Dan Macaulay
Dan Macaulay
Popular
About
Acclaimed Canadian-born worship leader and singer/songwriter Dan Macaulay, is an eight-time GMA Canada Covenant Award nominee, with songs being sung by churches and played on radio around the world; but his passion is simply seeing churches and individual believers grow in worship, in both song and action, as a response to God’s goodness.
As a pastor for 8 years, and having led worship in venues across Canada, the U.S., and internationally for 20 years; Dan now takes his considerable pastoral and worship-leading experience with him on the road serving churches of all shapes and sizes, blessing them, and encouraging them in their worship.
With a mix of musical and teaching gifts, Dan believes in serving local pastors, helping them to ‘move the ball forward’ in their vision for growth in worship at their church; meeting churches where they’re at and taking baby steps forward; endeavoring to inspire and deposit something that lasts beyond one weekend visit.
Author of the song “Amazing”, Dan’s songs have gone ahead of him around the world; and his newest worship album “From You For You” is continuing the trend. “From You For You”, is inspired by Romans 11:36. Dan says: “Everything we have comes from Him, passes through our hands, and is ultimately meant to be used to bring Him glory… I think that sums up what worship is: More than singing, it’s taking our gifts, our talents, our day-to-day life, and stewarding it all for His glory. It’s returning it to Him with interest.”
What Dan finds himself returning to the Lord is considerable and growing. “From You For You” has received five GMA Canada Covenant Award nominations (Canada’s Dove Awards) including “2012 Praise & Worship Album of the Year”. Dan’s song “In Awe” was also named a finalist in the 2011 “John Lennon Song Writing Competition” while two songs from the album have been featured in Worship Leader Magazine’s “Song DISCovery” program.
As one of the top Canadians consistently charting on Canadian Christian radio, Dan has six #1 radio singles (CanCon) to his name so far and has begun making in-roads into the U.S. as well. CCM Magazine called Dan “One of those guys you may not have heard of…but you should!” Worship Leader Magazine gave the album “From You For You” a 4 star review saying “Macaulay’s sense of hook is matched only by an obvious heart that constantly reaches out to the Father”.
Dan endeavors to use that “sense of hook” to inspire people to worship but after writing or co-writing 10 of the project’s 11 tracks, ironically one of the most meaningful songs for Dan is the one he didn’t pen. The song “‘Breathe in Me’ was written by Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick,” Dan explains. “And yet it is still one of the most personal for me on the album. I can think of so many times those words have been my prayer.” Taking an even more personal turn, Smith himself co-produced and plays piano on the powerfully moving track, which is a worshipful plea for renewed intimacy with the Father.
In addition to Smith’s contribution, From You For You is helmed by some of Christian music’s best and brightest. Keith Everette Smith (Chicago, Meredith Andrews), Nathan Nockels (Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman) and Bryan Lenox (Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant) round out a list of acclaimed producers who helped bring to life the accessible melodies and message-driven lyrics that have become Dan’s signature. With songs people can sing along to after one hearing, the album broadly samples the unique and engaging praise & worship experience audiences throughout North America have come to love and expect from Dan.
“I feel like there are many songs on this album that speak directly to today’s climate,” Dan says. “I’ve been leading ‘Saving Grace’ for several years now as I travel, and I have had some fantastic ministry times surrounding this song. The line, ‘You’ve brought me this far I know/You’ll lead me all the way home/And Your faithfulness won’t let me go’ has been powerful in people’s lives already. I love to take these moments and encourage people from Philippians 1:6 that ‘…He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…’ What an encouragement that can be while we are walking through tough, uncertain times!”
“Leading worship these days is better than ever,” he says. “What an exciting time in history we live in. I believe God is using the uncertain to heighten our awareness of the One certain thing that we desperately need more than ever—Him. I’m just helping people see that, make the connection, and turn their focus on Him to carry them through.”
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