Terry MacAlmon
Encyclopedia
Terry MacAlmon is an American
Christian songwriter
, recording artist and worship leader. He heads a worship music
ministry
based in Dallas, Texas and leads worship in conferences, retreats, worship seminars, and churches throughout the United States, and internationally. As a psalmist, he often sings prophetically over congregations, cities, and nations.
He is known for writing the popular song I Sing Praises that has been a Top 40 Christian song around the world, and is still regularly sung in many churches. The song was published by Integrity Music in 1989 and is included in many modern hymnal
s.
It was at the age of three that Terry's mom began sitting him on the piano bench to occupy him while she looked after his brothers. Terry quickly began to discover the notes of “Jesus Loves Me,” a song he had learned in Sunday School. A steady progression took place. By the time he was five, he played his first solo in church.
The gift continued to develop; Terry became the church pianist at the age of 11. Winning state and national talent awards in his denomination became a regular event during Terry's teenage years.
It was in the summer of 1973 when Terry had a very unusual visitation from the Lord after an evening service at a youth retreat. He recalls, "It was as if God's presence was sitting on me like a cloud. His presence was so heavy that I physically could not even lift my head. I just knelt and trembled while His Spirit dealt with me. I knew that He was placing His mantle of worship upon me. I have never been the same since that special August night.”
Terry describes this: “We threw a worship party, and nobody came. In fact, they stayed away by the busloads!” After waiting on the Lord’s promotion for 8 years, Terry heard God speak to him in August 1998. He said to gather the worshipers, for He wanted to bring an open heaven to Colorado Springs. Terry was reluctant to step out again after so many years of seeing nothing happen. He finally did launch a Wednesday noon worship hour at the Spirit’s insistence, which became known as “Lunch with the Lord”. For more than 6 years, it touched several hundred people each week.
An accomplished songwriter and recording artist, Terry is called to lead and teach praise and worship to fellow believers everywhere. The path to the throne room is a familiar one for Terry, who is sensitive to the ebb and flow of the Spirit. He makes others comfortable with entering into the Lord’s presence. They are then drawn into a place of deeper intimacy with the Lord.
Terry now sees the hand of God through all of the waiting. He freely shares in his seminars, “I had the Lord’s vision, but I never bothered to seek Him for His timing. The increase came when He chose for it to happen in our city. It’s all God, all the time. Man is but a vessel, a channel for God’s anointing to flow through. I’m very thankful He chose to flow through me at this hour.”
In October 2010 MacAlmon released a new album, “A Worshipful Christmas”, followed by an October 2011 release of an instrumental project, "Timeless Praise". In December of 2010 he married Elizabeth Valentine of Manhattan, NY. Terry and Liz continue to reside in Dallas, TX.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Christian songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, recording artist and worship leader. He heads a worship music
Worship Music
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time...
ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
based in Dallas, Texas and leads worship in conferences, retreats, worship seminars, and churches throughout the United States, and internationally. As a psalmist, he often sings prophetically over congregations, cities, and nations.
He is known for writing the popular song I Sing Praises that has been a Top 40 Christian song around the world, and is still regularly sung in many churches. The song was published by Integrity Music in 1989 and is included in many modern hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
s.
Early years
Upon Terry's birth the doctor informed his parents that he would likely not live through his first month due to cranial stenosis (a premature closure of the soft spot in his head). His mother remembers pacing the floor with him every day and praying, "Lord, if You let him live, I will give him to You for Your service." The Lord heard a mother’s cry and miraculously healed her baby. Terry believes that he not only received the gift of life at that time but also a special anointing and gift of music.It was at the age of three that Terry's mom began sitting him on the piano bench to occupy him while she looked after his brothers. Terry quickly began to discover the notes of “Jesus Loves Me,” a song he had learned in Sunday School. A steady progression took place. By the time he was five, he played his first solo in church.
The gift continued to develop; Terry became the church pianist at the age of 11. Winning state and national talent awards in his denomination became a regular event during Terry's teenage years.
It was in the summer of 1973 when Terry had a very unusual visitation from the Lord after an evening service at a youth retreat. He recalls, "It was as if God's presence was sitting on me like a cloud. His presence was so heavy that I physically could not even lift my head. I just knelt and trembled while His Spirit dealt with me. I knew that He was placing His mantle of worship upon me. I have never been the same since that special August night.”
The start of his ministry
The next 17 years of Terry’s life were spent serving in music ministry positions for several churches and traveling in concert work across America. Then, in December 1990, Terry moved his family to Colorado Springs. They started a church with a vision of raising Jesus up through worship over the city. Instead of a successful ministry venture, it was the beginning of a long season of wilderness for the MacAlmons.Terry describes this: “We threw a worship party, and nobody came. In fact, they stayed away by the busloads!” After waiting on the Lord’s promotion for 8 years, Terry heard God speak to him in August 1998. He said to gather the worshipers, for He wanted to bring an open heaven to Colorado Springs. Terry was reluctant to step out again after so many years of seeing nothing happen. He finally did launch a Wednesday noon worship hour at the Spirit’s insistence, which became known as “Lunch with the Lord”. For more than 6 years, it touched several hundred people each week.
An accomplished songwriter and recording artist, Terry is called to lead and teach praise and worship to fellow believers everywhere. The path to the throne room is a familiar one for Terry, who is sensitive to the ebb and flow of the Spirit. He makes others comfortable with entering into the Lord’s presence. They are then drawn into a place of deeper intimacy with the Lord.
Terry now sees the hand of God through all of the waiting. He freely shares in his seminars, “I had the Lord’s vision, but I never bothered to seek Him for His timing. The increase came when He chose for it to happen in our city. It’s all God, all the time. Man is but a vessel, a channel for God’s anointing to flow through. I’m very thankful He chose to flow through me at this hour.”
Leaving the ministry
MacAlmon announced in May 2008, in a letter to ministry supporters, that he was stepping down from his own ministry after having an extramarital affair, saying "I don’t have a timeline as to if or when I will return to ministry, but I know I cannot go forward with my soul in this condition." After brief stops in Tulsa, OK and Nashville, TN, MacAlmon settled in Dallas, TX. In September 2009 he joined long time friend, Terry Sullivan in opening a Christian Dinner Club, "Majesty's".Return to the ministry
In April, 2010, after two years of silence, MacAlmon came forward with a letter, announcing that he would return to the ministry in May 2010. He described his journey and the difficult divorce from his wife, Greta. Regarding his restoration, MacAlmon summarized, “I have found a newly discovered fear of the Lord and I have returned to my first love, Jesus. When those two elements are not present in the life of a believer, our walk will result in failure of some form given enough time, whether anyone else sees it or not. We all know how to pretend very well. God is not impressed”. MacAlmon sold his partnership in Majesty's in April 2010 to focus on the demands of full time ministry once again. He continues to share a family business with his former wife.In October 2010 MacAlmon released a new album, “A Worshipful Christmas”, followed by an October 2011 release of an instrumental project, "Timeless Praise". In December of 2010 he married Elizabeth Valentine of Manhattan, NY. Terry and Liz continue to reside in Dallas, TX.
Discography
- Instrumental Worship, Vol. 1 (Integrity / M2.0 Communications, 1997, 2003)
- Instrumental Worship, Vol. 2 (Integrity / M2.0 Communications, 1998, 2003)
- Live Worship from the World Prayer Center (Integrity / M2.0 Communications, 1999)
- I Came to Worship You (Integrity / M2.0 Communications, 2002)
- Visit Us: Calling Down the Father's Glory (Integrity / M2.0 Communications, 2003)
- For the Lord is Good -Video (2003)
- The Sound of Heaven (INO records, 2004)
- You're My Glory (INO records, 2005)
- The Glory of His Presence (INO records, 2006)
- Holy! (Maranatha Records, 2007)
- The Worship Express (for Children) (2007)
- For the Bride (Maranatha Records, 2007)
- A Worshipful Christmas (Terry MacAlmon Music, 2010)
- Timeless Praise (Terry MacAlmon Music, 2011)
External links
- Terry MacAlmon's online music store
- Terry MacAlmon's official ministry page
- Terry MacAlmon Tours With Symphony
- Terry MacAlmon CD Recommendations Recommendations independent from the official website.