Voices of the Father: CAFO and The Worship Initiative Unite to Echo God’s Heart for the Orphaned in New Worship Anthem

In a collaboration that bridges the sacred and the compassionate, the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and The Worship Initiative (TWI) have come together to craft a musical tribute to one of the most profound expressions of God’s character—His heart for the orphaned and vulnerable. This rare partnership has given birth to three new worship songs: “Faithful to Me,” “Home in the Family,” and “What a Father’s Like.” These songs are more than just melodies; they are a clarion call to the Church to embrace the fatherless, reflecting the essence of Psalm 68:5-6, which reveals God as “Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows.”

The new worship anthems will make their debut at the CAFO2024 Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be released to the public on September 20, 2024. These songs are not only crafted to inspire worship but also to remind believers of God’s deep love for the orphaned, urging them to mirror this love in their own lives. The lyrics are a heartfelt invitation for God’s people to know, love, and worship Him as the ultimate Father, whose care extends to the most vulnerable among us.

Jedd Medefind, CAFO President and former head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives under President George W. Bush, expressed the historical significance of this partnership. “Throughout history, Christians at their best have been known for their special care for children the world discards,” Medefind said. “This care reveals God’s character to the world—the One who is both all-powerful and yet also so tender and near to the most vulnerable. We long for the Church and all people to know this God more deeply, and worship music can play a vital role in that.”

The collaboration between CAFO and TWI is not just about creating music; it is about equipping the Church with the resources to lead worship that reflects God’s heart. Following the release of the music, CAFO and TWI will provide a comprehensive suite of resources—including devotions, song chords, charts, and lead sheets—available for free starting September 20. These tools are designed to prepare worship leaders across the country to incorporate these songs into their services, especially for Pure Religion Sunday (also known as Orphan Sunday) on November 10, 2024.

Robbie Seay, Executive Vice President of Leader Development and Content at The Worship Initiative, highlighted the spiritual depth of the project. “For any believer, understanding God as Father can be such a beautiful thing, but also a hard concept for those who don’t have an earthly father,” Seay shared. “For us to look to the Word of God, sing that, and proclaim that, is a powerful thing.”

The journey to create these songs was a spiritual and creative pilgrimage. On February 15-16, 2024, a group of songwriters, artists, and theologians gathered at The Worship Initiative studios in Dallas, Texas, for two days of prayer, fellowship, and songwriting sessions. Many participants had firsthand experience with foster care and adoption, bringing authenticity and deep emotional resonance to the music. Among them was Pastor and theologian Stephen Newby, Chair of the Study of Black Worship at Baylor University, who described how adoption transformed both his life and his church community. “It was as if the scales were dropped from our eyes,” Newby reflected. “We became more aware of the simpler things, and it changed our hearts. We relinquished our preferences, seeing the needs of someone else as more important than our own needs… [adoption] had a big impact on my life. I became more sensitive to the Holy Spirit in caring about the things the heavenly Father cares about.”

The stories behind these songs are as compelling as the music itself. Worship leader and songwriter David Gentiles, known for “Thank You Jesus for the Blood,” also contributed to the project. Gentiles and his wife have fostered and adopted two children in their hometown of Houston, Texas. He shared how his church was miraculously transformed when the majority of the congregation became involved in foster care, adoption, and serving vulnerable families. “It was remarkable, it totally changed the language and spirit of that church,” Gentiles recounted. “I think when a church begins to bloom in its heart for the orphan, there’s this supernatural melding of hearts within that Body, creating a unity that’s beautiful to see.”

As the songs prepare to resonate across churches nationwide, the partnership between CAFO and TWI stands as a testament to the transformative power of worship that aligns with God’s heart. These anthems are not just songs—they are prayers, proclamations, and a challenge to every believer to embrace God’s calling to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. Through this collaboration, the Church is invited to sing with one voice, declaring the Father’s love for all His children.