Jesus Culture is an American international Christian revivalist youth outreach ministry that was formed at the Bethel Church of Redding, California. Jesus Culture Ministry hosts conferences and operates a record label, Jesus Culture Music, to share its message and spread worship. In 2013, Jesus Culture moved to plant a church in Sacramento. Meetings started on September 14, 2014.
Background
In late 1999, the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by youth pastor Banning Liebscher, launched the first Jesus Culture conference. Tony Cummings, music editor of Cross Rhythms, described the ministry as "one of the most significant Christian movements in post-war America".
According to Jesus Culture's website, "The heart of these gatherings was to serve other churches and lead young people to experience the radical love of God."
In 2013, Jesus Culture moved to Sacramento to plant a church, and meetings started at Folsom High School on September 14, 2014.
Conferences
Growing from the original conference in Redding, the organization now hosts annual conferences in Redding, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, and locations in Australia and the United Kingdom. The conferences bring thousands of young people from around the world to the host cities.
The conferences bring together a number of pastors and ministers to preach to the conference attendees. Worship is led through song, featuring a number of worship leaders, including the Jesus Culture band.
Jesus Culture Music
Jesus Culture Music is the music label for the Jesus Culture Ministry. Its albums feature the worship of the Jesus Culture band, performing a mix of original and cover songs.
Youth worship leaders Kim Walker-Smith, Melissa How and Chris Quilala, long active with the youth group at Bethel Church in Redding, became the core of the Jesus Culture band. Jesus Culture states the purpose of music in their movement is to "ignite revival in the nations of the earth; to compel the Body of Christ to radically abandon itself to a lifestyle of worship; to encounter His extravagant love and raw power."
John F. MacArthur, an American Evangelical Christian pastor, who has publicly criticized all forms of charismatic worship, has also been critical of performances by Jesus Culture.
Since 2006, the band has released a number of albums on the Jesus Culture Music label. Their 2011 album, Awakening (Live From Chicago), appeared at No. 133 on the Canadian SoundScan charts. Although the album was reviewed by Christianity Today, who critiqued that "...amps of staggering sound leave little room for thoughtful reflection or deliberate contemplation...", Jesus Freak Hideout ..." praised it for its "very overt sense of passion for the LORD and worshiping him."
The tenth album entitled "Unstoppable Love" was released in June 2014. Some critics called it "one of their best", "passionate", and "powerful", while others see this newest offering as "a missed opportunity for the band to push themselves a little more musically" other than another CD with musicality that "get[s] bigger and bigger, wider and wider."
Discography
Undone (2002)
Everything (2006)
We Cry Out (2007)
Here Is My Song (Kim Walker-Smith) (2008)
Your Love Never Fails (2008)
Those Who Dream (Kristene DiMarco) (2008)
Marked by Heaven (Jake Hamilton) (2009)
Consumed (2009)
My Passion (EP) (2010)
Come Away (2010)
Freedom Calling (Jake Hamilton) (2011)
Here On Earth (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2011)
Awakening: Live from Chicago (2011)
Safe Place (Kristene DiMarco) (2012)
Overcome (Heather Clark) (2012)
Emerging Voices (2012)
Live from New York with Martin Smith) (2012)
Still Believe (Kim Walker-Smith) (2013)
Home (Kim Walker-Smith & Skyler Smith) (2013)
Kingdom Come (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2013)
Our Love (EP) (Josh & Amberley Klinkenberg) (2013)
Jesus Culture Reconstructed Volume 1 (Remix Album) (2014)
Unstoppable Love (2014)
Atmospheres (Justin Jarvis) (2014)
When Christmas Comes (Kim Walker-Smith) (2014)
Children of Promise (Andrew Ehrenzeller) (2015)
Real Love (Derek Johnson) (2015)
This Is Jesus Culture (2015)
Esto Es Jesús Culture (2015)
Everything And Nothing Less (Chris McClarney) (2015)
Mighty (Kristene DiMarco) (2015)
Live at the Knight (John Mark McMillan) (2015)
Let It Echo (2016)
Let It Echo Unplugged (2016)
Jesus Culture em Português (2016)
Split the Sky (Chris Quilala) (2016)
On My Side (Kim Walker-Smith) (2017)
Love Has a Name (2017)
Christmas (EP) (Bryan & Katie Torwalt) (2017)
Artists
Current members
Derek Johnson
Chris McClarney
Chris Quilala
Bryan & Katie Torwalt
Kim Walker-Smith
Past members:
Kristene DiMarco
Justin Jarvis
