'A New Heaven And A New Earth' artists Jason Roy, Don Chaffer & Phil Joel release 'Our Common Home'

Single marks fifth song revealed from multi-artist album, ‘A New Heaven And A New Earth’

Press Release

The fifth single from the multi-artist “A New Heaven And A New Earth” project, “Our Common Home,” releases today at digital and streaming outlets globally from The Fuel Music via https://slinky.to/OurCommonHome.

The single features Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning Building 429 lead vocalist Jason Roy; renowned recording artist, producer and college professor Don Chaffer (Waterdeep); and iconic singer/songwriter Phil Joel (Newsboys). The full-length “A New Heaven And A New Earth” project is slated to premiere in May 2024.

Written by Chaffer, Joel and Centricity Music’s singer/songwriter Jason Gray, “Our Common Home” was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical, Laudato si’, On Care for Our Common Home. The song features the refrain: “Lord, help us hear the cry of the earth (Sleeper awake) // Hear the cry of the poor (Sleeper awake) // From the dark of the deep to the sky-blue dome // Let us rise with a heart to care for our common home (Sleeper Awake)”

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“The intention of the song is to dig into the things that underwrite our lack of concern for not just who we are, but where we are,” Chaffer said. “There is something about the practice of praying and confessing together that feels like a healing process. What we need is a little more introspection, thoughtfulness and care in the way we posture ourselves toward one other and our home.”

“It’s a special song with a very relatable lyric that, as Don mentioned, is really a prayer,” Joel said. “I think we can all easily pray this song together because this is our common home, and we want to take care of this place.”

“My faith and the planet and creation care are all linked,” Joel said. “I’m trying to be a Jesus follower, and trying to be aware of the needs of the widows, poor, orphans and the least of the least.”

“It’s amazing how often poor people suffer when the planet is treated badly, because, of course, the planet is where we get our sustenance,” Chaffer said. “The more we discover about the connection between the health of the poor with the health of our earthly home, the more we’re inspired to pray, ‘Lord, we need to do better. Help us to do better.’ ”

Producing “Our Common Home” and singing and playing various instruments on the track, Roy said of his collaboration on the single with Chaffer, Joel and Gray: “It was an honor to work on this song with these musical legends, these friends of mine.”

“Our Common Home” also features Joel on bass/vocals; Chaffer on acoustic guitar/vocals; Roy’s son, Avery, on drums; Lori Chaffer; Joel’s daughter, Phynley, on backing vocals; Gotee Records' worship artist and songwriter Jon Reddick on keys; and Jesse Garcia on guitar. The resulting, multigenerational single has an organic, Americana feel along with a pop sensibility.

In addition to “Our Common Home,” “A New Heaven And A New Earth” tracks already released include Roy’s “It’s All Yours;” Joel’s “Arms Around The World;” recording artist, actress and producer MŌRIAH’s “You Mean The World;” and two-time Dove Award-winning, three-time No.1 Billboard-charting, Stellar Award-nominated Aaron Cole’s “Together.” One more song will be revealed this year, followed by additional tracks in 2024.

Each of these well-known Christian artists felt led to participate, responding to the call to write and record a song on taking care of creation. The songs collectively cover rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, indie, folk/ Americana and more musical genres.

More About Building 429

Since the release of its debut album in 2004, Building 429 has garnered widespread popular and critical acclaim, receiving numerous accolades all while delivering lyrically driven, anthemic hit songs with a consistent message of hope along with high-energy concerts in sold-out venues internationally. The band received a 2013 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for “We Won’t Be Shaken,” which debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart and launched the title track to No. 1 at radio. Building 429 also received a 2014 and multiple 2012 “Song of the Year” Billboard Music Awards for “We Won’t Be Shaken” and “Where I Belong” respectively; two BMI “Song of the Year” Awards (“Where I Belong” in 2013 and “Glory Defined” in 2005); a 2014 “Group of the Year” K-LOVE Fan Award nomination; and a “Best New Artist” GMA Dove Award in 2005. RIAA-Certified Gold single “Where I Belong” became one of the longest-running Christian No. 1s in Billboard’s history at 15 weeks and landed on Billboard’s “Top 10 Songs of the Decade.” “Fear No More,” the band’s 2019 independent single, was one of the biggest independent artist singles to ever hit Christian radio with an astounding 35 adds in its debut week. The band is endorsed by Fender Guitars, Gibson Guitars, PRS Guitars, Orange Amps, Ampeg Amps, DW Drums, Guitar Center and many others.

For all the latest Jason Roy and Building 429 tour dates, music and news, visit www.building429.com, www.jroymusic.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

More About Don Chaffer

ASCAP Award-winning singer, songwriter, record producer, author and professor at Nashville’s Lipscomb University, Chaffer has released over 25 albums and produced another 75-plus albums, including projects by Indigo Girls, Caitlyn Smith, Sara Groves and Matthew Perryman Jones. His songwriting credits include songs recorded by Third Day, Bebo Norman, All Sons & Daughters, and Big Daddy Weave. He has also scored music and lyrics for eight musicals, three plays, two theatrical revues, and has had numerous film and TV sync placements. He is one half of Waterdeep, along with his wife, Lori, and the band has released 15 albums to date.

For more Chaffer music and news, go to www.donchaffer.com, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

More About Phil Joel

Auckland, New Zealand, native Joel first arrived in the U.S. in 1994 to join one of Christian music’s most iconic bands, Newsboys. During his 12-year tenure in the Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling group, Joel was featured on such seminal albums as “Take Me To Your Leader” and “Step Up To The Microphone.” Rejoining Newsboys in 2018, along with founding member Peter Furler, the supergroup has since played hundreds of shows around the country and released “Newsboys United” in 2019. In addition, Joel has seven solo recordings to his credit; he founded and fronted the acclaimed worship band Zealand; and his first book, “Redwoods and Whales: Becoming Who You Actually Are” – a collection of personal stories and truths learned from his life and musical journey – was published in 2019 by Thomas Nelson’s Emanate Books. His latest solo album, “Better Than I Found It,” released in 2021.

For more Joel touring, music and news, visit https://www.philjoel.com/, Bands in Town, YouTube, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Spotify, Facebook and Instagram.