From his early days leading the critically acclaimed band According to John to his impactful ministry as a solo artist, John Waller has continually used his gifts as a singer and songwriter to inspire, educate and encourage the body of Christ. With such powerful songs as "The Blessing" and "While I'm Waiting," Waller articulates what it means to live a God-centered life in a turbulent world.
He continues to do so on his new album, "As For Me and My House" a potent collection of songs buoyed by Waller's insightful songwriting and compelling voice. "I don't think I could write a record in any less than a year or two years because you really have to walk with the Lord and you have to experience life and allow the Lord to teach you something. The title track is, to me, the heart of this record," Waller says of "As For Me and My House", which joyfully declares "we belong to the Lord, and we will not give our hearts to another."
"I've been parallel to the children of Israel in a lot of ways," Waller says of his life. "I suffered with depression for so many years. I was in bondage for years and then the Lord set me free about seven years ago. He healed me and taught me a lot about blessing and speaking life. Many of the songs on my first solo album came out of that. The Lord has given all of us so many promises that are ours for the taking; yet there is a battle to lay hold of what God has promised us."
A devoted husband, a loving father and a fierce believer in God's word, Waller pours a torrent of emotion into the songs on "As For Me and My House". "This album has promises. It's about the clarity that comes when we remove anything that takes the place of God," he says. "There have been a lot of idols in my life in the last couple of years---one being music. Wanting to make it and be established as a Christian artist became an idol in my life. I came to a place where I said, 'I'm done doing that! I'm done building my kingdom, Lord I give it all to you. I just want to build your kingdom and I don't care how that looks.'"
The talented Georgia native first caught the attention of the Christian music community as frontman for According to John. When the group disbanded, he and his wife Josee felt led to move to Colorado where they helped launch Southlink Church. Though he had given up his aspirations as a recording artist, he began writing songs at Southlink that led to new chapter in his ministry when he signed a deal Beach Street Records/Provident Music Group. His major label debut, "The Blessing," introduced a wider audience to Waller's music and gave him a national platform. He followed his debut solo album with "While I'm Waiting," a powerful project that included the poignant title track, which was featured in "Fireproof," the No. 1 independent film in 2008. Waller's song was the only song in the film played in its entirety and its powerful message resonated strongly with audiences.
In recording "As For Me and My House", Waller once again sought God's direction and penned a potent collection of songs. Produced by Jason Hoard, the 11-song set is teeming with the passion and integrity that have become hallmarks of Waller's artistry. "Jason gets what I do and we've been working together for so long---since According To John---and he just knows what I'm going for," Waller says of working with the Georgia-based multi-instrumentalist. "With Jason we took each song and built it from the ground up and made sure it was built around the vocal."
The album opens with the anthemic "Our God Reigns Here" a song Waller felt strongly about revisiting from the his previous album, which is direct spiritual warfare. "Yes" is a sonically vibrant song that reverberates with the truth of God's goodness and positive touch on our lives. Penned by Waller, Hoard and Third Day frontman Mac Powell. "Because God is Good" is a celebration of the Lord's grace and sovereignty. "Every believer that I know can relate to the fact that life doesn't go the way we plan it all the time," Waller says, "but the Bible promises all things work for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Things have not gone the way I thought they would go, but God has always been good to me. It's because God is good that sometimes life doesn't go the way we want it to go. It's because of his goodness that he spares us from going the way we think things should."
"Man of the Valley" is a poignant song about the challenges that help us grow. "I love mountain top experiences," Waller says with a smile, "but my life has really been shaped in the valley. In the desert where it seems dry and it seems like God isn't doing anything, that's really where He's molding me most. I speak with authority because I have been in the valley and my story has really been written in the valley."
Among the album's many highlights is "The Marriage Prayer," a beautiful duet featuring John's wife Josee. "She's always sang with me and when we lived in Colorado, she was on my worship team. She's done backup vocals on my records, but this is her debut singing her own," Waller says of the song. "I adapted it from a prayer that author named Patrick Morley wrote. I changed it around and made it fit to a song format. It's a great song and I'm excited about people hearing this one."
"Somebody Else's Story" is a tender prayer that captures Waller's heart for sharing Jesus with others as he sings "I want to be a part. I want to be a part of somebody else's story, somebody else's story of redemption. I want to be the one to shine the light of Jesus into their darkness. Lead me to that someone I pray. Lord I want to bring you glory."
John Waller is a talented man who continually uses his gifts to bring glory to God by encouraging fellow believers and by introducing others to the Lord he so passionately serves. "God has definitely taught me to completely live by faith and I can honestly say that my wife and I completely live by faith in everything we do," Waller says. "God always provides. He always comes through and one of the biggest things I've learned is that God's plan for each one our lives is not going to look like someone else's. I'm an individual and unique and God has a unique plan for me. I've had to learn to not compare myself to someone else and it's hard not to do that especially in this industry. You want to measure your success by what you see others doing. I've learned that I've had to let that go and know that I am successful, but I'm successful by God's standard and not by man."
