed his major from music education to church music — now known as the worship major — a decision that redirected his life and ministry.
Forging a Musical Partnership
Following graduation, Winder and his wife, Natalie, eventually settled in Florida, where he now serves as worship pastor. He connected with Calhoun through his parents’ support of Calhoun’s nonprofit, and the two musicians connected and developed a friendship rooted in shared values and vision.
A New Album With Old Truths
Their upcoming 10-song album — untiled — will feature traditional hymns, paraphrased Psalms and new compositions written by Winder, Calhoun, and a team of writers from 5 Bridges Church. The project, set to release in summer 2026, blends the lyrical depth of classic hymns with modern arrangements meant for congregational worship.
“If we sing the Word, it’s sufficient to bring us in worship to a holy God,” said Winder.
Pushing Back Against a Profitable Trend
Both artists share a desire to revive authenticity in Christian worship music. “We chose to include hymns because we both love and appreciate the older songs for their theology and nostalgic value,” said Calhoun. “They remind us of a time when Christian music wasn’t centered on money or fame.”
“We saw a decline in the 90s, and I want to push the pendulum back,” said Winder.
Their goal, they said, is simple: to create music that ministers to the heart and points people back to truth.
Worship Rooted in Truth, Not Emotion
“Let’s not ignore that God has given us emotions and that we feel things,” said Winder. “But let’s focus our music on worship. It’s about what we know to be true and not what we feel.”
Calhoun reflected on his own journey. “One of the reasons I stepped away from contemporary Christian music is because it became about money and fame. Worship music Is the most profitable; that’s why there’s so much of it. So we decided to go backwards to go forwards.”
For Winder and Calhoun, this collaboration isn’t just about recording songs. It’s about reminding believers why worship exists in the first place.
“If the music points people to Christ,” said Winder, “then it has done what it was meant to do.”
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
