When singer-songwriter Jared Anderson arrived at a music studio to record fresh material, he and his band discussed what artistic direction they should take. Needing inspiration, Anderson remembered music they were listening to a few months prior. He started playing a well-known Christian song, “Rise Again,” and his band joined in. Suddenly, he realized the direction they needed wasn’t to create something new, but to breathe new life into something already cultivated.
When speaking with The Epoch Times, Anderson said the initial inspiration behind recording the classic spiritual anthem came about as a great way to kick off the recording session while he and his band warmed up. The ease in which the song came together was a surprise. He said that the group “wandered into it.”
For Anderson and his band partner Kelly Wilkerson, a simple uplifting musical choice to start the day at the studio turned into a single release they hope will spiritually invigorate a new generation.
Musical Pioneer
“Rise Again” was written in 1977 when musician Dallas Holm was working on new material for his praise band. Unable to come up with anything that day, he prayed to center his mind. Minutes later, he wrote the song. In an interview featured in the St. Augustine Record, he explained how the popular tune came to fruition:“I had a disciplined approach to songwriting and have written some of my better songs in that frame of mind. But this particular day I couldn’t come up with a single idea. I began to pray, which I should have done in the first place, and in the course of my praying I remember saying, ‘Lord, if you were singing, what would you sing?’ ... As soon as I focused in on that approach to my task, I began to write as if I were taking dictation. I wrote the music and the words in about 10 minutes—no changes. I titled it ‘Rise Again.’”
Uniting Body and Soul
Wilkerson, who contributed vocals to the newest version of “Rise Again,” has an especially personal connection to the groundbreaking song. Holm is one of her good friends. She views her and Anderson’s rendition as a way to honor Holm, a man who she describes as “steadfast in his faith.”With lines like “‘Cause I'll rise, again/ Ain’t no power on earth can keep Me down,” the message of the song is one of overcoming insurmountable odds and embodying a spirit that transcends worldly limitations.
Their rendition of “Rise Again” was released by their ministry, 11:21 Worship, and music plays a big role in their efforts. For Wilkerson, music has the ability to comfort people in a way sometimes words alone can’t.
“Some songs are like a blanket. Some songs are like a warrior’s cry. The wonder of music, the beauty of music has [the ability] to go into those deep places and stir all of that up.”
For Anderson, music has “a restorative property” that fosters unity between the spiritual and the physical. He said, “it unites your soul and your body.” He also believes in the healing power of melody.
“Our souls are meant to respond to beauty. And music, when played honestly and simply, is very beautiful. There is a sense of healing that comes when we engage in music,” he said.
‘A Timeless Story’
11:21 Worship is a part of World Challenge, a worldwide ministry organization started by Pastor David Wilkerson over 50 years ago. Aside from ministering, World Challenge engages in different efforts to help support communities. Wilkerson and Anderson are particularly passionate about the work they do to provide assistance to widows and orphans. They also work to bring spiritual enrichment to underserved communities.The two call their mission a “lifestyle of serving” through their faith.
As Anderson and Wilkerson continue their ministry work, they intend to spend more time in the studio. They plan to release another recording project called “Beholding Jesus” featuring several inspirational songs by May 2025.
“Rise Again” is currently available digitally on streaming platforms, which Wilkerson says allows their music to travel “around the world” to those they can’t reach physically.
Anderson views their release of “Rise Again” as a new chapter in the enduring song’s powerful legacy.
In an official statement, he said “Rise Again” offers “a chance to engage a timeless story in a fresh way. We hope this new recording reaches audiences who weren’t even alive when the original was a chart-topper.”
