Host Tauren Wells told a national television audience during the 54th annual Dove Awards that the Christian music community stands with Israel and is praying for peace in the region.
“All of us are aware of the difficulties that people in Israel and Palestine are experiencing right now,” Wells said in a broadcast televised Friday on TBN. “So I just want to express today on behalf of the artists in this faith community here that we remember Israel tonight. We stand with the people of God. And as Scripture instructs us, we pray for peace in Jerusalem.”
Brandon Lake won four awards, including Artist of the Year, Katy Nichole took home New Artist of the Year, and Goodness of God won Song of the Year. The awards show was held at Nashville’s Lipscomb University.
“Now, here's the thing: We can't just pray for peace and not understand and identify the Prince of Peace. And this conflict will not end until Jesus is the Lord of Israel, and Jesus is the Lord of Palestine, and Jesus is the Lord of every nation, every tribe, and every tongue,” Wells said to applause. “There is a day coming, at which every knee will bow, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. And as the church, the world can be at war, but the church is going to be in worship because we don't praise God depending upon our circumstances, we praise God dependent upon His reputation.
“And the Scripture says that He's faithful and He's good to every generation. And that means that there are generations that the world will forget that God will remember,” Wells added. “And tonight we celebrate that name of Jesus, as we remember the people reeling in pain tonight.”
Lauren Daigle, who won an award for Short Form Music Video of the Year (Concept -- Thank God I Do), also addressed the situation in Israel.
“With growing changes in our world, I feel like there's no better time to become united in both heart and spirit,” Daigle said. “The body of Christ has an opportunity to become a more united front, pushing aside intensity and dissension, especially going into another political year. In light of what has happened in Israel this week. I think our eyes need to be open to what He might be calling us to. We have the hope of eternity and the good news of the gospel. We aren't bringing in messages that tear and divide -- we're bringing in messages that remind people of their worth, that remind children they are valuable, that they belong in society, and remind people that they have something that only God can fulfill. We get to tell them that He is the great I Am.”
Following is a partial list of winners. (The full list of winners is available here.)
ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Brandon Lake
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Katy Nichole
SONG OF THE YEAR: Goodness of God
WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LION: Live From The Loft -- Elevation Worship
RAP/HIP-HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Church Clothes 4 -- Lecrae
SPANISH LANGUAGE RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: Coritis (En Vivo) -- Miel San Marcos, Daniel Calveti, Marcos Witt, Ingrid Rosario
BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY/ROOTS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR: Good Morning Mercy -- Jason Crabb, Dylan Scott
POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Life After Death -- TobyMac
GOSPEL WORSHIP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Hymns (Live) -- Tasha Cobbs Leonard
FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR: Jesus Revolution -- (Directors) Jon Erwin, Brent McCorkle, (Producers) Kevin Downes, Andrew Erwin, Daryl Lefever and Josh Walsh
Photo Courtesy: Terry Wyatt
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
