Worship Leader and recording artist Nia Allen releases Every Nation on the Rich Nation Entertainment/Sony Orchard label. This EP, recorded live at Hopes House in Los Angeles, fosters racial unity through worship music. And if we ever needed some music that heals and calls us to one united worship, it’s now in this season of unrest.
Originally from Ohio, Allen has called Los Angeles home for the past five years where she serves as a
Nia Allen, Worship music Recording Artist. Photo courtesy of Cr8 Agency
full-time Worship Leader. That’s in addition to this busy lady being a national recording artist. Allen ended up staying in La-La-La land after graduating from Azusa Pacific University where she received a Doctor of Ministry degree.
From background singer with CeCe Winans to Worship Music artist
Before becoming a national Worship Music recording artist, the Berklee College of Music alum was a background singer for some of the gospel and Christian music world’s most celebrated artists, including CeCe Winans, Nicole C. Mullen and David and Nicole Binion.
Allen hopes Every Nation will heal some of the racial divide going on around the world. She said, “The heart of that night was to encourage unity as it relates to race. Because as I was traveling with different people, different artists, singing background and also leading, I just saw a lot of separation in the church. And so, the heart of this project is just to bring awareness to the need for more unity, especially in the body of Christ.
I believe we have the answer. We have scripture that supports unity. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of our race. And even now, in the mist of all that’s going on, is to just encourage that…it’s a heart and a mind transformation…In this season, it’s not easy. Its uncomfortable talking about race, but I believe that’s what I’m called to do.
I have the album Every Nation, just spreading the word for more unity, especially within the body of Christ… I believe our worship on earth is preparation for worship in heaven. I want to see Heaven on earth…as it relates to our worship, and worship gatherings.”
Since Allen has a doctorate in the subject area of race and reconciliation in the church, I asked the single sister and granddaughter of a pastor about the statement that at 11a.m. on Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week in the USA.
She said, “Yeah, Martin Luther King – he made that statement over 50 years ago, and it still is the same. In my doctoral program we noticed there was a history, a cycle of separation with the Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, a continual cycle of separation as it relates to race.
Blacks could worship with whites but in segregated spaces
Blacks could worship with them, but it was often segregated within the church. So blacks began to form their own spaces of worship. And thus, we have the black church because of prejudice and discrimination, because they weren’t treated fairly. We were like, ‘we need to form our own spaces, where we feel valued, where we have a voice. Historically and traditionally, that’s when we had the birthing of the black church. And I think it’s important when we’re thinking about this topic to ask ourselves, have we healed from our past and what will it take to move us forward?”
“Im not calling for every church to be this multi-cultural. Multi-ethnic, even though I do believe that this is the heart of God, considering our separate state, I do believe its important for bot sides to take a look and say’ Ok, where are we? Are we okay with this? And do we even want to be healed from our past?’ So those are the kinds of conversation, I’m being asked to kind of have these conversations about race and reconciliation in the church.”
Every Nation Worship!
Allen’s Every Nation is a musical call to bring people of all faiths and races together. Every Nation features six uplifting songs, including the lead-single, “Every Nation,”…based off Revelation 7:9-11, describing what worship will look like in Heaven. Every Nation was created to capture a sound that all believers are able to sing – regardless of their race, culture or background. EP track, “Wait,” is a simple song of worship reminding all to wait on God during the current political time of social unrest and know that God will implement change.
Needs some universal worship? Then check out Nia Allen’s Every Nation, available on all digital outlets wherever music is sold.
For more information on Nia Allen please visit www.niaallenmusic.com or by using the social media handle @NiaAllenMusic.
And you’d like to hear more of the conversation between me and Nia Allen, click the link and listen and subscribe to my Lin. Woods’ Gospel Entertainment Podcast.