Vertical Worship is an American contemporary worship collective, born in 2012 within Harvest Bible Chapel, in Rolling Meadows, near Chicago. Carried by several generations of worship leaders, the collective has released eight studio albums, including its best known song, 'Yes I Will,' certified gold by the RIAA and nominated at the 2019 Dove Awards.
Vertical Worship came together in 2012 in Rolling Meadows, a suburb of Chicago, as the musical extension of Harvest Bible Chapel. First called Vertical Church Band, the group brought together musicians and worship leaders from the congregation to record the songs they used every Sunday. Their first album, Live Worship from Vertical Church, went straight into the top 10 of Billboard's Christian charts. The name Vertical Worship took hold a few years later, as the project grew beyond the walls of a single church.
Since then, the collective has released eight albums, blending Christian pop, gospel, and rock into worship written for the congregation. Their most striking song, 'Yes I Will,' was certified gold by the RIAA and nominated for the Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year in 2019. The current team, led by Jake France and Judd Harris, continues this work with the album Build an Altar, released in 2024, which lends its name to a song about consecration offered to God.
- Origin
- Rolling Meadows, Illinois, USA
- Style
- Contemporary worship (Christian pop, gospel, rock)
- Active since
- 2012
- Good to know
- 'Yes I Will,' certified gold by the RIAA, nominated at the 2019 Dove Awards
How did Vertical Worship begin?
The project was born in 2012 in Rolling Meadows, a large suburb of Chicago, within Harvest Bible Chapel. Under the name Vertical Church Band, a team of musicians and worship leaders recorded the songs that carried Sunday services, with the idea of also making them available to other churches. The album Live Worship from Vertical Church, released that same year, went straight into the top 10 of Billboard's Christian charts in the United States.
The name changed to Vertical Worship with the self titled 2017 album: the project was no longer just one church's band, but a collective for writing songs and forming worship leaders, with a stated ambition to serve the Church as a whole.
What makes Vertical Worship unique?
Vertical Worship works as a collective rather than a fixed band: several generations of worship leaders have taken turns at the mic, from Meredith Andrews and Jon Guerra in the early days to the current team, led by Jake France and Judd Harris, alongside Robert Titean, James Herlo, and Zac Moore. This rotation lets the project keep writing new congregational songs generation after generation, without depending on a single voice.
Where should you start with Vertical Worship?
Start with 'Yes I Will,' their most recognized song, certified gold and nominated at the Dove Awards. Then move on to the three songs below, drawn from their recent catalog, to discover how Vertical Worship puts worship and consecration into music.
songs
Yes I Will
The collective's best known song, certified gold in the United States: a declaration of trust that chooses to praise God in the middle of waiting and hardship.
Spirit of the Living God
A sung prayer inviting the Spirit of God to speak louder than doubt, one of the standout songs from the Church Songs album.
1000 Tongues
A congregational song inspired by Charles Wesley's old hymn, carried by Harvest's signature live sound.
Discography
- 2024Build an Altar
- 2020Grace Is On Our Side
- 2018Bright Faith Bold Future
- 2017Vertical Worship· the album that marks the change from the name Vertical Church Band to Vertical Worship
- 2016Frontiers
- 2015Church Songs
- 2013The Rock Won't Move
- 2012Live Worship from Vertical Church
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Vertical Worship?
Vertical Worship is an American contemporary worship collective, born in 2012 within Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, near Chicago. It brings together worship leaders who write and record worship songs meant to be sung by congregations, with eight studio albums released since it began.
What is Vertical Worship's best known song?
Their most recognized song is 'Yes I Will,' certified gold by the RIAA and nominated for the Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year in 2019. It's the song through which most listeners discover the group.
Is Vertical Worship a band or a church?
Vertical Worship is not a church but the musical ministry of one, Harvest Bible Chapel, in Illinois. It's a collective of worship leaders whose lineup has changed over the years, without a fixed roster.
Where can you listen to Vertical Worship?
Vertical Worship's songs are available on the usual streaming platforms as well as on their official YouTube channel, which also offers instrument tutorials for worship teams from other churches.
What is Vertical Worship's latest album?
Their latest album, Build an Altar, was released in 2024. It follows Grace Is On Our Side (2020) and continues the congregational worship style that has defined the collective since 2012.
Does Vertical Worship always have the same singer?
No. The collective has seen several generations of worship leaders, from Meredith Andrews and Jon Guerra in the early days to the current team, led by Jake France and Judd Harris.