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ACCLAIMED ARTIST LAURA STORY CELEBRATES
DOUBLE “BLESSINGS” WITH FIRST GRAMMY® WIN
AND FIRST CHILD DUE THIS FALL

Nashville, TN, February 13, 2012: Celebrated Fair Trade Services
recording artist Laura Story picked up her first GRAMMY® at yesterday’s
awards ceremony, winning “Best Contemporary Christian Song” for her No. 1
hit “Blessings.” This GRAMMY® win crowns an immensely successful period for
the decorated worship leader after she garnered five Dove nominations, a No. 1
hit song and a best-selling sophomore album Blessings in less than a year’s time.

“Blessings,” which was released last year, was in rotation at over 100 Billboard
Christian format reporting stations going No. 1 at Christian AC, Inspo and the
National Audience charts for multiple weeks. Additionally, the song also held the
No. 1 spot on the iTunes® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart for 28 consecutive
weeks. The critically acclaimed album, Blessings debuted at No. 4 on Soundscan’s
Overall chart and has remained one of Christian music’s best sellers to date.

In addition, Story and her husband, Martin, recently learned they are expecting
their first child, due later this year.

“What an amazing season this has been!” says Story. “Martin and I have been
so thankful to find out that we are expecting, and then this GRAMMY surprise
was the cherry on top! We are both humbled and so grateful to God for this and
pray that any attention the song “Blessings” receives will be used by God to bring
hope to others who are walking hard roads. May God’s faithfulness be seen in this
above all things. Thanks to all who are celebrating with us.”

Story’s new single, “What A Savior,” is also experiencing success at Christian
radio and is currently No. 17 on the Billboard Christian AC chart. Top stations
and networks currently playing the song include K-LOVE, WAY-FM, KLTY/
Dallas, KSBJ/Houston, Fish Atlanta/Nashville/Sacramento, KTIS/Minneapolis
and JoyFM/St. Louis.

Story kicks off the “Girls Night Live Tour” with Mandisa next week in Omaha,
Neb. The tour will visit over 30 cities within the next two months and will also
feature special guests Anita Renfroe and Jamie Grace in select cities. For more
information visit www.girlsnightlive.com

What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops?, the first book by Story, will
release March 13 by Freeman-Smith, a division of Worthy Publishing. The 30-
day devotional is based on her song, “Blessings,” and contains Story’s personal
reflections garnered from her own journey, along with prayers, quotes and a
journaling page for readers to recount how blessings have impacted their own
lives.

###

About Laura Story:
Laura Story, a talented worship leader and songwriter known for penning hit
worship songs such as “Indescribable” made famous by Chris Tomlin, made her
music debut in 2008 with her first release Great God Who Saves (INO Records).
Great God Who Saves garnered her four Dove nominations in 2009, at which
she took home her first award for “Inspirational Album of the Year.” In 2011,
she also nabbed another nomination for “Female Vocalist of the Year.” Her
hit single “Mighty To Save” earned a No. 1 Soft AC/Inspo and Top 10 AC hit at
Christian radio. Also in 2011, Story revealed twelve new inspirational tracks on
her sophomore release titled Blessings. Story teamed up with producer Nathan
Nockels (Passion, Philips, Craig & Dean, Point of Grace) and delivered a worship
project that exudes constant threads of pop energy and singer-songwriter
warmth. The title-track immediately became a fan favorite as it topped the iTunes
® Christian/Gospel Top Songs chart and held the No. 1 spot for 28 consecutive
weeks. For more information on Story, please go to www.laurastorymusic.com

_____________________

For more information on NWLC 2012 visit www.NationalWorshipLeaderConference.com

Check out our new digital brochure and see what’s in store for you at this summer’s National Worship Leader Conference! Inside the brochure, you’ll also be able to watch videos and stream music from Grammy Award winner Laura Story, David Crowder, Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, and more.

Discounted rates are still available for you and your worship team. Read more about NWLC 2012!

Early bird rates are now available for the SD Creative Conference coming this spring.

Plan now to attend, and be sure to get your tickets before the discounted rates expire. Learn more about the event for Church creatives, songwriters, authors, and visual artists at https://bitly.com/CreativeConf and register here: http://bit.ly/SDCCreg.

Enjoy this video from Gateway Worship’s live recording of the album, “Wake Up The World.” This song, “The Lord Reigns,” is just one of many that have been brought to us from this creative and inspired team. We’re happy to bring them for a time of worship and refreshing this year.

Sign up for the National Worship Leader Conference today and join Gateway Worship, along with many other worship teams and leaders, for a time of refreshing and learning.

Do you use any Gateway worship songs in your worship set?

You can see details on the other great worship leaders that will be joining us with Paul on the conference’s website.

Paul is currently working on a new album of worship songs to be released soon with Integrity Music, and may be sharing some of those songs with us at NWLC. His current album, Glorious, has brought us some great songs.

Here’s a video of Paul telling the story of this album and how he began his worship ministry.

Join Paul Baloche at NWLC this July, 2012. Register here.

Meanwhile, here’s a video to watch:

* Please note, Kari Jobe will not be present at NWLC12 in Kansas.

Worship music is an integral part of today’s church. It allows us to move beyond simply hearing truth, to expressing that truth back to our Creator. It’s a dynamic experience where His message becomes our own. It’s a catalyst for change that can transform who we are and how we see God.

Gateway Church has become synonymous with such powerful expressions of worship. But it has been a journey of discovery and response to what God is doing in this fast-growing church.

“When I first started at the church, there was a need for a deeper understanding of what worship is all about,” says Thomas Miller, Gateway’s worship pastor. “The person who was most passionate about worshipping the Lord was our pastor, Robert Morris. He was the primary worship leader of the church.”

Inspired by Morris’ passion for praise, Miller and his burgeoning team set out to make worship an even more essential part of Gateway’s culture. The church that began ten years ago with 200 people has grown into an influencing and equipping center that ministers weekly to thousands of people. At its center is a vibrant worship ministry that has become the heartbeat of one of today’s fastest-growing congregations.

Situated in the suburbs of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, each of their campuses is strategically located, enabling the church to minister to a variety of communities. Yet Gateway’s diversity is more than geographical within the Metroplex.“Our church is a good representation of many denominations,” Miller remarks. “We have people from all spiritual walks.”

While the congregation is diverse, Gateway maintains a focused, foundational mission.

As Miller simply says, “We want to help people experience God to the fullest extent possible.” Gateway’s worship ministry reflects this mission by crafting universal songs of faith that will resonate with every believer. “We try to write songs that will speak to everyone and their walk in life,” Miller says. “The songs that we write speak to both our congregation and the body of Christ.”

Indeed, songs birthed by the leaders at Gateway have moved beyond their congregation into churches around the world; modern-day classics such as “The More I Seek You,” “You, You Are God,” “Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King” and the powerful, Dove Award-winning “Revelation Song.”

This remarkable music flows from an equally remarkable collective. Comprised of worship leaders, singers and songwriters, Gateway’s worship team offers a rich tapestry of experience, talent and perspective. Team members include Miller, Walker Beach, Sion Alford, Zach Neese, David Moore, Jason Tam and Dove Award-winning artist Kari Jobe. Filled with more than 40 contributors, the group is committed to expressing how God is moving through and speaking to the church.

“We don’t want to sing anything that God isn’t doing in our body,” Miller says.

Yet the worship team not only reflects, but also often informs, what’s happening at Gateway. “We pray that God would speak a fresh word through us,” Miller says. “We pray that He shows what He wants our congregation to sing; those things He wants our church to embrace.”

Gateways latest project, Great Great God, is the first release with new music partner, in:ciite media. “From the very inception of in:ciite in 2005 we have striven to align with people and ministries of like mind, heart, and mission and we are honored and pleased to be working with Gateway and helping move forward their calling and mission,” states in:ciite CEO, Chris Thomason, “The products and experiences created by Gateway have and will impact many lives for the cause of Christ.”

Great Great God is filled with anthems of victory, “Great Great God” and “Victorious” as well as songs of rest and response, “My Everything” and “When I’m with You.” The journey of worship found on this release is dynamic and engaging. From the exhilarating opening song, “Every Day I Live”, and a new expanded version of the timeless hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy (Savior and King),” featuring Kari Jobe and Thomas Miller, this recording carries worshippers through a powerful encounter with God. Remaining true to the rich heritage of Gateway, with vivid lyrics and momentous melodies, these songs are sure to inspire and lead the church community to passionately worship the Savior.

“There are a lot of gifted people at churches,” he notes. “But it’s always important to explore why we do what we do… even though most churches have music as a part of their service, it’s invaluable to understand why.”

For Miller and his team, the why is clear: worshiping God through music can profoundly affect every part of our lives.

“Our desire is to minister to people,” he says. “To equip them, release them and make sure we’re doing everything we can to lead them to the Lord. That’s what’s going to change people’s lives for eternity.”

Who is Gateway Worship?
Thomas Miller, Associate Senior 
Pastor Sion Alford, Executive Pastor 
Walker Beach, Executive Pastor
Ben Haake, Associate Pastor

Grammy-nominated, Dove-Award winning, Atlanta based worship leader and Christian recording artist, Ricardo, is known nationally and internationally as a singer, notable song writer, conference speaker, and one of the nation’s most preeminent worship leaders. Having authored or co-authored such songs as Moving Forward, I Call Your Name, Power of One, Power of the Cross, and others, Ricardo has received chart topping radio play, while his songs are sung in churches across the globe. Currently as a publishing artist with Integrity Music, Ricardo has toured or partnered with many other Grammy, Stellar, and Dove award winning artists such as Salvador, Israel Houghton, Hezekiah Walker, Rebecca St. James, Darlene Zschech, New Song, Mac Powell, and many others.

Ricardo served as the worship leader to Pastor Jentezen Franklin for 4+ years prior to launching out full-time with the mission to help churches around the world under the vision of Windows 2 Worship. As a frequent guest at his home church, Free Chapel, Ricardo stays connected and grounded to the local body. Ricardo has recently launched Ricardo Ministries as the practical outlet to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the lost, hurting, and those without hope. Ricardo and his wife Jennette are committed to raising their 3-sons while continuing to partner with the local church.

Of course that doesn’t mean Unhindered is content for anyone to sit down during its set. “We want our music to bring people into an encounter with God,” declares keyboardist and co-frontman Ben Smith. “One of the biggest obstacles to worship is believers who are self-conscious. We want to kick down that wall, so we get the whole crowd on their feet, jumping around. It is amazing to watch people when they really feel free to worship.”

Unhindered began as a friendship between Ben and Pat in high school. They honed their skills in a youth group praise band before finding themselves in demand at events around the region from Fellowship of Christian Athletes gatherings to church camps and evangelistic revival meetings. “We started a Saturday night worship service once a month and kids from all of the neighboring high schools would gather together,” Pat recalls. “It was raw, unhindered, intense – people just going after God. It started growing like crazy, and we began receiving invitations to perform at other events as well.”

College at the University of Georgia proved to intensify the two friends’ original calling to lead people into an unhindered worship experience. J.R. Collins and Christian Paschall, both of whom had played with the band periodically during their high school years, came on board as regular members. During their sophomore year the band met guitarist, Ashley Dasher, who proved to be the missing link that solidified Unhindered’s final lineup.

The band’s growing popularity caught the attention of nationally renowned Teen Mania Ministries, who booked Unhindered for an Acquire the Fire event. The synergy between the band and the ministry was both obvious and intense. “They called us to play at an event in front of 5,000 people,” Ben explains. “It was overwhelming! There was an instant connection with them.

“A few months later they called us up again,” Pat interjects. “They were starting a new worship label that would focus on worship for the next generation. We were really intrigued by that idea.” After much prayer and deliberation, the band began a partnership with the newly formed EE-Taow Records. Since signing with the label, Unhindered has played nearly 150 dates a year including Acquire the Fire events, Battle Cry gatherings, Xtreme conferences, Student Life camps, and local church concerts and camps, building relationships while building up the body of Christ.