Worship Collective’s new album of original songs heats up in first month

Since the Liberty Worship Collective’s latest album, “Fire of A Thousand Years,” released last month, it has reached over 259,000 all-time streams on Spotify.

The Collective, a diverse group of student worship leaders, songwriters, and musicians at Liberty University, released the album (its first original album since 2017) on Aug. 30. The album features seven original songs written by members of the Collective and one cover of New Life Worship’s “Great I Am.”

“Fire of A Thousand Years” is being published and distributed by Liberty Music Group, the official record label of Liberty University, and can be found on all streaming platforms. The album represents the importance of stewarding the Gospel through trusted and timeless songs that help fulfill Liberty’s greater mission of Training Champions for Christ.

Scott Bullman, director of Liberty Music Group and an associate professor of music and worship, said the project reflects the university’s worship-centered atmosphere.

“The timing was absolutely perfect for the first big launch of what we hope is many,” he said. “I just want to get the music and worship experience of the mountain out to the world. We think it’s special.”

“No Limits,” “Hannah’s Prayer,” “All Creatures in All the Earth,” and “A Sanctuary,” are among the album’s original songs recorded live during last year’s Campus Community, a Wednesday night service on campus. The Collective often leads worship at the service and at Liberty’s weekly Convocations and other campus events, as well as conferences, youth events, festivals, churches, and other venues across the country.

Tim Riordan, who serves full time on the Collective’s staff team, was the album’s producer. He said he saw the Lord opening doors for the creation of the album in fall 2022, allowing for scheduled songwriting sessions and live recordings with the help of Liberty’s Campus Production staff.

“When I first got here, we didn’t even know we’d get the green light to work on this project,” Riordan said. “But the Lord has been pushing things through and now was the time. It’s been a blessing and a super cool thing to be a part of. We started recording live, and I’d bring in each individual player that recorded that night to think through each part and write the melodies, instrument by instrument, to give the songs a unique, beautiful voice.”

Every member of the Collective, from instrumentalists to vocalists, was involved in the creation, production, and vision behind “Fire of A Thousand Years.”

Jake Kohler, a member of the Office of Spiritual Development’s creative team, was behind the album cover design, which shows a church arrayed in beams of light, signifying the body of Christ.

“Jesus is the everlasting fire of a thousand years, and because the Spirit of God lives within His people, we wanted to see that energy,” said Kevin Huguley, executive director of the Liberty Worship Collective and executive producer of the record. “This is a picture of a real church in Iceland, so I said let’s take that building and make it a light, just vibrant with life.”

Working with Liberty Music Group, Huguley said the Collective aims to release new content each year and has already begun production on its next album. The goal is to enhance student experience and leverage student involvement in sharing the message of the Gospel through worship.

Huguley hopes the efforts will continue to leave a lasting impression.

“We are trying to leave the world something that’s going to outlive us, and if that’s going to take place, we want it to be done to the best of our abilities and for the glory of God.”