sanctuary songs retreat at Keats Island

SANCTUARY SONGS


ABOUT THE ALBUM


Sanctuary and The Porter's Gate are creating an album of songs about mental health and faith. Why create a worship album focused on the theme of mental health challenges? Perhaps the answer to this question can be found in yet more questions. How do the songs we sing on a Sunday morning impact people with lived experience? Are we inadvertently excluding or stigmatizing members of our congregations by only singing certain types of songs, or only singing about certain experiences in the life of faith? How can we encourage worship leaders to think through their sets from new and different perspectives? And most importantly, how can we help people hold on to God’s presence at all times and in all circumstances—including experiences of mental health challenges?
 
By creating an album that centers around the lived experience of people who are often marginalized in churches, and by modeling life-giving and healing ways for congregants to talk (and sing) about mental health challenges, we have the opportunity to unite liturgy and advocacy. We hope this collaboration will offer new ways of experiencing belonging in church communities around the world.


ABOUT THE ALBUM

Sanctuary and The Porter's Gate are creating an album of songs about mental health and faith. Why create a worship album focused on the theme of mental health challenges? Perhaps the answer to this question can be found in yet more questions. How do the songs we sing on a Sunday morning impact people with lived experience? Are we inadvertently excluding or stigmatizing members of our congregations by only singing certain types of songs, or only singing about certain experiences in the life of faith? How can we encourage worship leaders to think through their sets from new and different perspectives? And most importantly, how can we help people hold on to God’s presence at all times and in all circumstances—including experiences of mental health challenges?
 
By creating an album that centers around the lived experience of people who are often marginalized in churches, and by modeling life-giving and healing ways for congregants to talk (and sing) about mental health challenges, we have the opportunity to unite liturgy and advocacy. We hope this collaboration will offer new ways of experiencing belonging in church communities around the world.

LISTEN TO THE FIRST SINGLE

"Always with Me," the first single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now.

The song features DOE and Paul Zach and was written by Orlando Palmer (IAMSON), Jessica Fox, Paul Zach, and Kate Bluett.

"Always with Me" is available to stream on all platforms. You can listen on your platform of choice by clicking below.

The Sanctuary Songs album and single covers were designed by Adam Mountstevens, featuring art by Bryana Russell.

LISTEN NOW



LISTEN TO THE FIRST SINGLE

"Always with Me," the first single from the Sanctuary Songs album is out now.

The song features DOE and Paul Zach and was written by Orlando Palmer (IAMSON), Jessica Fox, Paul Zach, and Kate Bluett.

"Always with Me" is available to stream on all platforms. You can listen on your platform of choice by clicking below.

The Sanctuary Songs album and single covers were designed by Adam Mountstevens, featuring art by Bryana Russell.

LISTEN NOW

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Photo Credit: Jeremy Stanley and Greg Gillespie

CONTRIBUTORS

The Sanctuary Songs album was written and produced in collaboration with musicians, songwriters, theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experiences of mental health challenges—all from different countries, diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, and many Christian denominations and traditions. In October 2022, we gathered for a songwriting retreat at Barnabas Landing on Keats Island in beautiful British Columbia. Album contributors include Emoni Wilkins, Matt Maher, DOE, and Leslie Jordan, Guvna B.

Pictured (from left to right), back row: Marika Siewert, Kate Bluett, John Swinton, Daniel Whitehead, Isaac Wardell, Nick Brewer, Emma Holland, Stuart Townend, Brian Doerksen, Orlando Palmer, Isaac (Guvna B) Borquaye, Matt Maher, Nick Chambers, Valerie Guerra, Jane Born, Kristin Maher, Jon Guerra. Front row: Jeremy Stanley, Leslie Roberts, Leslie Jordan, Niki Paige, Paul Zach, Lizzy Ojo Martens, Jina Lee, Hillary McBride, Paul Lee, Brian Eichelberger, Michelle Furumori



Image

Photo Credit: Jeremy Stanley and Greg Gillespie

CONTRIBUTORS

The Sanctuary Songs album was written and produced in collaboration with musicians, songwriters, theologians, mental health professionals, and people with lived experiences of mental health challenges—all from different countries, diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, and many Christian denominations and traditions.

In October 2022, we gathered for a songwriting retreat at Barnabas Landing on Keats Island in beautiful British Columbia. Album contributors include grammy-nominated artists Matt Maher, DOE, and Leslie Jordan, as well as three-time MOBO (Music of Black Origin) winner Guvna B.

Pictured (from left to right), back row: Marika Siewert, Kate Bluett, John Swinton, Daniel Whitehead, Isaac Wardell, Nick Brewer, Emma Holland, Stuart Townend, Brian Doerksen, Orlando Palmer, Isaac (Guvna B) Borquaye, Matt Maher, Nick Chambers, Valerie Guerra, Jane Born, Kristin Maher, Jon Guerra. Front row: Jeremy Stanley, Leslie Roberts, Leslie Jordan, Niki Paige, Paul Zach, Lizzy Ojo Martens, Jina Lee, Hillary McBride, Paul Lee, Brian Eichelberger, Michelle Furumori


Sanctuary Songs concert sponsored by Pray As You Go

THE PORTER'S GATE LIVE IN THE UK

Join us for a unique evening with The Porter’s Gate Worship Project at Holy Sepulchre Church in London on April 30. The concert, sponsored by Pray as You Go, features music from the Sanctuary Songs album performed by Matt Maher, Leslie Jordan, IAMSON, Ike Ndolo, Jessica Fox, Naomi Parchment, Emma Holland, and Isaac Wardell. Tickets are £18—there’s limited seating, so get your tickets early!

GET TICKETS

Sanctuary Songs concert sponsored by Pray As You Go

THE PORTER'S GATE LIVE IN THE UK

Join us for a unique evening with The Porter’s Gate Worship Project at Holy Sepulchre Church in London on April 30. The concert, sponsored by Pray as You Go, features music from the Sanctuary Songs album performed by Matt Maher (nine-time Grammy nominee), Leslie Jordan (formerly of Grammy-nominated group All Sons and Daughters), as well as Ike Ndolo, IAMSON, and Isaac Wardell. Tickets are £18—there’s limited seating, so get your tickets early!

GET TICKETS

RECEIVE UPDATES

Want to stay up to date on the latest news about the Sanctuary Songs album? Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll be the first to hear pre-release singles and find out about any other Sanctuary Songs concert events. 


ABOUT THE PORTER'S GATE

The Porter's Gate is a sacred ecumenical arts collective reimagining and recreating worship that welcomes, reflects, and impacts both the community and the Church. 

The group was founded in 2017 by Isaac and Megan Wardell with a mission to be a "porter" for the Christian Church—one who looks beyond church doors for guests to welcome. It started as a group of fifty-plus songwriters, musicians, scholars, pastors, and music industry professionals from a variety of worship traditions and cultural backgrounds who gathered to discuss challenges in the Church and write songs in response.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT SANCTUARY

Sanctuary equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing.

We provide resources that meaningfully engage the topics of faith and mental health. Our content is developed in collaboration with theologians, psychologists, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing. Learn more about Sanctuary on our Mission and Vision page.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT THE PORTER'S GATE

The Porter's Gate is a sacred ecumenical arts collective reimagining and recreating worship that welcomes, reflects, and impacts both the community and the Church. 

The group was founded in 2017 by Isaac and Megan Wardell with a mission to be a "porter" for the Christian Church—one who looks beyond church doors for guests to welcome. It started as a group of fifty-plus songwriters, musicians, scholars, pastors, and music industry professionals from a variety of worship traditions and cultural backgrounds who gathered to discuss challenges in the Church and write songs in response.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT SANCTUARY

Sanctuary equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing.

We provide resources that meaningfully engage the topics of faith and mental health. Our content is developed in collaboration with theologians, psychologists, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. These resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing. Learn more about Sanctuary on our Mission and Vision page.

LEARN MORE

SUPPORT SANCTUARY

If you are moved by Sanctuary’s mission to equip the Church to support mental health and wellbeing and would like to support Sanctuary financially, you can make a one-time or recurring donation online using the button below.

SUPPORT SANCTUARY

If you are moved by Sanctuary’s mission to equip the Church to support mental health and wellbeing and would like to support Sanctuary financially, you can make a one-time or recurring donation online using the button below.
PLAY A PART IN SOMEONE'S STORY

The Sanctuary Course has been used by over 160,000 people in 63 countries. Below, you can read just a few stories of how people have been impacted by the course. As an Alongsider, your donation will magnify that impact and help Sanctuary to reach even more people.

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I was drawn to The Sanctuary Course as it allowed me to explore different facets of mental health in the Christian context. Though I’ve never been shy about my struggles with anxiety, I felt somewhat alone and that I could only talk about struggles that I had overcome with my church community. What I love about this course is how open and honest it was about the existence of mental illnesses in the church. [...] It also helped to affirm the things that God has taught me through my own mental health journey, that these struggles don’t hinder faith, but can instead strengthen it.

Kezia Reinata Cahyadi
    "Your ministry is one of the first ministries that, within the Church, makes me feel understood and not like I have to hide or simplify my mental health for anyone, but I can be me and the way that God sees me, loves me, and supports me, and with language that is easily understood."
    Josue Soriano
      "This course has truly been an answer to prayer. Not only is it helping me to educate my church family on a topic very close to my heart, but it is also encouraging me to be more intentional about advocating for mental health within the larger body of Christ."
      Leslie Bissell

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