Located on the outskirts of Chicago sits a growing mega-church named Christian Life Church (CLC). Led by Senior Pastors Jerry & Chris McQuay, the culturally diverse congregation knows how to give God praise. They’ve captured the praise of their church’s mass choir, Servants Of Praise, on a brand new CD called CLC: Live, Servants Of Praise. The praise and worship project is a varied yet explosive collection of music. Highlighted by the musical expertise and the masterful direction of Jon Jones, the Worship and Fine Arts Pastor of CLC, the CD sports an eclectic mix of contemporary Gospel and contemporary Christian music, a sound that’s reflective of the diverse membership of the dynamic church. CLC: Live, Servants Of Praise will be released on Tuesday, July 30, 2013.
The CD was recorded live at the church and the spirit of the evening was captured on the CD. One of the favorites on the project is the captivating song, “Higha”. The first single from the project, “Higha” is a danceable, Jamaican-tinged track. Penned by Jones and fellow producer and songwriter Andrae Ambrose, the song does exactly what the lyrics speak: lift up the name of Jesus “higha”. Accented with an infectious groove and beat, the song’s hook and vamp are simply unforgettable. CLC takes us to the islands to experience their style of praise with this track, a song that leaves the listener wanting more. Other memorable songs include the riveting “All He Says I Am”, the rock-edged “I Am Forgiven”, the God-focused “You Are” and the beautiful, melodic “Love Song”. Each song endeavors to center the believer’s heart on the Savior.
Jones’ handprint is all over the record with production, arranging and songwriting credits. He hadn’t initially thought about recording a project, but he began receiving requests for the music. “After we sang songs on Sunday morning, people would ask me weekly if they could buy the songs. There is such an atmosphere of worship in our church and people wanted to take that home,” says Jones. At that point, they recorded the songs and sold them to church members. But then Jon began to feel that the songs were for a larger body of believers. That’s when he decided to record CLC: Live, Servants Of Praise and release it nationally.
Servants of Praise, a forty-member choir, have been around since the inception of Christian Life Church in 1990. With members of all ethnicities, races, genders and ages, the choir is a direct reflection of the church. Initially an all-Caucasian congregation, CLC’s pastor was passionate about bringing all cultures into the four walls of Christian Life Center. “My Pastor really wants our church to look like Heaven and the Kingdom of God,” shares Jones. “Part of that is the body of Christ coming together.”
The diversity of the church is apparent in the music as well. “We have a hodge-podge of music,” says Jones. “In our services, we’ll sing CCM and Gospel. I believe our church has a special sound and I’ve seen that it’s palatable to those who love Gospel music and those who prefer CCM. It has a Christian feel.”
Jones joined the music staff as Worship and Fine Arts Pastor in 2011. He has participated in numerous recording and production as well as worship and musical training opportunities in Ankara, Turkey and Senegal, West Africa. He’s led worship for or ministered with Israel Houghton, Brian and Katie Torwalt (Jesus Culture), William McDowell, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Mark Batterson, Planetshakers, Marilyn Hickey, Bishop Joseph Garlington, Carol Cymbala (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir), Phil Tarver, Michael Jr., David & Nicole Binion, the late Rev. Milton Brunson of the Thompson Community Singers and many others. For more information about Servants of Praise, log on towww.facebook.com/clc2day.
