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In the dynamic world of praise and worship, the music never stops as believers seek new songs to express their hearts to God. No one knows this better than gospel-praise powerhouse Israel & New Breed and its bandleader, Israel Houghton, who for more than a decade have been resourcing the Church with such classics as “Friend of God,” “You Are Good,” “Again I Say Rejoice” and “Alpha and Omega.”

Why, then, did the group go on hiatus, waiting five years before recording Jesus at the Center, since the release of their 2007 GRAMMY®-winning album A Deeper Level?

Truth is, the band didn’t go anywhere. If anything, Houghton says they’ve been as busy as ever: “We did around 700 concerts in that amount of time. And we’re still hopping.”

Hiatus? Not even close.

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Houghton points out that in the interim he also recorded two solo albums, The Power of One and Love God/ Love People, Grammy-winning studio albums that allowed him to stretch creatively, trying things that perhaps would sound differently if replicated in a live setting. But whenever a ministry opportunity arose, Houghton says the New Breed gang was ready to hit the road-whether it was touring with Chris Tomlin, performing at the GRAMMYs®, or leading worship around the world. Still hopping, indeed.

And it was their experiences during these past five years that inspired Jesus At The Center, music for a new season with a message that has been resonating with the group for a while.

“It felt like the right time and the right statement to make,” Houghton says of the album title. “The simplicity of being all about Jesus, and not using ‘pronoun-ed’ gospel… going back to a place where it’s not about us, where we’re decreasing because Jesus is increasing and drawing all men to him.”

“This requires finding the balance between being a worship leader and being an artist,” he continues. “The purpose of a worship leader is being looked through, not looked at.”

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article courtesy of BreatheCast.com

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