Gospel Artist EJ Jackson Calls New Single «Jesus» a Church Song for All Worship Communities
Worship leader EJ Jackson has released a new single, «Jesus,» featuring Isaiah Templeton of Elevation Worship, and is urging pastors and worship leaders to bring it into their services as part of his mission to unite gospel and contemporary Christian music communities.
Worship leader and gospel artist EJ Jackson has released a new single titled «Jesus,» featuring Isaiah Templeton of Elevation Worship, and is calling on pastors and worship leaders to incorporate the track into their church services. Jackson described the song as a church song during a recent appearance on the radio program Get Up Mornings with Erica Campbell, where he discussed both the new release and his broader mission of bringing worship communities together.
«Bug your worship pastors. This is a church song. Let's go,» Jackson said while introducing the single, according to the interview. The track pairs Jackson with Templeton, a prominent voice in the contemporary Christian music world, in what appears to be a deliberate effort to bridge the often separate spheres of gospel and contemporary worship music.
Jackson's commitment to music and ministry dates back to his childhood in Gary, Indiana, where he was raised in the church and influenced heavily by his family. His uncle, Bishop Fred Jackson, serves as a state bishop under the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. Jackson became a minister of music while still in seventh grade, an early start that he said he did not fully appreciate at the time but which eventually shaped his understanding of worship as something that extends far beyond a Sunday service.
«I've learned that worship is a lifestyle,» Jackson said. «So, it goes beyond what you do on Sunday mornings, and it kind of has to shape you throughout the week as well.»
That early experience opened doors Jackson said he never expected. He went on to become the first Black worship pastor at a church in Las Vegas, a milestone that reflects both his personal journey and the broader shifts taking place in American worship spaces. His career has also spanned multiple corners of the music industry: he is a member of the Grammy Academy, has toured and performed spot dates with Miley Cyrus, has opened for Ty Tribbett, and has collaborated with musicians including Adam Blackstone and BJ the Chicago Kid.
During his conversation with Campbell, Jackson spoke about serving in multicultural ministry environments and his desire to see the gospel and contemporary Christian music communities connect more closely. He pointed to Revelation 7 as a scriptural model for that vision, describing a scene in which people from different nations, tribes, and backgrounds come together in worship.
«I mean, it's gonna be all these different people coming together, worshiping God and raising one sound,» Jackson explained.
The theme of unity across cultural and denominational lines has become a defining feature of Jackson's ministry. His background in multicultural settings, combined with his experience in both traditional church music and the wider entertainment industry, positions him to speak to audiences that might otherwise remain separate. The new single, with its pairing of a gospel worship leader and a contemporary worship artist, puts that conviction into practice.
Jackson also revealed that he is scheduled to perform at the SOAR Awards next year, an appearance that will bring his music to a wider audience within the gospel and Christian music community. Fans can follow him on social media under EJ Jackson Music and stream the new single «Jesus» featuring Isaiah Templeton.
The release arrives at a time when conversations about worship music's role in bridging racial, generational, and stylistic divides continue to gain attention in churches across the United States. Jackson's approach, rooted in his own experience of growing up in a faith-filled family and serving in diverse ministry settings, offers a personal answer to those questions. Rather than treating gospel and contemporary Christian music as separate traditions, he presents them as parts of a single act of worship, one that he believes should shape believers throughout the week and not only on Sunday mornings.
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