Hello Love by Chris Tomlin

Reviewed by Dale Lewis

"Chris Tomlin has a God-given ability to combine excellent music, engaging lyrics and a humble spirit into songs that communicate exactly what our weary hearts need to hear..."

Chris Tomlin is a passionate lead worshipper – creating songs to encourage other Christ-followers to lift their praise and worship to the Almighty. As he says, “Worship is a massive word with a very broad scope but in the end, it is very simple. It is love! It’s our response in love to our great God who loved us first. As well, it’s our love for others.” His desire with “Hello Love,” is to remind us about God's love for us, to encourage us to love God and to love His people.
Chris Tomlin has a God-given ability to combine excellent music, engaging lyrics and a humble spirit into songs that communicate exactly what our weary hearts need to hear, pointing us in turn to lift our praise to the One who alone is worthy of our praise.

It is difficult to choose a best track on this disc as they are all superbly arranged. It includes Tomlin’s hit radio single, "Jesus Messiah," but this is only the beginning! My personal favorites are; “God of This City,” “Love,” (with the Watoto children’s choir), and “My Deliverer.” The tracks are simple yet beautiful for the ear to hear and the soul to experience. The arrangement of another hymn on the CD, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” is something I’d loved to see again on future Tomlin recordings.

As a support staff member for The Evangelical Free Church of America’s (EFCA) National Student Conference (2002, 2004, 2006), I witnessed this musician’s humility time and time again. Before and after leading worship for the 5000+ students attending each conference, the students would approach Tomlin seeking his autograph and an opportunity for pictures. He’d graciously embrace the request for photographs, but would gently decline the request for autographs reminding each student of “The Famous One.”

I’m a fan of Chris Tomlin and his band not only because of the lyrical and biblical depth of their songs, but also due to the simple fact that Tomlin quietly points all the audience attention back to the God he’s seeking to honor through his music and life. You’ll enjoy this title as much as his previous releases.

Dale Lewis now mans the front desk at the EFCA (The Evangelical Free Church of America) National Office in Minneapolis, MN. He was the graphic designer/pre-press production artist for over twelve years before being asked to step into this new role. Prior to that, he was the publications manager at his alma mater, Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN in the public relations office as well as the adviser to the college’s yearbook. He's a director/actor/writer for the Hope Church (Oakdale, MN) adult drama worship team and was the senior editor of the church newsletter. He's also written two collections of poetry, “Whispers of Assurance” and “On Life: Constant Communion Without Ceasing” as well as a devotional entitled “Eternal Education.” He and his family live in Oakdale, Minnesota.