Sarah Kroger releases label debut, 'Bloom'

Integrity Music will release the label debut of Catholic worship leader and songwriter Sarah Kroger on Friday, April 26. “Bloom” takes personal declarations of God’s mercy and shapes them into universal messages of unfathomable love. It features artists Adam Agin and John Tibbs, as well as a cover of Amanda Cook’s “Pieces,” featuring Audrey Assad, who also produced the album. Combining soaring, atmospheric melodies with Kroger’s sublime vocals, “Bloom” paints a moving portrait of purpose in the suffering and hope in the struggle.

“My heart comes alive when I’m leading worship,” Kroger said. “It’s my hope that this collection of songs will lead people to an encounter with God, whether they’re in their car or at work or a church event, or even at their lowest place and need something that will bring a moment of respite and peace.”

Drawing on her own experience, Kroger found herself writing songs for “Bloom” from a particularly painful moment from her past. When she was 10 years old, her parents divorced, creating a divide in the family, as well as the church she’d grown up in as they were worship pastors. Because of the divorce, Kroger moved with her mother and siblings and found herself adrift in a new and unfriendly environment. The experience left a mark, one that manifested into a struggle with depression and anxiety as she was entering college at age 18. It was the lowest point in her life – she felt like God had abandoned her. After time, medication and prayer, Kroger found herself changed.

“I can see now how suffering has made me who I am," she shared. "If I hadn’t gone through that, I wouldn’t have the faith I now have, the depth of trust. Society tried to define me in a million ways, but I had to cling to what God thinks of me. It comes out in the way I lead worship and prayer and how I talk about God and think about God. It’s part of my make-up and comes out in everything I do.”

It was these seasons that birthed “Bloom,” a collection of songs designed to inspire, “remind the listener of who they are in God, their own belovedness and the freedom found in Christ’s love.”

Kroger is a Nashville-based worship leader and songwriter whose love for music started at a young age. With parents involved in music ministry, she grew up in a musical home and has been singing in church choirs since she was a child. She has spent the past eight years leading worship for events around the world, drawing together people from a variety cultures and church backgrounds under the banner of Jesus. Her passion is to create a safe and prayerful space through her music in which people can encounter the heart of God in a profound way. She has released two albums: “Your Time” (2011) and “Hallelujah Is Our Song” (2013).