June 5, 2026

In This Issue 

Elevation Rhythm "Washed"

(Elevation Rhythm's single, "Washed" is #4 for the second straight on this week's Billboard's CCM charts)

<<In a candid new interview on the "Never Had a Bad Day" podcast, Elevation Rhythm lead vocalist Nate Diaz opened up about the unexpected and chaotic journey behind their hit worship anthem "Washed." The high-energy track, which has quickly become a massive global staple for modern youth ministries, almost entered the music world sounding more like a vintage 1990s television sitcom soundtrack than a powerful praise song.

<<Diaz openly admitted that the earliest iteration of the single completely failed to impress the team. "The original demo was just piano and vocals," Diaz said. He recalled his humorous initial reaction to the stripped-down arrangement, explaining that it felt incredibly out of place for an energetic youth movement. <<"I looked at the team and said, 'This sounds like the Full House theme song.'"Unwilling to settle for a generic sound, the music collective took the unfinished track directly to YTHX, Elevation Church's annual summer youth conference, to workshop the melody live. Despite testing the arrangement in front of thousands of expectant teenagers, the song's musical structure still lacked the deep spiritual punch the band desired.

<<A major creative breakthrough finally occurred just three hours before the scheduled live recording session. Producer Josh Holiday and Pastor Steven Furtick stepped in to completely overhaul the track's climax. "We did a last-minute bridge rewrite right before the cameras rolled," Diaz explained. The frantic, 180-minute transformation successfully stripped away the old style, replacing it with driving guitar-pop sonics and a potent theological message. <<When the band captured the track live, the entire room shifted." The song has been pure joy for our youth," songwriter Holiday later noted, explaining their desire to showcase a vibrant life changed by faith. For Diaz, watching the audience dance validated the stressful writing process, concluding with the powerful lyric, "You got me running out the grave." This sudden shift proved that great art often requires a willingness to completely change plans at the very last second. Today, it stands as the ultimate anthem of salvation.

Click Here To Watch The Full Conversation

Billboard Magazine's Current Top Contemporary Christian

Music Chart

#1 (LW1) - Matthew West

“Good"

(Single)
(2nd Week at #4)

#2 (LW2) - MercyMe

"Make It Well" 
(from I Can Only Imagine2

Motion Picture Soundtrack)


#3 (LW3) - Peter Burton

“Where Would I Be"

(Single)

Click Here For This Week's Top 25

Contemporary Christian Music Songs

Metro Atlanta Christian Concerts & Family Events

Saturday, June 6

John Crist Live

at Gas South Arena

6400 Sugarloaf Parkway

Duluth, Georgia 30097

Atlanta born John Crist is one of today's fastest-rising stand-up comedians, earning more than one billion video views, more than 7.9 million fans on social media and nationally sold-out shows, continuously charting as one of Pollstar's Top 10 Global Touring Comedians. 7:00 p.m. (470) 639-8243

www.ticketmaster.com

Saturday, August 22

Crowder

at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds

1311 Music Hall Rd,

Hiawassee, GA 30546

With more than 2.1 billion global streams, Crowder is one of the most influential voices in Contemporary Christian Music. 5 No. 1 radio singles, 5 GRAMMY nominations, and more than 20 Dove Award nominations (5 wins).

7:00 p.m. Ticket includes Georgia Mountain Fair admission (706) 896-4191

www.GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds.com

Sunday, September 27

C.S. Lewis

Further Up & Further In
Written and performed by Max McLean

at Cobb Energy

Performing Arts Centre

2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway,

Atlanta, GA 30339

Award-winning actor Max McLean’s tour de force performance captures C.S. Lewis’ magnetic personality, astonishing eloquence and laugh-out-loud wit to create an onstage experience venturing deep into the soul of one of the most influential thinkers of the past century. A post-show discussion with Max McLean follows the performance.

3:00 p.m. (770) 916-2852

www.fpatheatre.com

Click Here For All Upcoming Concerts and Links For More Information

Billboard Magazine's

Current Top

Gospel Music Chart

#1 (LW3) - Tye Tribbett

"Holy You"

(Single)
(1st Week at #1)

#2 (LW4) - The Choir Room

Featuring Fred Hammond

"Love Never Fails" 

(from Love Never Fails)

#3 (LW1) - The Group Fire

"I Can Count On You" 

(Single) 



Click Here For This Week's Top 25

Gospel Music Songs

DR. JEREMIAH JOHNSTON

"The Jesus Discoveries"

Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston's new book, “The Jesus Discoveries: 10 Historic Finds That Bring Us Face-to-Face with Jesus," is up 10 spots to #1

on the current Christian Booksellers' Top 50 List.

<<Could an ancient piece of fabric hold the literal imprint of Jesus? Author and speaker Sadie Robertson Huff tackled this captivating question during a special live episode of her popular "WHOA That's Good Podcast." The episode featured renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Jeremiah Johnston. Filmed directly in front of a full-scale replica of the Shroud of Turin, Robertson Huff admitted she was eager to learn. 
<<"After recently learning about it, I wanted to understand more," she explained, introducing Johnston to guide her audience through centuries of intense scientific and historical research. The Shroud of Turin, a 14-foot herringbone-weave linen cloth, displays the faint image of a crucified man matching biblical descriptions. Johnston unpacked how the artifact defies conventional artistic explanations, noting it lacks any trace of ink, dye, or pigment.
<<"The Shroud of Turin is believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus and represents the moment of his physical bodily resurrection," Johnston declared during the interview. He pointed out that it stands alone among historical relics. 
<<"We have hundreds of burial cloths from the land of Israel... but what makes the Shroud of Turin unique is it is the only shroud that has an image of a crucified man who experienced brutal torment."
<<The discussion focused heavily on the physical trauma recorded on the fabric, including severe puncture wounds around the scalp. Johnston clarified that traditional art often sanitizes the crucifixion, whereas the Shroud reveals a "helmet-like" crown of thorns that inflicted brutal injuries. 
<<"Contrary to medieval art depictions of a wreath or sweatband, the man crucified on the shroud, believed to be Jesus, had 30 to 50 puncture wounds on his head and scalp," he stated.
<<For Robertson Huff and her listeners, the evidence serves as a profound faith anchor rather than just a historical curiosity. Johnston, whose research is featured in his book "The Jesus Discoveries," noted that the ultimate payoff of studying these objects is that it brings you "face-to-face with Jesus."
<<"The crown of thorns, along with the nails, did not hold Jesus to the cross; his love did," Johnston concluded.

This Month's 
Top Christian Books

#1 (LM #11) -

Jeremiah J. Johnston

“The Jesus Discoveries”

10 Historic Finds That Bring Us Face-to-Face with Jesus

#2 (LM New) - 

Gabe Poirot

“18 Days In Heaven"

I Left My Body. I Met Jesus.

What He Told Me Will Alter Your Eternity

#3 (LM #1) - 

John Bevere

“The King Is Coming”

It's Time to Prepare

for the Return of Christ

#4 (LM #3) - Sarah Young

“Jesus Calling”

Enjoying Peace In His Presence

#5 (LM #8) - Lee Strobel

“The Case For Christ"

A Journalist’s Personal Investigation

of the Evidence for Jesus

Click Here For The Full List of The Current Best Selling Christian Books

#1 (1) - The Bible In A Year

(with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

#2 (3) - The Bible Recap

(with Tara Leigh-Cobble)

#3 (5) - The Briefing

(with Albert Mohler)

#4 (4) - WOAH! That's Good

(with Sadie Robertson Huff)

#5 (2) - Lakepointe Church -

Live Free

(with Josh Howerton)

Click Here For This Week's

Top 40 Christian Podcasts

Milly Alcock faces backlash for dismissing ‘Christian Dad’ critics ahead of ‘Supergirl’ release - Click Here

John Crist Shares What Happens When You Take A Date to Church - Click Here

Christian Music Is Taking Over

CMA Fest ‭- Click Here

Minnesota pastor calls church service disruption an invasion as state charges are declined - Click Here

 Dave Ramsey: Real People Who Found Creative Ways to Earn $1,000 Extra

- Click Here

15 Church Signs That Will Make You Never Want to Read a Pun Again

- Click Here

Original Newsboys Singer John James Speaks Out on Scandal, His Own Sin, and God’s Redemption‭ - Click Here

K-Love: Brandon Lake and MercyMe Top Leaderboard at 2026 K-LOVE Fan Awards: See the Full Winners List

- Click Here

Air1 Worhip: Exclusive Live Performance: 'House Of The Lord'

Phil Wickham - Click Here

GRAMMY-Winning Elevation Worship Releases New EP 'Alleluia' - Click Here

41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards Announces 2026 Nominees; Kirk Franklin Returns to Host Gospel Music’s Biggest Night - Click Here

SGN Scoops Current Top 80 Southern Gospel Music Charts - Click Here

Fred Hammond to Appear on NPR's Tiny Desk for Black Music Month

- Click Here

Christian/Gospel Music -

This Month's New Releases - Click Here