When Evangelical Journalists Sang a Cappella, Something Unexpected Happened

Faith Facts

• Christian journalists from various evangelical denominations united in a cappella worship at the Evangelical Press Association conference in Franklin, Tennessee
• Songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty, co-writers of “In Christ Alone,” led the group in singing the classic hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” without instrumental accompaniment
• Getty advocates for churches to sing three traditional hymns for every modern song, emphasizing that great hymns provide lasting spiritual gifts across generations

FRANKLIN, TENN. — When journalists gather for a professional conference, you expect panel discussions, networking, and perhaps a keynote speaker. But an impromptu a cappella worship service? That’s something altogether different.

Yet that’s exactly what happened at this year’s Evangelical Press Association conference in the Nashville suburb of Franklin, where representatives from Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and other evangelical publications found themselves united in unaccompanied song.

Three representatives from The Christian Chronicle attended the conference—a testament to how the publication has grown in recent years. Managing editor Calvin Cockrell traveled from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, while intern Ephraim Rodenbach came from nearby Murfreesboro, where he studies at Middle Tennessee State University.

The conference opened with contemporary Christian music. Singer-songwriter Jason Gray performed several pieces, including a timely song about navigating today’s culture wars titled “Jesus Loves You (And I’m Trying).”

But the evening session brought an unexpected turn. Keith and Kristyn Getty, the Northern Ireland songwriting duo who collaborated with Stuart Townend to create “In Christ Alone,” were scheduled to present their latest project—”The Sing! Hymnal,” a comprehensive collection of 900 worship songs spanning centuries of Christian tradition.

Rather than a typical presentation, Keith Getty asked the room to turn to hymn number four: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The song, penned in 1826 by Reginald Heber, represents what Getty called “the perfect hymn” in terms of lyrics, structure, and theological balance.

Then came Getty’s surprising request.

“And can we do this a cappella?”

The room—filled with representatives from denominations spanning the evangelical spectrum—answered with enthusiastic agreement. What followed was a moment of profound unity as voices blended without instrumental accompaniment, creating what participants described as an absolutely heavenly sound.

Getty’s impromptu lesson extended beyond that single hymn. He shared his conviction that churches should maintain a three-to-one ratio of traditional to contemporary hymns in worship.

“The great hymns are a 50-year gift to people, whereas a modern hymn is a five-year gift,” Getty explained.

His wife Kristyn added that newer hymns tend to be “more transient” in their impact and staying power.

Getty illustrated his point with hymn number 434, “Be Thou My Vision.” Based on a 10th-century Irish poem and adapted into hymn form in the early 1900s by Mary Elizabeth Byrne and Eleanor Hull, the song takes believers through life’s journey—from seeking purpose and wisdom in youth, through the temptations of middle life, to the hope of eternal rest.

Getty emphasized the creative and formative power of sacred lyrics.

“God created with words, and words have creative power. They can speak new realities into existence,” he said.

Good hymns, he explained, communicate “truth beyond the scratches on the paper.”

The rest of the conference addressed contemporary challenges facing Christian media—artificial intelligence, covering controversial topics, and bridging generational divides. But it was the opening session’s emphasis on timeless truths expressed through traditional hymnody that set the tone.

Throughout the conference, attendees found themselves humming melodies—some by the Gettys, some by Jason Gray, and some by songwriters who lived centuries ago. These songs, both ancient and modern, served as a constant reminder of the eternal truths that unite Christians across denominational lines.

In an era of rapid cultural change and church division, the spontaneous a cappella moment demonstrated something powerful: when believers focus on the unchanging character of God expressed in timeless worship, unity becomes natural. The journalists present may have represented different traditions and publications, but they shared one voice in praise.

That’s the enduring gift of great hymns—they remind us who we are as children of God, transcending the temporary divisions that too often separate us.

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