It Started When…
Martin Smith (Delirious? frontman) found himself sitting in 5-star hotel rooms, then going to the slums to minister to the poor. The dichotomy of it all hurt him to the core. He decided to give back what he has: a microphone, a platform and the ability to write songs, and asked some of his closest friends to join him and do the same. His friends happened to be among the most well-known and gifted songwriters/artists in Christian music - Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G (Delirious?), Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin, Darlene Zschech. Together the group crafted songs to change the world, welcoming the help of some genre defining vocalists to record these songs on - Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac, CeCe Winans.

The end result…
A CD/DVD project titled CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty that is determined to engage people everywhere to help end world poverty. Featuring 14 brand new songs from 19 of Christian Music’s most accomplished artists and a 50-minute documentary of the movement, all the proceeds from the songs will directly impact the poorest of the poor around the world. Releasing January 27th, 2009, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty brings inspiration to all who have taken part, all who will listen, and all who want to have a part in helping those less fortunate in our world.