withLove

It wasn’t too long ago that Baltimore rose in frustration in response to systematic injustices devastating our country. Despite the city’s reputation since the uprising, there are young people who have been called to unify using their gift of music. The name of the group is called withLove and they are on a mission to magnify and glorify the Lord while bringing the body of Christ together. Started in 2013, withLove is a dynamic ensemble of millennials on fire for the Lord, blessed with exceptional musical gifts. Their music, rooted in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian genres, is fresh and creative, flaunting the same racial and musical diversity that make up the ensemble. Their new sound, which includes splashes of alternative rock, along with a fresh approach to the Gospel message can be found on the ensemble’s CD-album release self-titled withLove.

The album, dropped in the Fall of 2016, is a blend of the many influences of the group members. Lovers of contemporary worship from groups like Israel & New Breed, Hillsong and Gungor, withLove is forging a path that’s all its own. Songs like “Worth It All” and “My Heart Cries Out”, two of the album’s singles, showcase the amazing songwriting and vocal talents within withLove. In addition, it’s hard to overlook the incredible musicianship – not typical of most bands – easily heard from the first note. Clearly a God-focused record, each song touches the heart in a powerful way. Other moving songs like “Something Beautiful” and “Set Us Free” are unforgettable as well. It’s apparent that this group is delivering something special to music lovers.

David Warren, withLove’s founder and visionary, was passionate about finding a group of young people who would serve the Lord through song. He found it in Stephen Waddy, Lana Matthews, Lauren Jenkins and Jordan Williams. The five-some creates an amazing musical collective that’s quite different than anything on the Christian music scene today. Warren says, “When I was given the vision for withLove, it was to create a multi-cultural, diverse worship band that embraces the needs and hearts of communities around the world, especially here in Baltimore in light of the recent Freddie Gray uprising. We want to be part of the healing process of our city and across the world – reconciling people’s hearts back to Christ”.

When the group isn’t jamming, worshiping, or praying together, they are hitting the streets, ministering to the needs of people. Periodically, they hold “Love Projects” where they engage the community by serving the real needs of communities around the world – whether that’s delivering food to the sick and shut-in, feeding the homeless, or mentoring at-risk youth. They pour out their lives as mentors to those who have none and give back to a community that desperately in need of love. Outside of the Baltimore region, they have been on mission trips to the UK, Romania, Hungary, and Turkey and sponsor a child in Veracruz, Mexico through Compassion International. The group also holds “The Love Sessions” where they provide a platform for people to express their artistic skills during the group’s musical performances. David feels that it’s important that withLove provides inspiring music, but even more-so he wants the group to inspire this generation of believers and non-believers around the world through simple acts of love.

That’s why he named the group withLove. His goal is that everything that the ensemble does is an active expression of love to God’s people. He also believes this is what God is all about and what the Bible ultimately comes down to. David says, “I believe that God meets us there – right there at the place where we are loving God and loving one another, no matter the cost,” he says.