Capitol Christian Music Group

Release Date: September 22nd 2023

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Passion– Testemunho (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Pelo Que Fez [What He’s Done] [Passion, Central 3, & Kristian Stanfill]
2. Eu Provei [I’ve Witnessed It] [Passion & Ana Nóbrega]
3. Glorioso Dia [Glorious Day] [Passion, Kristian Stanfill, & Gabriel Guedes de Almeida]
4. Tu Es Digno [Worthy Of Your Name] [Passion, Sean Curran, & Gabriel Guedes de Almeida]
5. Nada É Impossível Para Deus [There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do] [Passion, Kristian Stanfill, & Fernandinho]
6. Santo Lugar [Holy Ground] [Passion, Melodie Malone, & Nívea Soares]
7. Bendizei ao Senhor [10000 Reasons] [Passion & Fernandinho]
8. Eu Vou Construir [Build My Life] [Passion, Brett Younker, & Isaias Saad]
9. Lindo Jesus [Beautiful Jesus] [Passion, Chidima, & Julia Vitoria]

Last year in 2022, I reviewed Passion’s album Burn Bright, and I concluded that I had Passion fatigue. “Another year, another Passion album”, was what I thought with a reluctant and exasperated tone; and right now, ‘another Passion album every year’ is probably one of the only things you can count on in life aside from death and taxes. Don’t’ get me wrong. Passion was great in its heyday in the 2000’s. In the past, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, and Christy Nockels were a part of this massive global worship movement (and now they’re not for some unknown reason!), and now the group is helmed by Kristian Stanfill, Brett Younker, Sean Curran (formerly of Bellarive) and Melodie Malone, with special guest appearances from Crowder. Their mission has always remained the same. While you can read about all things Passion in all of the articles here; let me give you all a quick refresher of what the group is all about- and mind you this is quoted verbatim from my Whole Heart review from 2018…simply because I’ve conveyed my thoughts most cohesively there, and there’s no reason to repeat myself!

Passion Conferences are held every year, and mostly comprise of many Sixsteps Records artists and others, inclusive of artists like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Crowder, Melodie Malone, Brett Younker and Jimi Cravity to name a few. Every year these men and women of God come together to worship God in January and February every year at key and prominent U.S. cities, with the conferences directed at university students, and every year they invite guests as well. Over the years, Carrie Underwood, Lecrae, Tedashii, Hillsong UNITED, Rend Collective and Tenth Avenue North have all performed at what is still one of today’s prestigious yearly Christian events. With the annual event launched in 1997 by Louie Giglio, now one of the key pastors of the conference each year, the band now performs in conferences in Atlanta Georgia around New Year for their recording of their annual albums released in March, and these guys tour around the world as well! With the movement keeping their heart for students and their related ministry rooted in Isaiah 26:8; I have always loved the annual Passion albums.

In 2018, Whole Heart released- and though I say this every year, I truly believed that Passion’s album from 2018 was as good as any they’ve ever recorded (even without the presence of the ‘old guard’ of Passion!), with songs like “God You’re So Good”, “Ever Almighty”, “Almighty God”, “Hallelujah Our God Reigns”, “Ghost” and “All My Hope” all being some of my favourite Passion songs I’ve heard in a very long time (although nothing can really top the 2017 album Worthy Of Your Name). And while Follow You Anywhere released in January 2019 and overall wasn’t as compelling nor engaging as previous Passion albums; and Roar was unveiled in March 2020 (of which you can view my thoughts here!); 2021 saw only a double single released in January, and no album. These guys rectified that with the release of Burn Bright in 2022 (although Jon revealed his harsh thoughts about Passion in his reviews of the studio EP’s Burn Bright and Live From Rehearsals early last year, in kind of like a lamentation, sorrowful, emotional way, kind of like the end of an era of him listening to Passion– and I agree with him by the way. Yet though I have fond memories about Passion in the mid-2000’s; it still pains me to say that Passion isn’t like it once was, and I doubt I will be listening that religiously to the group moving forward. I’ve Witnessed It released a few months ago… and sad to say, it’s just there. It’s neither engaging nor downright boring. It’s adequate background worship music. But that’s… it.

There’s this reality that I think I’ve come to understand through Burn Bright, Live From Camp, and now this new album in 2023- I’ve Witnessed It. And it is this. That Passion could conceivably go on and on and on and release countless albums to the point where each one afterwards sounds the same as the one before it. Yet in my own opinion; there has to be some unique features present in each release to keep all of us still interested. For me after listening to I’ve Witnessed It though (yes, I’ve given Passion one more chance!), the undoubted answer after numerous listens is the same as earlier in the year. That there is musically nothing much here that is different from previous Passion albums, and I am still having Passion fatigue at the moment! Maybe I’m longing for the Passion of old, with Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Christy Nockels! And though I’m sure each of the worship leaders of Kristian, Brett, Sean, Melodie, Chidima, and special guests Cody Carnes, Brandon Lake, Kari Jobe, and newcomers Landon Wolfe and Rachel Halbach, are all passionate (no pun intended!) and are all on fire for Jesus; unfortunately, nothing much in this album keeps me excited and intrigued for an extended period of time. I’ve mentioned in a previous review I think; that there could be a point where I am completely bored with Passion. Maybe not bored. But indifferent. Not necessarily the Passion of old, but the Passion of now. That time, sad to say, is confirmed to be today. I decided to give them one last try… but now, I think I’ve heard enough. There certainly is enough here in these 14 songs (and 89 minutes!), to keep me shaking my head at the clichés of some of the worshipful moments here, and apart from a few songs in the back end of the album led by Crowder, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes and Sean Curran; nothing much really grabs me at all. Passion though is going to be around for a long time- and as long as the worship movement is in existence; I’m still somewhat quietly confident of the group’s future because I know they have done and can do better.

But we’re not here to rehash old ground- for Passion recently released a brand new album this past week. And though I said I won’t touch the Passion of today with a ten foot pole anymore; this is a special album as it’s an album sung in Portuguese, and a ‘greatest hits’ kind of thing. Comprising of 9 of the band’s most powerful hits of today, Testemunho (probably translated to something like Testimony!) is an unique album experience… but does it wow us like previous Passion albums failed to do?

And… lo and behold, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’! Surprising to say, I think I find these Portuguese versions superior to their live English counterparts (which inevitably drag because they’re live versions!), and though I do not understand the words, I know the essence of songs like “10,000 Reasons”, “Glorious Day”, “Build My Life” and “Worthy Of Your Name” (amongst others), and I can’t help but sing along and worship Jesus with these new and old favourites. Sure, nothing can beat the Passion of old with Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman and Christy Nockels. But these melodies that I’ve come to enjoy and cherish and hold deep in my heart- these songs sung in a unique and different way… they’re refreshing and revitalising and hopefully they reignite a passion (no pun intended!), in this band that at times feels increasingly stale and irrelevant in this changing worship landscape.

Here’s the general consensus of what I’ve concluded (aside from Testemunho). Simply put- many albums over the past few years, inclusive of this year’s album in I’ve Witnessed It by Passion, isn’t exciting enough. Individually the songs are fine. But as a whole, the album doesn’t have that ‘wow’ factor. Passion isn’t exciting anymore; and that’s the truth. Back in the day, when Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels and Charlie Hall were part of the movement, the releases were inspiring, powerful, and moving. Each of the songs were singles and representatives from the solo studio albums of the lead vocalists. Now, with Passion becoming more like Hillsong, Planetshakers, Bethel Music, Jesus Culture, and others; I firmly believe that now there’s little distinguishing each of these movements. Rarely, you see a Kristian Stanfill solo album, nor a solo album from Brett Younker or Melodie Malone. Sure, Passion is still good. It’s still inspiring. But no more is it unique and I’ve Witnessed It, like Burn Bright, makes me sad. White Flag, Take It All, Here For You, and Let The Future Begin were the golden years of Passion, as well as the mid-late 2000’s; and unfortunately moving forward I may have to revisit that era more so than Passion at the moment.

Passion’s heart is still the same- to bring glory to God in whatever setting they’re in, and to spread the gospel in whatever way they can. In that sense, as I am reminded that this is a movement that does what works for them, and will continue to give God the glory for however long God continues to put the calling on Louie and Shelly Giglio (after all, Passion is Louie’s brain-child and what God called and is still calling for him to do and be a part of!); I can sort of give this album… probably a tad more leeway than I have previously- as their ministry is to fellow believers. Yet beyond this year, something needs to be done to shake up Passion. Testmunho is a step in the right direction… But how about studio recordings, re-recordings of old classics with different vocalists, an acoustic album, a ‘mainstream’ album of ‘worshipful’ songs… just something different? Because if we have the same old annual live CD; how will that attract new listeners? Something to think about as I leave you with the album to listen to. Is I’ve Witnessed It one of your favourite albums from 2023? How about Testemunho? Why or why not?

3 songs to listen to: Tu Es Digno, Santo Lugar, Eu Vou Construir

Score: 4/5

RIYL: Vertical Worship, The City Harmonic, Jesus Culture, Bryan & Katie Torwalt, Newsboys, We The Kingdom, London Gatch